Love and fear can’t exist together. Incompatible, the two emotions represent opposite ends of the spectrum. Experiencing and receiving Christ’s love removes us from the “fear” of God’s wrath and judgment. Referring to the troubles of this world, not the reverential fear of God, allowing today’s problems to overwhelm us denies the Creator’s love for us and fails to trust Him.
People without faith in the Savior live with the fear of judgment. One day, we will stand before the King and answer for our thoughts and actions on Earth. Placing faith in Christ removes that fear from us since He accepted the punishment we deserve. Therefore, we have nothing to fear in this world; the Lord has saved us from today’s troubles and prepared a place for us with Him in glory.
Bask in the light of the Savior’s love and let Him dispel any fears you may have. Walk confidently through your day, knowing that God has the answer no matter what comes your way. Christ died to demonstrate His love for us, and living boldly for Him honors His sacrifice. Let perfect love remove any fears you face, and experience the freedom found only in Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord,
Thank You for giving us perfect love through Jesus that dispels all fear. Please help us receive the gift You offer, understanding that we can do nothing to earn it. Let us live fearlessly for Christ today and always.
God didn’t give us spirits of fear, nor does He want us to live wrapped up in frantic emotion. Increased heart rate, sweating, trembling, and nausea, all symptoms of the primal emotion that can grip us. The powerful feeling varies for different people, but we all experience it in one way or another.
Years ago, I took my niece and nephew to Water Country amusement park. As soon as we arrived, we hustled to their favorite ride, a tall, towering water slide that used inflated tubes to whisk people around its curves. Excited, the kids ran ahead of me, not waiting to board their tubes and spiral away from me.
Fear gripped me. My mind filled with all the things that could happen before we reconnected. Their innocent action impacted me negatively and caused us to go home early. They didn’t realize the potential danger that awaited kids, separated from guardians, in a public situation where predators lurked. But I did. And my fear controlled my actions, ruining the day for the kids.
Decades later, I still regret my overreaction to that event. Allowing the fear to dictate my response, I lost out on making precious memories with my two favorite kids. Now that one of them resides in heaven, I regret it even more.
Trusting God and accessing His power, self-control, and love allows us to tame the beast of fear and not allow it to dictate our actions. Tap into the Savior’s strength and put fear in its place. Don’t let the emotion steal your joy. Live abundantly with Christ.
Prayer:
Lord,
Thank You for giving us Your Spirit to strengthen and guide us. Please help us tame the fear that tries to overtake us and live boldly for You instead. Let us experience freedom in Christ as You desire.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:29-30
Putting on Jesus’s yoke refers to the discipline of discipleship. A yoke, put on animals for heavy pulling, distributed the workload between the two beasts. Christ wants to help us with life’s burdens, but we can’t receive His assistance if we don’t put on His yoke. We can accept divine strength for the troubles of this world when we develop a daily discipline of yoking ourselves to the Savior and allowing Him to take our challenges.
The last day of the year provides the perfect opportunity to let go of the past and embrace the future. Determine today to yoke yourself to the Lord and receive rest for your soul. Remembering that today’s troubles won’t last and glory awaits us will help you persevere through today. “You will find rest for your souls” comes from Jeremiah 6:16:
“Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”
When we encounter crossroads in life and don’t know which way to walk, we can trust Jesus. Putting on His yoke allows the Lord to direct us as He guides us down the ancient paths. Walking in the good way gives rest to our souls, following the Lord’s teachings, and doing our part means trusting Jesus will do His. Forgive, pray, and serve others as Jesus calls us to do, and we will find His rest. Knowing we’ve done all we can gives us peace of heart and rest for our souls.
Let go of the past, cast your burdens on Jesus, putting on His yoke. Let the Lord walk with you on the journey, carrying your troubles. The Prince of Peace wants to share your challenges, but when we don’t turn to Him, we can’t receive Christ’s tranquility. Jesus never said we wouldn’t have problems; He promised we would. But the Savior also promised that He overcame them for us, and we could trust Him, no matter the issue. Victory comes from the cross, won thousands of years ago, giving us abundant life. Claim yours today.
Align yourself with Christ, put on His yoke, and experience the Lord’s peace that surpasses all understanding. Allow the Creator to usher you into the coming year with a restful soul and calm assurance of His guidance. Live in victory, claiming the promises of the cross, and rest in the Lord.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the promise of rest we can find when we yoke ourselves with Christ. Please help us develop the discipline necessary to enjoy the tranquility of life with Jesus each day. No matter the situation, the Savior has the answer, and we can find rest in Him.
Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20
Discipleship requires teaching. According to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, Disciple means “𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘰.”xBorn Oct. 16th, 1758, Noah Webster’s faith grew when he had a family. Raised in a Christian home, his father served as a deacon. However, Webster didn’t engage in his faith until 1808 when his daughters, Emily (17) and Julia (15), attended a revival meeting and had a conversion experience. Inviting their parents, Noah and Rebecca, they too felt “God’s touch,” and their lives changed forever.x
Webster’s discipleship came through his definition of language, heavily influenced by his faith. At age 70, after decades of research, it had 70,000 entries, more than any other dictionary.xi At the time, people learned to read with the Bible, used in schools and at home. Defining the words found in scripture will draw anyone closer to the Lord. I did an entire devotional, 𝘋𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥: 𝘈 365-𝘋𝘢𝘺 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦xiithat looked at the original meaning of a word each day, and I learned more than I ever imagined.
God’s word teaches us how to live like Jesus. Through the pages of the Bible, we meet ordinary people who live extraordinary lives because of their faith. The Old Testament points to the need for the Savior, and all things work for the good of those who trust and believe in the Lord. By learning what God commands, we can do what He says. When we practice Christ’s teachings, we will experience life change.
For example, Jesus tells us to forgive 7 times 70. He gives us that command for our sake, not the offenders. When we hold onto unforgiveness, we plant seeds of bitterness in our hearts, which will then produce bitter fruit. But forgiveness defeats bitterness by planting seeds of grace that will grow and produce mercy. Holding onto an offense only hurts you. Once you let go of the hurt and give it to God, you will experience freedom. And the Lord never leaves you, with you through it all.
Jesus sets an example for us to follow, teaching us to obey His commands. The Lord doesn’t expect us to do it alone; He travels with us until the end. Learn from the scriptures and allow them to transform your life, as Noah Webster let them transform his. Become more like Jesus as you implement His teachings into your life.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for discipling us and showing us how to live. Please give us the tools we need to implement and follow Your commands. As we strive to become more like Jesus, bless our efforts.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
John 14:1-3
After Judas’s departure, Jesus began the long farewell discourse to his disciples. Not understanding everything that happened, the Savior wants to put their hearts at ease. From John 13:31-14:31, Jesus speaks to the disciples about what will come, asking the eleven men to show their love for Him by obeying the commandments. The Prince of Peace tells them about the Helper He will send to them, the Holy Spirit. Christ goes first, preparing a place for us, and wants us to trust His promise.
I can’t imagine what the disciples felt as they watched Judas betray the Teacher. After all the miracles they witnessed and the incredible teachings of Jesus, the climax of the Savior’s ministry draws near, and the men don’t understand. We often don’t know why things happen the way they do; the workings of the Lord a mystery. Hindsight usually reveals the truth, but all may seem surreal amid the situation. Jesus wants us always to have peace and gives us the Holy Spirit to help us.
Trusting that Jesus prepares a place for us and will one day return to take us with Him opens the door to peace. The Savior came once, and He will come again. The things of this world will pass away, but God’s mansion for us in heaven never will. When we enter glory, the heartaches of today will no longer exist. Reunited with those who went before us, we will bask in the light of our heavenly Father, experiencing joy we can only imagine from this side of heaven.
Take heart and trust in the Savior’s promise. Find peace within your soul by believing the words of Jesus. Prince of Peace, He came to give us eternal life; no longer worrying about the temporary things of this world, we can receive His gift of tranquility. Allow the Lord’s peace to reign in your soul, giving you untroubled hearts by believing in Him.
Imagine the room Jesus prepares for you. A place where you will reside with God forever, walking on streets paved with gold, with no darkness and no tears, just unconditional love from the Creator of the world. One day, our stories will culminate with the Lord calling us to His mansion in the sky, our work on Earth done, we will receive the eternal rewards that await us. Until then, we can live with untroubled hearts as we obey Jesus’s teachings and await our heavenly home.
Prayer:
Oh Lord, thank You for preparing a place for us and giving us the Holy Spirit to help us find peace. Let us always seek Your peace, trust Your promises, and obey Your commandments. Help us serve You well as we complete our mission on Earth.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 14:27
Confidence in God brings calm. Worldly peace doesn’t last, bringing only false hope that quickly dissolves. Jesus faced many challenges, including the cross, but knowing His heavenly Father gave Him divine peace. And when the Savior ascended to heaven, He left that peace with us, giving us the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us. Recognizing the Lord’s sovereignty helps us submit control to Him, knowing His plan benefits all. But, like the disciples, we need reassurance. When the hurricane winds begin to blow, we can quickly lose focus, taking our eyes off the Son.
When Peter walked on water, the disciple began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus. Christ didn’t let him sink, grabbing Peter’s hand and helping him find balance. When we center our lives around the Prince of Peace, we can walk surefooted, knowing He holds onto us, never letting us go. The more trust we give the Lord, the more confidence we will have in Him, and we will enjoy His peace.
Sometimes, when anxiety begins to rear its ugly head, I squash it with one thought, “God’s in control, not me.” Reminding myself that God’s will comes to fruition, no matter what, helps me not to panic. “Pray, not Panic,” from my book Three Word Prayers for Every Day Living, focuses my eyes on the Savior and not myself and the situation, allowing me to find peace and not letting anxiety get a foothold. We can apply that simple prayer when we feel out of control. Asking the Lord into the situation brings His peace that surpasses all understanding.
Let’s do it with God’s peace as we end one year and begin another. Ask the Savior to help you leave behind anything that hinders you in the new year. Pray for His guidance and direction, holding onto the lessons from this year and becoming more mature in Christ. Let the Lord’s peace reign by keeping the Son in your eyes. Jesus doesn’t want us to live in fear of tomorrow but to have hopeful excitement and look joyfully ahead to the glory that awaits us. Today’s temporary problems fade in the light of eternity.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for Your divine peace, which rules our lives when we keep our eyes on Jesus. Please help us let go of unnecessary things and hold onto the lessons we’ve learned. Give us hope for the year ahead and the blessings You have in store for us. Let us live fully in Christ, now and always.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
John 10:10
Jesus gave us salvation because He wants us to have abundant lives. As the Shepherd, salvation heals us from our sins and gives us access to the green pastures of eternity. Sheep need a shepherd; otherwise, they will get into trouble. “Prey Animals” sheep have many enemies; according to a governmental study, 226,910 sheep and lambs suffered death from predators.vii When John says the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, he means it. But we have a Shepherd who came to save and protect us from our enemy.
As our Shepherd, Jesus directs us on the right path. Leading us by still waters, sheep shy away from running water, afraid they will fall into it. Wet wool leads to a greater risk of drowning for the animals. If we apply that analogy to our lives, when we get caught up in the turbulent rapids of the world, we can get swept away into unwanted circumstances. But with Jesus as our Shepherd, He leads us to still waters where we can refresh ourselves without worry of danger.
Managing His flock, Jesus keeps a watchful eye on us, ensuring our health and safety. As our faithful companion, Christ goes everywhere we go, never wanting us to feel alone. The closer we follow the Savior, the more we will enjoy the green pastures and living water He offers. Jesus leads us to still waters as our Shepherd, restores our souls and shows us the path of righteousness for His name’s sake. We will walk through the valley of death, but don’t stay there. We needn’t fear evil because Jesus gave us victory through His death on the cross.
Christ knows we have an enemy that seeks to destroy us, and He gives us tools to protect ourselves from the devil’s ploys. Carrying us in His arms, Jesus provides a haven from the predator’s attacks, marking us as His own. When we go astray, the Lord comes after us and brings us back into the flock’s safety. Hedging us with His protection, we can trust the Savior to protect us.
And so, because the Shepherd cares for us, we can live abundantly in Him. Abundant: Plentiful; in great quantity; fully sufficient; as an abundant supply. In scripture, abounding; having in great quantity; overflowing with.viiiJesus saved us so we could have plentiful life, fully sufficient, abounding, in great quantity. Let’s live for Christ, trusting His guidance, allowing Him to shepherd us, and protecting us from the enemy so we can live abundantly.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for saving us and giving us life in abundance. When we stray from the flock, bring us back quickly. Help us to live abundantly in You, not afraid of the enemy’s attacks, because we know You will protect us.
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
Isaiah 6:8
Isaiah readily serves the Lord. When the prophet hears God’s call, he answers emphatically, “Here I am! Send me.” Titled “Isaiah’s Commission from the Lord,” the following five verses contain the message the Creator wants His servant to share with the people: the coming judgment. Because the people had heard the message but did not understand it, blinded by their sinful ways, a day of judgment awaited them, as it does us all. One day, we will stand before the Lord and answer for our life on Earth.
With Jesus as our Savior, He stands between us and the Lord, cleansing us in God’s eyes because of His sinless life. Visiting friends in Delaware, the youth did a skit on Sunday when we attended church with them. Setting the stage like a courtroom, God sat in the judge’s seat, the devil at the prosecutor’s table, and Jesus sat beside the sinner at the defense table. When the trial began, Satan laid out his case, listing the sins of the accused. Then Jesus got up and stood between the Lord and His defendant, hiding Him from view, taking on his client’s sins, making him pure in the judge’s sight, no crime committed, the devil’s ploys thwarted.
Jesus makes us white as snow, separating our sins as far as the “East is from the West” (Psalm 103:12). As much as I love the Savior, I still sin. Once I become aware of my misdeeds and confess them, I strive not to do it again, but the flesh constantly wages war. Just this morning, I wrote out Luke 10:27, which tells us to love God and others, and then confessed my unloving thoughts towards an individual who hurt me. “Lord, I need your help loving _____,” I wrote in my journal.
I know that when I get to heaven, God will want to know how I did at loving Him and people. Ultimately, we answer to the Creator. I pray that when I walk through the pearly gates, the Lord will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23). Isaiah proclaimed the day of judgment, one that will come to everyone. We can choose whose table we sit at that day, the prosecutors or the Defenders.
And so God asks us the same question He asked Isaiah, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Hopefully, like the prophet, we will respond, “Here am I! Send me.” We have a message to share with the world: the good news of Jesus. Pray for people to have eyes to see and ears to hear so they can receive the Savior into their lives and have no fear of the judgment that will one day come.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for using us to share the Gospel’s good news with others. Please give us boldness as we go about our lives, fulfilling the Great Commandment with actions and words and sharing the Savior with all we meet. Let our efforts help build Your kingdom.
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12
Christmas lights bring joy to my heart. Driving to our church’s small group, we saw twinkling sparkles of color along our way. Nativity scenes with the Star of Bethlehem shining brightly above them highlighted the babe lying in a manger. We have a wooden nativity sitting in front of our chimney. Ron puts a spotlight on the white wood base that highlights the silhouette; behind it, the star twinkles, hanging from the brick, lighting up the neighborhood.
“Your decorations bring me much joy.” One of our long-time neighbors thanks us every year after we hang the lights and set the timer. In addition to our decorations, Ron lights up the community gazebo across the street from our house. This year, he added a Christmas tree made of white lights, the focal point of the small manger-like structure. Jesus’ entrance into the world brought a light that will never diminish.
When we share the Savior with others, we dispel darkness and give them hope. Following Jesus lights our path and allows us to do the same for others. Our words and actions introduce the Savior to those who may not meet Him any other way. For some people, we become their Bible, the only one they ever read. Living an intentional life for Christ and sharing our vulnerabilities with Him and others opens the door to a relationship with us and, God willing, one day, the Savior.
Let Jesus’ light shine through you this holiday season. Put up a nativity scene for all to see; it tells others where you place your faith and opens the door to conversations that could change lives. Bake cookies and distribute them around the neighborhood, introduce yourself to those you don’t know. Begin to build relationships, creating a safe space for people to come together and share their life stories. Mimic Jesus, love everyone you meet, show them a different way to react to the world’s darkness. Turn on the flame that will never extinguish for those who need it.
Jesus went out of His way to meet the Samaritan woman at the well; we should go to meet others. We have the greatest gift to share with everyone we meet: the Savior. Today celebrates Christ’s birth, and nothing would make Him happier than us introducing Him to new friends today.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for lighting our lives with Jesus. Please help us share His light with everyone we meet. Dispel the darkness of this world; illuminate it with the brilliance of the Son.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
Jesus has an answer to life’s problems: a relationship with Him. Raised since childhood in a Christian home, I didn’t understand the relationship aspect until I became an adult. As a child, I thought of God as a strict disciplinarian, judging every move I made and punishing me for my sins. Because of the Lord’s sovereignty, I couldn’t hide from Him. Anytime something went wrong, I assumed my actions caused the problem. Eventually, I developed a resentful attitude towards God because I never did anything right.
Becoming an adult, my view of God changed. Finding myself in desperate situations, I cried out to Him for help, and the Lord answered. Slowly, I began to understand my Creator didn’t want perfection from me; He wanted a relationship. God understands my sinful nature and sent Jesus for that reason. We need a Savior to show us the way, the truth, and the life. Christ does for us what no one else can; He gives us salvation by taking our sins upon Himself and suffering the consequences we deserve. When Jesus walked out of the tomb, He defeated death and gave us a direct path to the Father, which comes with a relationship.
Nothing brings more joy to life than a relationship with Jesus. Our perspective changes as we understand how God sees us and His love for us. The Lord gives meaning to life as we start to live for Him. Talking to God through prayer draws us into a deeper relationship with our Maker. We witness the work the Lord does and join Him in it, changing not only our lives but also the lives of those around us.
God created us for a community with Him and others. Christ gives us a way to have eternal communion with Him. Jesus reveals the truth of our sinful nature, helping us become self-aware of our shortcomings. Then, Christ provides us a way to overcome our sins by placing faith in Him. Once we submit to the Savior, we find new life, leaving our old ways behind us; Jesus shows us a new way to live.
Build a strong relationship with Jesus. Spend time in God’s word daily, talk to Him about your life, and share your joys and sorrows with the Creator. Thank the Lord for His blessings, and ask Him for wisdom and discernment to live abundantly. As the days pass, you will find yourself in a relationship with the Lord like no other. Trusting Jesus will change your life as you discover His truth, accept His way, and live for the Savior.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for teaching us how to have a relationship with You. Please help us accept Jesus’s truth, trust in His way, and find new life through Him. As we seek You each day, let us develop a more intimate relationship with You and shine Your light to the world around us.
