Warriors Arise: December 26, 2020
What do you think the day after was like for Jesus, Mary and Joseph?
Mary, "Joseph, do you think it is clean enough in here?"
Joseph, "I've got to build us a house. We can't stay in stable with a newborn!"
When you have your baby in your arms you begin to think of how to make things better for your baby. Things that you can live with change when you have a baby. We will endure without until we have a baby. We do not want them to be without. We want them to have the very best of what we can provide. Our focus is different.
What is the day after Christmas like for you this year? Most of us did not get together with family like we would have in the past. The celebration, visit, games, connections would have lasted a couple of days if not a week. But this Christmas is different for so many. My heart aches for people who were unable to get together with family like years before. Maybe many were hit Christmas day with disappointment because Christmas just wasn't what it use to be or has always been.
Christians have said, posted, sent the cards, and worn the button, "Christ is the reason for the season" and "Put Christ back in Christmas". This year we are challenged: is Christ in my Christmas? If you have no one come, if you have no exchanging of gifts, parties, games, cookie making, gingerbread house building and/or enormous amounts of food, would Christ still be glorified? Is Jesus the reason for the season in your life?
What is the day after Christmas for you? I am concerned the next attack from the enemy will be putting a leash around our neck because of our disappointment and leading us into depression. Depression is a dark hole. It sucks the life out of a person because it steals hope. Hope is our lifeline. No matter what has happened, no matter what is going on in our life, we as Christians have hope. Romans 5:5 tells us hope does not disappoint. Then in Romans 8:25 we are encouraged because we put our hope in something we do not see as we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. What is it we are waiting for? God to act on our behalf. While we wait we have the Holy Spirit who helps in our weaknesses. There are too many times we do not know what to pray but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us (Romans 8:26&27).
This is why we have hope:
Romans 8:28 (NKJV) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
We do to know what the purpose is but we can trust God to know what is best. He will guide us in righteousness for His name's sake. He will lead us through the valley of the shadow of death and we will come out the other side. He will lift us up out of the muck and mire. He will establish our feet on solid ground. He will make a way when there seems to be no way. The joy of the Lord will be our strength. The love of God will not fail. His purpose for our life will prevail because in verse 37 "Yet, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."
Lift of your eyes and see the Lord high and lifted up. He looks upon you with His amazing love.
Romans 8:38-39 (NKJV) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You may be separated from your loved ones this Christmas season, the greatest season to celebrate but you are not separated from God. He is with You. Embrace His love and position yourself to receive.
Father I ask for You to come and wrap Your arms around those whose Christmas celebrations have been altered because of the coronavirus. I thank You for protecting each one. I thank You for guiding them to their decision. It is not easy to distance from family and give up our precious time with them. I ask for You to release Your love into their heart and mind, completely cover them. I pray for each one to know the fullness, the depth, the height, the width of Your love. You are the only One who can help our broken heart, restore our mind from the disappointment. I thank You for all You have done to lead each one to the truth of Your love. I pray for Your Holy Spirit to wash us clean from disappointment, discouragement, and depression. I ask for the joy of the Lord to be our strength. You are Lord and Your love for us is amazing. I pray we would receive it today in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
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