Thursday, 27 December 2012

Do Not Be Afraid



Do Not Be Afraid

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. ‘Joseph, son of David,’ the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.’
Matthew 1:20, NLT.

TODAY’S WORD
Have you ever felt overwhelmed or even afraid of what God has called you to do? Maybe you were pursuing a dream or goal and things didn’t turn out the way you planned. Joseph had planned to take Mary as his wife, but when he found out she was pregnant, he didn’t know what to think. He was afraid that he might be making a mistake because things didn’t turn out the way he planned. But, God sent a messenger in a dream to reassure Joseph that he was on the right path.

Today let me reassure you that God knows right where you are, and He knows how to get you to where you need to be. Even when things don’t go the way you planned, His hand is on you. Do not be afraid. Trust that God is working behind the scenes on your behalf, and that He will lead you into the life of blessing that He has prepared for you.

PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, I choose to trust in You. Even when things don’t go the way I planned, I know You are at work in my life. Thank You for Your perfect love which casts out all fear. I love You and surrender every area of my life to You in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

***
“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14 NKJV)
This time of year teaches us to reconcile with God.
This is the time for you to meet Christ: “It is time for you to turn to me, your LORD, and I will come and pour out blessings upon you” (Hosea 10:12b GN).
God not only wants you to have peace with him; he also wants you to have peace (goodwill) with other people, too.
Rather than promoting harmony, holiday seasons often become a time of conflict. All families have difficulties; there are jealousies, grudges, resentment, and misunderstanding.
The Bible says, “But if we live in the light — just as he is in the light — then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin” (1 John 1:7 TEV).
When Christ is in you and me, then Christ isn't going to argue with Christ. We're never going to have peace on Earth until the Prince of Peace reigns in everybody's heart, and that’s why we need to reconcile with God and with other people.
But it starts with Jesus in your heart: “But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son” (Galatians 4:4a TEV).
This means the timing of Christ’s arrival was not an accident, because “everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 TEV).
Don't waste this season. It's time for you to turn to God. God says, “It is time for you to turn to me, your LORD, and I will come and pour out blessings upon you” (Hosea 10:12b TEV).
Talk About It
  • To whom do you need to write a letter or call or visit to start the process of reconciliation?
  • Is there someone you need to forgive? Is there someone you need to approach and ask forgiveness?

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