My wish for you this Christmas Season

Just think, you’re here not by chance, but by God’s choosing.  His hand formed you and made you the person you are.  He compares you to no one else – you are one of a kind.  You lack nothing that His grace can’t give you.  He has allowed you to be here at this time in history to fulfill His special purpose for this generation.

Written by Roy Lessin, Co-founder of DaySpring

John 15:26 ” When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth Who goes out from the Father, He will testify about Me.”

Right before Jesus left this earth, He designated the Holy Spirit as the Paraclete…another of equal quality in His place.   The Holy Spirit is called a Paraclete because He undertakes Christ’s office here while Christ is away from the world.  Bearing witness to the absolute, ultimate, and saving  truth of Jesus, the Holy Spirit gently nudges us ever in the right direction.

Galatians 2:5 ” We did not give in to them for a moment…”

Last night our Bible Study was discussing how easily we compromise to the world’s standards.  How one small concession only leads to another, and another, until we suddenly find ourselves far from God and the path He has chosen for us.  A wonderful analogy was shared by our friend who is employed with a co-worker in a large,  cavernous warehouse with many, many fluorescent lights…of which slowly over time, were going out one by one.  Neither lady realized it until one day they both exclaimed how dark it was inside!  As they toured the building, they discovered there were 18 fluorescent lights out…no wonder it was so murky!  Compromise is just as insidious…happening slowly…one acquiescence at a time…until suddenly we too find ourselves in the dark.

Ephesians 1:11 ” In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will…”

You are not a mistake.  No matter what people tell you, God’s divine Will included you as an important part in this world.  He has a unique purpose for your life here on earth…your birth was foreordained by Him…He knew you before you were even conceived.  You are not a mistake, but a valuable part of God’s plan.

Isaiah 25:9 ” Surely this is our God; we trusted in Him, and He saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in Him; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”

Where and in whom does your hope lie today?  Do you trust only yourself and your sheer determination to make your dreams reality?  Or maybe you trust the world around you to give you everything you desire.  Unfortunately, there is no one or thing here on earth that has the ability to deliver you from damnation… for there is only one person that can give you victory over guilt and eternal punishment of your sins.  Jesus is that only person that can save your soul.

Matthew 10:29 ” Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.”

The next time you feel worthless, or insignificant…look outside at the little birds in the tree.  Our Heavenly Father knows the moment any tumble from the sky, but you also need to know that you are so much more valuable than any little bird in His eyes. ( Matthew 10:31)  To God,  you are esteemed, treasured, and cherished.  So today, if your self-worth is in the toilet…go outside and look at the birds.

Psalm 16: 2 ” I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.’ “

Without the Lord in my life I have nothing.  Without His constant love and guidance, I am adrift in a chaotic and scary world.  Without God’s mercy and grace I am condemned by my sinful actions.  Without my Father, I am alone and separated from His love.  Without Jesus, my sins will ultimately  send me to hell.  Without the Holy Spirit  next to me, I  have no counsel.  Without the Lord in our lives…we have nothing…nothing but fear, turmoil, and condemnation.

Jeremiah 23: 23-24 ” ‘ Am I only a God nearby?’ declares the Lord, ‘and not a God far away? Can anyone hide in secret places so that I can not see him?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord.”

God is omnipresent…present everywhere at the same time, which is extremely difficult for the human brain to wrap itself around.  We would like to put God in a nice simple box, but He can’t be contained…His power and majesty unable to be held within the boundaries.  So attempting to escape the Lord is futile…there is simply  no hiding place that the Lord can’t find you.  You may run, but you can’t hide.  The Lord will pursue you to the ends of the earth until you finally turn to Him…so why not do it today?  Really, aren’t you tired of running?

I John 4:1 ” Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

When you hear something and it doesn’t sit well inside…implement the “smell test”.  It may look fine from the outside, but when you really scrutinize or “smell” it, you discern something is bad.  As Believers, we  need to be ever diligent of  truths that seem to be  a little bit off… that are corrupted or slanted just enough that they  become untruths.  Therefore, examine closely everything you hear and judge for yourselves if it is worthy to be received or not.

Numbers 15: 37-38 ” The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel.’ “

These tassels were to be a visual reminder to obey the Lord’s commands, but in Matthew 23:5, Jesus accused some of the Jewish Leaders of making their tassels so extremely long as to make a show of their religious look.  He went on to say, “Everything they do is done for men to see…”  In many ways we can do the same, attempting to “look”  super spiritual when we’re in certain crowds.  God doesn’t look at our outward appearance…He looks at the heart. The Lord is saying to us –  trim your tassels …get rid of your religious spirit and focus back on Me.