Heavenly Father, I am in awe of the grandeur of Your creation. I am astounded by the Rocky Mountains, Natural Bridge, the open prairies, and the beauty of Michigan with its forests and lakes. I praise You for a chance to share this wonder with my family over the years. Help me today to take command of my day and shake all evil from it.
As we near Christmas, Holy Spirit, help me and those around me take a moment and see the wonder of all that occurred and has since occurred. You had prophets like Isaiah prophesy of how Christ would come into the world through a virgin birth and how he would eventually die for our sins. You had angels show up to Zachariah, Mary, and Joseph, to a whole host of angels broke open the sky to tell the shepherds. You motivated wise men from other countries to travel and present gifts for the birth of Christ. You hid Mary and Joseph in Egypt. You had two people who had been stalwarts of the faith and prayer witness Christ when brought to the temple. You had a 12-year-old Christ confound the so-called religious experts at the temple. The choices of disciples, the resurrection of Lazarus, and other miracles. The resurrection of Christ and the ascension. How Christmas has become a holiday worldwide, and then how Satan has tried to commercialize it and destroy it. Through all of this history, we sometimes try to ignore the very message that Christ told us, that nothing is impossible for You. I have faith and hope that my prayers avail much because Your word says they do, and my own expectations need to grow beyond what I think is possible to the impossible because of a verse You told a prophet a long time ago: Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know. [Jeremiah 33:3 MEV] I need to put more faith in this as I prepare for a new year and as I try to enjoy Christmas again through the eyes of my grandchildren and nephews, and nieces.
But, beloved, remember the words that were previously spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last days there will be scoffers who will walk after their own ungodly desires.” These are the men who cause divisions, sensual, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith. Pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God while you are waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, which leads to eternal life. Some have compassion, using discernment. And others save with fear while pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with rejoicing, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. Jude 17-24 (MEV)