December 21, 2020
WHAT TO DO WITH LIFE’S DISAPPOINTMENTS

“[Anna] did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers.”

Luke 2:37 (CSB)

Over the past couple of days, we’ve been looking at the wise women in the Christmas story. Today you’ll meet the third wise woman, Anna. When her circumstances would have made it easy to do otherwise, she chose to focus on God’s presence and to tell everyone she could about Jesus.

Luke 2 says that Anna had been a widow for 84 years. The love of her life had died when Anna was still very young. This wasn’t what she had planned for herself. Disappointment could have made her bitter. But the Bible gives us a different picture. Luke 2:37 says, “[Anna] did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers” (CSB).

When Anna’s husband died, she could have chosen to let her love die too. Instead, she wisely redirected her love to God. She spent her days and nights focusing on his presence instead of her disappointment.

If you haven’t yet, one day you will probably find someone you want to love is no longer there. What do you do with your love in those circumstances? If you’re wise, you’ll focus on God’s presence and redirect your love.

I’ve seen many couples make this decision when they’re longing for a baby but can’t have one. I’ve seen them adopt or become foster parents. They’ve taken their love and redirected it. They’ve focused on God’s presence by giving his love to one of the many children in the world in need of it.

Anna also made a second wise decision when her husband was no longer there for her to love. After spending years in God’s presence at the temple, she finally met Jesus—and immediately began spreading the Good News about him.

When Jesus was eight days old, Mary and Joseph brought him to the temple, and Anna was there. The Bible says: “At that time Anna came in and praised God. She spoke about the child Jesus to everyone who hoped for Jerusalem to be set free” (Luke 2:38 CEV).

From the moment she met Jesus, she started telling other people about him. The Bible says, “He who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30 NKJV). Anna was wise because she chose to tell other people about the Good News of Jesus’ arrival.

During this Christmas season, you can make that same decision. People around you likely will be more open to spiritual truth than at any other time of the year. No matter what disappointments you’ve faced this year, choose to be like Anna. Refocus your love on God and tell people about Jesus.

That’s a wise decision.

Prayer

As you end your time of learning about the three wise women of Christmas, take a few minutes to pray through this prayer and be reminded of what these three women have taught you.

“Father, in the middle of a strange Christmas season at the end of a long, difficult year, I thank you for the greatest gift of all, your son Jesus Christ. Thank you for sending him to pay for my sins. Thank you for your promise of eternal life to those who accept this gift. Holy Spirit, fill my heart with faith to trust in your promises like the three wise women of Christmas—Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna—have taught me. Help me to choose to trust your plan instead of being bitter. Help me to believe your Word instead of my fears. Help me to focus on your presence, not my disappointment, and talk to everyone about Jesus. Amen.”

Talk It Over

1. Anna faced a major disappointment after losing her husband. How do you typically handle disappointments?
2.What’s one practical way you can focus on God’s presence rather than your disappointments this week?
3. What’s the biggest obstacle you face when it comes to regularly sharing the Good News about Jesus?
4. Who can you share the Good News about Jesus with this week?

Verse of the Day
Matthew 5:16
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

December 20, 2020
TRUST GOD’S WORD NOT YOUR FEARS

“My God, I want to do what you want.”

Psalm 40:8 (NCV)

We’re continuing our look at the three wise women of Christmas. Today you’ll meet Mary, the young woman who became the mother of Jesus. She showed wisdom beyond her years when she chose to believe God’s Word instead of her own fears.

Put yourself in Mary’s shoes. She was no older than 16 when an angel told her she would give birth to a son—even though she had never been with a man.

And her baby’s father? God.

Imagine all the fears going through Mary’s mind.

First, there was the fear of criticism: “How am I going to tell my mom?”

Then you have the fear of inadequacy: “How in the world am I supposed to be the mother of the son of God?”

Then, of course, she faced the fear of change: “How many ways is this going to change my life?”

You can’t blame Mary for being afraid.

But the angel told Mary: “God can do everything!” (Luke 1:37 ICB).

Mary knew God’s Word. Later in the book of Luke, she sang a song containing around 10 Old Testament verses. She knew the Bible so well she could write that song on the spot.

So, when the angel came to her, Mary pondered in her heart all the things she knew to be true of God from his Word: “God loves me. God chose me. God is with me. Nothing is impossible with God. I can handle this—not because of my strength, but because of God’s presence.”

Then she chose to believe God’s Word over her own fears. She said: “Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say” (Luke 1:38 The Message).

Mary wisely surrendered to the will of God. She was like King David, who said: “My God, I want to do what you want” (Psalm 40:8 NCV).

Wise people say, “Whatever God wants for my life, I’m in. I may not understand it, but I’ll do his will.”

The Bible says, “Mary treasured [the things God told her] and continued to think about them” (Luke 2:19 NCV).

God blessed Mary because she chose to believe God’s Word instead of her fears. He wants you to do the same.

This Christmas season the world may seem more uncertain than ever. But God wants you to be wise by believing the truth of his Word over your fears.

Talk It Over

1. What are some of the most destructive ways you’ve dealt with fear in your life?
2. What are some of the biggest fears you’re facing right now?
3. What does the Bible say about those specific fears?

from Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope

Verse of the Day
Colossians 3:13

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

December 19, 2020
TRUST GOD”S PLAN, EVEN WHEN HIS TIMING DOESN’T MAKE SENSE

“Every word I’ve spoken to you will come true on time—God’s time.”

Luke 1:20 (The Message)

You know about the wise men, but the Christmas story also includes three wise women: Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna.

They came from three different stages of life. One was married, one was single, and one was widowed. And each of them made wise decisions that you can learn from today.

Their decisions are the same ones we all need to make: to trust God’s plan instead of being bitter; to believe God’s Word instead of our fears; and to focus on God’s presence instead of disappointment.

In the next few devotionals, you’ll get to know these women and learn about the decisions they made based on faith.

Today, meet Elizabeth. Her story reveals how God works through your disappointments and heartache, even though you may not be able to immediately see what he’s doing.

The Bible says Elizabeth and her husband, Zechariah, were righteous and godly people. But they were broken-hearted because they wanted a child and had been unable to have one.

Elizabeth had prayed for a baby for many years—but now she was past the age for childbearing. Her greatest and longest prayer had not been answered.

She’d done everything right, but God still didn’t give her what she wanted most. She faced the temptation of becoming resentful toward God.

But, in her wisdom, Elizabeth chose not to get angry or bitter towards God. Instead, she chose to trust him—and to pray.

Then, at the right time, God answered her prayer. He gave Elizabeth a son, John the Baptist, who would prepare the way for Jesus, the Messiah.

If John had been born at any other time, he couldn’t have fulfilled his purpose to prepare the way for Jesus. He needed to be born around the same time as Jesus.

All that time, Elizabeth had been praying and wondering whether God heard her prayers, but she still chose to trust God’s plan. She believed that his timing was better than hers.

For Elizabeth, and for you, God’s delay isn’t God’s denial. A wise person knows the difference between a “no” and a “not yet.” When frustrations and delays come, a wise person will trust God instead of getting bitter.

Like Elizabeth, you likely have had plans this year that had to be set aside. COVID-19 has closed schools and businesses. It’s altered the way we do weddings and funerals. It’s changed the way we’re celebrating Christmas this year.

But, like Elizabeth and Zechariah, you can choose to trust God even when circumstances are challenging.

An angel visited Zechariah and said: “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. You are to name him John” (Luke 1:13 GNT).

You may not receive a visit from an angel, but you can know that God hears your prayers too. A delayed answer to a prayer is not a denial. God promises that persistent prayers are heard.

This Christmas season choose to be wise like Elizabeth. Choose to believe that God hears your prayers and is working through your circumstances, even when you don’t see what he’s doing.

Talk It Over

1. What’s something you have requested from God for a long time? How do you deal with delays?
2. How has God’s timing in answering your prayers been better than your own timing?
3. How might 2021 be different if you trust in God with persistent prayer?

From Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope