Recently the Lord has given me much encouragement in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah 30:15 says: "In repentance (turning away from my sin) and rest is your salvation, in quietness (at peace, to lie still, be undisturbed) and trust (confidence in who God is and what He can do) is your strength." The application helps from my Bible say: "He will give us the strength to face our difficulties. We should lay aside our busy care and endless effort and allow Him to act." He doesn't want us to be stressed this month as we prepare for His birthday. He wants us to rest in Him and allow Him to help us instead of trying to do everything on our own while hardly thinking of Him at all. Isaiah 26:3 says: "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." Again, from the application helps in my Bible: "We can never avoid strife in the world around us, but with God we can know perfect peace even in turmoil. When we are devoted to Him, our whole attitude is steady and stable. Supported by God's unchanging love and mighty power, we are not shaken by the surrounding chaos. Do you want peace? Keep your thoughts on and your trust in God." Choosing to rejoice in Him and praise Him is so important. Oswald Chambers says: "our state of mind is powerful in it's effects. It can be the enemy that penetrates right into our soul and distracts our mind from God. It is incredible what enormous power there is in simple things to distract our attention away from God. Refuse to be swamped by 'the cares of the world'."
During this Christmas season, many struggle with loneliness, discouragement, unmet expectations, stress, etc... I would encourage you to go to Isaiah 41:10,13 often to be reminded of God's promises to strengthen you and help you. "So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." How awesome is that--God promises to take our hand and help us, but we have to reach out to Him. I want to choose to do that every minute of every day and to make this Christmas all about Him and loving and caring for others instead of being stressed by the never-ending "perfect Christmas to-do list."
The entry for today in the wonderful little book, Jesus Calling says so well what Jesus has been doing in my life since my husband, Ty, went home to be with Him: "Let Me infuse My peace into your intermost being. As you sit quietly in the Light of My Presence, you can sense Peace growing within you. This is not something that you accomplish through self discipline and willpower; it is opening yourself to receive My blessing.
In this age of independence, people find it hard to acknowledge their neediness. However, I have taken you along a path that has highlighted your need for Me: placing you in situations where your strengths were irrelevant and your weaknesses were glaringly evident. Through the aridity of those desert marches, I have drawn you closer and closer to Myself. You have discovered flowers of Peace blossoming in the most desolate places. You have learned to thank me for hard times and difficult journeys, trusting that through them I accomplish My best work. You have realized that needing Me is the key to knowing Me intimately which is the gift above all gifts."
I pray that each of you will experience intimacy with Jesus this Christmas season as you seek to get to know Him better each day. The peace He gives far exceeds anything this world has to offer. An intimate relationship with Jesus truly is the BEST GIFT of all.
The following song, Here With Me by Mercy Me reminds us of the love of Jesus for each one of us. I loved the verses as well as the pictures on the video. As the song says, I hope that you will feel His presence and be caught up in the wonders of His touch this Christmas.
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