December 31 Life-Changing Moments With God

The Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.

Father God, You bore me on eagles’ wings and brought me to Yourself. In Your love and in Your pity You redeemed me; and You bore me and carried me all the days of old. As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings, so You alone led me.

Even to my old age, You are He, and even to gray hairs You will carry me! You have made, and You will bear; You will carry, and will deliver me. This is You, God, my God forever and ever; You will be my guide even to death.

I cast my burden on You, Lord, and You shall sustain me. I do not worry about my life, what I will eat or what I will drink; nor about my body, what I will put on. For You, my heavenly Father, know that I need all these things.

Thus far You, Lord God, have helped me.

Great is Your faithfulness. Immeasurable is Your love. Infinite is Your grace. I am blessed to be Your child!

Deuteronomy 1:31; Exodus 19:4; Isaiah 63:9; Deuteronomy 32:11–12; Isaiah 46:4; Psalm 48:14; Psalm 55:22; Matthew 6:25, 32; 1 Samuel 7:12^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2007). Life-Changing Moments With God (p. 390). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

December 31 Fellowship Forever

Revelation 21:3

Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

There will be no sanctuary or tabernacle or temple in heaven—and no churches. Revelation 21:22 says that “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” Because God will be dwelling in the midst of His people, just as He started off doing in the Garden of Eden, there will be no need for a sanctuary for Him to dwell in.

We incorrectly call our churches “sanctuaries” today because they are where we draw together once a week to worship God and hear His Word proclaimed. But God does not dwell in buildings in this age; He dwells in His people. At present, we cannot “see” His presence as we will be able to in heaven. Instead of dwelling “in” us in heaven, He will dwell “among” us, in our very presence.

The same Jesus who healed the sick, raised the dead, fed the multitudes, died on Calvary, was raised from the dead, and who ascended into heaven will be walking among us in heaven. We will have unbroken, personal fellowship with Him forever.^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2002). Sanctuary: finding moments of refuge in the presence of God (p. 382). Nashville, TN: Integrity Publishers.

December 30 Life-Changing Moments With God

Blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I, who once was alienated and an enemy in my mind by wicked works, now You, Lord God, have reconciled in the body of Your flesh through death, to present me holy, and blameless, and above reproach in Your sight—if indeed I continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and am not moved away from the hope of the gospel. I may become blameless and harmless, a child of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom I shine as a light in the world.

Looking forward to these things, I will be diligent to be found by You in peace, without spot and blameless. I will be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.

Now to You who are able to keep me from stumbling, and to present me faultless before the presence of Your glory with exceeding joy, to God my Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.

Keep me continuing in the faith, Lord, steadfast in my belief, and steady in my gospel hope. Empower to live a blameless life.

1 Corinthians 1:8; Colossians 1:21–23; Philippians 2:15; 2 Peter 3:14; Philippians 1:10; Jude 24–25^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2007). Life-Changing Moments With God (p. 389). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

December 30 Ever-Present God

Psalm 46:1

God is … a very present help in trouble.

God is … a very present help in trouble.” God is not just present, he is very present! It’s like you telling a good friend you are available to help them if they need you. “Oh, I hate to bother you,” they reply. “No,” you counter, “I am very much available for you. Just let me know when.” You are saying, “I am ever-available.” And that’s how God is for us. He is the most accessible help we could ever imagine.

The word for “trouble” could be rendered as a “tight place.” God is ever-present to help us in the tight places we get into in life, when we are between a rock and a hard place. If someone is ever-present, it means they are easy to be found. We don’t have to go looking for them. In fact, we can’t. We’re stuck in a tight place!

The reason God is always with us, even in our tight places, is because of what He told Moses in Exodus 33:14: “My presence will go with you.” So when we are stuck and can’t move, God is there because He is always with us.^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2002). Sanctuary: finding moments of refuge in the presence of God (p. 381). Nashville, TN: Integrity Publishers.

December 29 Life-Changing Moments With God

Understand what the will of the Lord is.

This is Your will, Lord God, my sanctification. I acquaint myself with You, and am at peace; thereby good will come to me. This is eternal life, that I may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I know that the Son of God has come and has given me an understanding, that I may know You who are true; and I am in You who are true, in Your Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

May I be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. May You, the God of my Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You, the eyes of my understanding being enlightened; that I may know what is the hope of Your calling, what are the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of Your power toward me who believes, according to the working of Your mighty power.

Lord God, enable me—I pray—to know Your will and to do it!

Ephesians 5:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Job 22:21; John 17:3; 1 John 5:20; Colossians 1:9; Ephesians 1:17–19^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2007). Life-Changing Moments With God (p. 388). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

December 29 Problems Promote Maturity

Hebrews 12:11

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

The concept of gaining strength through difficulties is under assault today by those preaching success and prosperity. Some have claimed that, if we’re Christians, God wants everything to be right and easy for us.

It certainly sounds spiritual to claim that those close to God ought never to experience failure or illness, but that has never been the message of the church. Rather than producing soldiers, that sort of thinking produces pampered children. There is no Bible verse, nor even an implied principle, that suggests our walk on earth should be free from trouble.

Problems are God’s gifts to us to make us strong. And those who would keep us out of problems sometimes seek to short-circuit the plan of God. Problems are God’s way of molding us into maturity, putting iron into our souls so that we can face the challenges ahead. Problems promote maturity.^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2002). Sanctuary: finding moments of refuge in the presence of God (p. 380). Nashville, TN: Integrity Publishers.

December 28 Life-Changing Moments With God

Your sins are forgiven you.

Lord God, You will forgive my iniquity, and my sin You will remember no more. Who can forgive sins but You alone?

You are He who blots out my transgressions for Your own sake; and You will not remember my sins. I am blessed, for my transgression is forgiven, and my sin is covered. I am blessed, for You do not impute my iniquity. Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity?

You in Christ forgave me. The blood of Jesus Christ Your Son cleanses me from all sin. If I say that I have no sin, I deceive myself, and the truth is not in me. If I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness.

As far as the east is from the west, so far have You removed my transgressions from me. Sin shall not have dominion over me, for I am not under law but under grace. Having been set free from sin, I became a slave of righteousness.

Pardoned, forgiven, cleansed, set free from sin, and loved by You—Lord God, I am richly blessed!

Mark 2:5; Jeremiah 31:34; Mark 2:7; Isaiah 43:25; Psalm 32:1–2; Micah 7:18; Ephesians 4:32; 1 John 1:7–9; Psalm 103:12; Romans 6:14, 18^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2007). Life-Changing Moments With God (p. 387). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

December 28 Encouragement Is Urgent

Hebrews 10:25 niv

Let us encourage one another.

I wear many hats as a parent, as all parents do. I am a provider, a leader, and a disciplinarian when necessary. But I believe my greatest responsibility is as a cheerleader. More than anything else, kids today need the supportive love, encouragement, and cheering-on of their parents. James Dobson, the family expert who spent years studying problems of adolescent behavior, once said in my presence, “Here’s the distilled wisdom of all my research. Here is what you need to do if you have adolescents: Just get them through it.”

Just get them through it! Hang in there with them until the whitewater rapids of the teenage years are left behind.

Encouragement is an urgent need of our day. A church that does not equip its people as encouragers will soon phase out of any meaningful ministry in its community. God help us to learn how to be encouragers!^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2002). Sanctuary: finding moments of refuge in the presence of God (p. 379). Nashville, TN: Integrity Publishers.

December 27 Life-Changing Moments With God

We do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Lord, here I have no continuing city. I have a better and an enduring possession for myself in heaven.

I will not fear, for it is Your good pleasure, Father God, to give me the kingdom.

Now for a little while, if need be, I have been grieved by various trials. There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest.

I who am in this tent groan, being burdened. You, my God, will wipe away every tear from my eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.

The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in me. My light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Thank You for keeping my eyes on my eternal future, on the glorious future Your people have in You, Lord God!

2 Corinthians 4:18; Hebrews 13:14; Hebrews 10:34; Luke 12:32; 1 Peter 1:6; Job 3:17; 2 Corinthians 5:4; Revelation 21:4; Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2007). Life-Changing Moments With God (p. 386). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

December 27 Use God’s Strength

2 Corinthians 12:9

My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.

When we try to live our lives in our own strength, we ultimately fail. And if we don’t fail, we fall very short of God’s purposes for us. When we operate in the flesh, three things are always true: (1) we will always lack the power of the Spirit, and we’ll suffer from fatigue; (2) we will always lack the vision of the Spirit so we’ll suffer from frustration; and (3) we will always lack the sustaining ministry of the Spirit so we’ll suffer from failure.

Do these consequences sound familiar? You will always suffer these results when you tackle life in your own strength. But when tragedy strikes—an illness, financial hardhip, rebellious children—you turn to God. When you feel helpless, inadequate, and weak, the Spirit of God gives you strength. All of a sudden you realize something dynamic is going on that you have never experienced before. It’s not your power, it’s God’s power. The apostle Paul admits that if it takes weakness to get God’s power in his life, he’s better off weak than strong. Because when you are weak, then you are strong.^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2002). Sanctuary: finding moments of refuge in the presence of God (p. 378). Nashville, TN: Integrity Publishers.

December 26 Life-Changing Moments With God

Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

Loving Lord, my labor is not in vain in You. As I have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so I walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as I have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. If I endure to the end I shall be saved. The seeds that fell on the good ground are those people who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

By faith I stand.

Jesus must work the works of You, Lord God, who sent Him while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.

If I sow to my flesh I will of the flesh reap corruption, but if I sow to the Spirit I will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let me not grow weary while doing good, for in due season I shall reap if I do not lose heart. Therefore, as I have opportunity, let me do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

What a privilege to do Your kingdom work! May I serve with love and know Your joy.

1 Corinthians 15:58; Colossians 2:6–7; Matthew 24:13; Luke 8:15; 2 Corinthians 1:24; John 9:4; Galatians 6:8–10^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2007). Life-Changing Moments With God (p. 385). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

December 26 Delight in the Lord

Psalm 37:4

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Tracing the word “delight” through the Old Testament, I was surprised to learn that the majority of its uses are in relationship to the Word of God—delighting in the Word. The psalmists delighted in God’s will as expressed in His law (Psalm 40:8); delighted in His statutes (Psalm 119:16); delighted in His commandments (Psalm 119:35); and delighted in His precepts and law (Psalm 119:69–70, 77, 92, 174).

There is a profound relationship between delighting in the Lord and delighting in His Word. Think about your relationship with a person who is the object of your affections. Your conversations, the letters you receive, the phone calls you share—their words are a reflection of who they are. So to delight in that person’s words is to delight in them. And the same is true of our relationship with God. To trust in God is also to delight in Him and His promises. No Christian who delights in what God says about the future (“I will provide for you”) can also be found worrying about the future.

When delighting in the Lord is your focus, everything else is brought into perspective.^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2002). Sanctuary: finding moments of refuge in the presence of God (p. 377). Nashville, TN: Integrity Publishers.

December 25 Life-Changing Moments With God

The kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared.

You, Father God, have loved me with an everlasting love. In this Your love was manifested toward me, that You have sent Your only begotten Son into the world, that I might live through Him. In this is love, not that I loved You, but that You loved me and sent Your Son to be the propitiation for my sins.

When the fullness of the time had come, You sent forth Your Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those of us who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Great is the mystery of godliness: You, Almighty God, were manifested in the flesh.

As we children have partaken of flesh and blood, Jesus Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.

It is a wonderful mystery: God in flesh, the perfect and once-for-all sacrifice for humanity’s sin! All praise to You, the author of this amazing salvation plan!

Titus 3:4; Jeremiah 31:3; 1 John 4:9–10; Galatians 4:4–5; John 1:14; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 2:14^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2007). Life-Changing Moments With God (p. 384). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

December 25 The Cry of Life

Luke 2:7

And she brought forth her firstborn son.

Life and especially history are full of all kinds of cries. There have been cries of anguish and joy, cries of victory and defeat. And yet there is probably no cry that is as touching, as tender, and as timely as the fragile first cry of a newborn babe.

If you are a parent, you know the delirious joy—indeed, relief—that came when your own babies shattered the delivery room air with their first cry. Why does a child’s cry, something that normally brings concern to a parent, produce joy when it is first heard? Because it’s a sign of life. The tension in the delivery room waiting on on that first cry is not unlike the tension in all of creation that first Christmas Eve. When the cold silence of a Bethlehem night was broken by Jesus’ first cry, it meant more than just life. It meant eternal life—spiritual life! No longer would mankind live in fear of death. Life itself had been born in Bethlehem.

History’s most famous cry was that of a tiny Babe, born in a manger. Celebrate that cry of life this Christmas season. Even today, it echoes in your heart if you know Jesus Christ as a Savior.^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2002). Sanctuary: finding moments of refuge in the presence of God (p. 376). Nashville, TN: Integrity Publishers.

December 24 Life-Changing Moments With God

If you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Holy God, the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, and the like; those who practice such things will not inherit Your kingdom. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those of us who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If I live in the Spirit, I will also walk in the Spirit.

Your grace, Lord God, that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching me that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, I should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of my great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for me, that He might redeem me from every lawless deed.

Enable me, Father, to walk in Your Spirit so that His fruit will characterize my life. May the hope of Jesus’ glorious return keep me living a righteous and godly life in His honor.

Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:19, 21–25; Titus 2:11–14^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2007). Life-Changing Moments With God (p. 383). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

December 24 Celebrate His Love

Luke 2:14

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!

In more than a few past wars, the warring nations would call a cease-fire for Christmas Day. They would agree that on Christmas Day they wouldn’t shoot at each other, drop bombs, or try to destroy one another. Then, of course, the day after Christmas they would start killing each other again.

As strange as that custom has been, in a wonderful way it is a mute testimony to the purpose for which Christ came—to bring peace. That was the message the angels proclaimed.

Today, there are many places in our world where peace is not a word in anyone’s vocabulary. Yet every Christian knows that there is coming a time when peace will reign on this earth. Each Christmas season, a kind of new hope is born in our hearts—that though the outlook may be dark, we can look beyond today. The Prince of Peace has come, and with Him the faith that someday men will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks and we shall be at peace.^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2002). Sanctuary: finding moments of refuge in the presence of God (p. 375). Nashville, TN: Integrity Publishers.

December 23 Life-Changing Moments With God

Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me.

God of Peace, the thoughts that You think toward me, are thoughts of peace and not of evil. “There is no peace,” You say, “for the wicked.”

In Christ Jesus I who once was far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is my peace.

It pleased You, Father, that in Jesus all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Yourself, having made peace through the blood of His cross. Christ Jesus, whom You set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, demonstrated Your righteousness over the sins that were previously committed, that You might be just and the justifier of those of us who have faith in Jesus. If I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness.

I will trust in You, Lord, forever, for in You is everlasting strength.

Lord God, thanks to Your Son’s death on the cross, I know peace with You. I trust You for strength and forgiveness; I trust You with my life.

Isaiah 27:5; Jeremiah 29:11; Isaiah 48:22; Ephesians 2:13–14; Colossians 1:19–20; Romans 3:24–26; 1 John 1:9; Isaiah 26:4^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2007). Life-Changing Moments With God (p. 382). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

December 23 Go with Haste

Luke 2:8

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Christmas is the season of twinkling lights, shiny tinsel, and cheery holiday bells. Yet within the brightness of Christmas a dark paradox looms: Christmas is not the best, but the worst time of year for many people. Suicides increase, loneliness is heightened, and broken families feel the pain of separation. People reason that the other eleven months of the year aren’t necessarily supposed to be filled with joy—but Christmas is.

Loneliness, financial limitations, ill health … many things can quench the holiday spark. If you fear the feelings that come your way at Christmas, you’re not alone. Another group of “forgotten” people heard a special message from the angels that first Christmas: “Fear not!” (Luke 2:10). The angels announced the One who would dispel all fear forever—Jesus Christ. The shepherds went “with haste” (Luke 2:16). They didn’t let fear stop them from meeting the Messiah.

Just as the shepherds cast aside their fears and immediately went to find Jesus, you can do the same this Christmas. Jesus is waiting to be found.^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2002). Sanctuary: finding moments of refuge in the presence of God (p. 374). Nashville, TN: Integrity Publishers.

December 22 Life-Changing Moments With God

Your work of faith.

This is Your work, Lord God, that I believe in Him whom You sent.

Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Faith works through love. If I sow to my flesh I will of the flesh reap corruption, but if I sow to the Spirit I will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. I am Your workmanship, God, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which You prepared beforehand that I should walk in them. You gave Yourself for me, that You might redeem me from every lawless deed and purify for Yourself Your own special people, zealous for good works.

I thank You, God, because my faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of us abounds toward each other. I pray always that You, my God, would count me worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of Your goodness and the work of faith with power. It is You, God, who works in me both to will and to do for Your good pleasure.

Please continue to grow my faith and my love for You and Your people so that my works of faith will glorify You.

1 Thessalonians 1:3; John 6:29; James 2:17; Galatians 5:6; Galatians 6:8; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 11; Philippians 2:13^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2007). Life-Changing Moments With God (p. 381). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

December 22 The Source of Song

Psalm 40:3

He has put a new song in my mouth—praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.

Christianity is a religion of song. Agnosticism has no carols. Confucianism and Brahmanism have no anthems or alleluias. Dreary, weird dirges reveal no hope for the present or for the future. Christianity, however, is filled with music. Only the message of Christ puts a song in a person’s heart.

When you have Christ in your heart something changes inside of you, and a melody starts to form that you can’t really control. It is unlike any other belief system.

As we read the stories of Christmas in the Book of Luke, we find six different songs recorded almost back-to-back: the “Beatitude of Elizabeth,” when she was visited by Mary; the “Magnificat of Mary,” Mary’s song; the “Benedictus of Zacharias,” the father of John the Baptist; the “Song of Simeon,” when he was presented with the Christ Child at the temple; the “Evangel Song” of the angel of the Lord over the plains; and finally, the “Gloria” of the angelic hosts. When Jesus came into the world, music was reborn.^[1]

 

^[1] Jeremiah, D. (2002). Sanctuary: finding moments of refuge in the presence of God (p. 373). Nashville, TN: Integrity Publishers.