Seek the Lord Earnestly: a devotion by Ann Broughton

 “Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually” (1 Chronicles 16:11 KJV).

Have you made your list of resolutions for the New Year? It seems everyone has good intentions at the beginning of the New Year, but oftentimes we get lazy and forget about the list. Usually at the top of the list is for people to lose weight and exercise. Well, today I will challenge you to put seeking the Lord and His plans for your life as the number one item on your resolution list. After all, that should be your first priority.

The Wise Men or magi of the Bible certainly put the need to find the Christ child as their number one priority. These men were not even Jews, but were astronomers and had seen the star and had researched that a King of the Jews was to be born. As soon as they saw the star they headed to Jerusalem, which was very far away. It might have taken them many months to get to Bethlehem, as the Bible says that “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him” (Matthew 2:11 NIV).  Jesus was no longer a baby but a child and later King Herod commanded that all boys 2 years and under should be killed, so we know that Jesus was a young child. So these men traveled earnestly to find Jesus for a long period of time. They let nothing stop them. Their mission was to see Jesus and give Him gifts.

My challenge to you as we start the New Year is to earnestly seek the Lord with all your heart every day and give Him the gift of yourself in service to others. You have a special gift that only you have, and you must seek the Lord to help you see it and use it for Him. Every day, take time to pray, seek the Lord’s will, read the Bible, and then go out and serve Him in whatever He leads you to do. There is so much need around us that it should not be hard to find a way to serve. People need hope. They need to know that people care for them and that God loves them. So many people are lonely and sad. You can be the one that turns a life from despair to happiness just by caring and sharing what the Lord has done for you. This could be the greatest year ever in your life if you just step out in faith and seek the Lord earnestly.

Dear Lord,

As we approach a New Year, let us strive to earnestly seek you every day. Help us to put seeking you at the top of our to do list every morning, so that we can serve you with the gift you have given us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

No Room for Jesus: a devotion by Ann Broughton

“She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7 NIV).

Have you ever wondered why there wasn’t any room for Jesus’ parents on the night he was born?  After all Jesus was the King of the Jews, Almighty God, and Prince of Peace. You would think royalty should have been born in a palace that night and not in a place where all the animals were kept. He was placed in a manger, a place where the animals ate hay. Mary could have announced to the inn keeper that she was with child and was carrying the one who would “save his people from their sins”. (Matthew 1:21 NIV) The angel told Joseph that their child would be called Immanuel, meaning God with us. (Matthew 1:23) Seems like they could have thrown some weight around to get a four star hotel by just saying Mary was carrying God’s child, but they did not. It also seems to me that God could have performed His own miracle by providing a more suitable place for Jesus to be born, but He did not. Instead, Jesus was born in a lowly manger. He came to earth to be a servant and later in His ministry would not even have a house to live in. His whole purpose was to heal the sick, cast out demons, preach about the Kingdom of God, and save people from their sins. God was in control on that night Jesus was born, and knew His son would be blessed by being born in a manger and raised by parents who were ordinary people. God had a plan, and Mary and Joseph trusted Him.  

So do you have any room for Jesus in your life? This is a busy time of year. There is so much to do: buy presents, send Christmas cards, decorate the house, go to parties, have parties; to name a few. This Christmas take time every day to be alone with Christ to pray, and reflect on how you can be a true blessing to others this season.  Don’t get so busy with preparations that you turn into a mean spirited person because you feel stressed out. If you focus on Jesus and what He wants you to do and act like, then your life will reflect that love to everyone during this hectic time. If you pray, Jesus will give you peace and that peace will be passed on to others. Show Jesus’ love this season to everyone and continue to be a blessing. Make sure you make room for Jesus in your life and trust Him.

Dear Lord,

This season can become hectic, and it is really easy to forget that we are to be an example of your love always. Help us to take time to be still in your presence every day, so that we can show others your love and your peace. Help us to always make room for Jesus in our hearts.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Prince of Peace: a devotion by Ann Broughton

“And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NIV).

Jesus came on earth to give us peace. His whole ministry was offering peace to those around him. He healed the sick, preached that people needed to love their neighbors and enemies, told the people not to worry, but trust God, and calmed a storm by just speaking, “Be still”.

These are just a few examples of how he displayed peace. If you read the account of his sentence and crucifixion, you will notice that he displayed peace in front of his accusers also.

This peace that Christ displayed is also available to you. Jesus told his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27 NIV). In the Beatitudes Jesus spoke: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God” (Matthew 5:9 NIV). Jesus wants us to have peace and display it for others to see.

Since this peace is always there for us all the time. Do you feel it and portray it? Is there something in your life right now that is making peace difficult to find?  Is your peace being thwarted by your own personal problems? Sickness, death of loved ones, financial problems, and chronic pain are just a few things that can take away your peace. But you must realize that the peace Christ has to offer you is still there. Whenever I start fretting and worrying and complaining about my problems, I know that I can start spiraling downward into despair. I have learned to say to my self, “Stop it!” and then I pray in earnest for Christ to fill me with His peace. The most important thing for you to do when you are in a downward spiral of despair is to call upon the Lord to fill you with His peace, because it will happen. Trust me, because I have been in the miry pit of despair before, and He has filled me with a peace that I cannot even describe to you. He is definitely my Prince of Peace.

So the next time you feel as if the world is falling in all around you, remember that your Prince of Peace is only a prayer away and will give you the peace that you so desperately need.

Dear Lord,

There are many things in life that can threaten our peace. Help us to know that you will never abandon us in our time of need, and that your peace is available if we take time to calm down and pray.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen