On this Christmas day, my heart is filled with compassion for the ones with weary hearts. 2023 has been a devastating year for many people around the world. There is indescribable turmoil in Israel after the October 7th terrorist attack. Weary souls are filled with uncertainty about the future. But even amidst a world filled with chaos, we can rejoice because we have our beloved SAVIOR—the ONE who was born to save mankind. We can rejoice because Christ is our peace and hope. We can rejoice because we have faith that Christ will return and make all the wrong things right.
If you’re feeling weary and have a troubled heart, may the reality of Christ’s healing presence lift your spirit. May you experience the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding today and always.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gift of Your SON, JESUS CHRIST. Thank You for sending Jesus to be our SAVIOR and eternal PEACE-GIVER. Help the ones who are feeling weary today. Help them take hold of the peace that surpasses all understanding. Guard their hearts and minds with Christ’s perfect peace. Help their hearts not to be troubled or afraid. Help them to trust You more, walk closely with You, and rest in knowing You do impossible things. Help them take hold of Your hand and live with strong faith until the day of Christ’s return. I pray in Christ’s name. Amen.
All things are possible with God. If you are in the midst of something hard, don’t lose faith. Disbelief stirs up nothing but darkness. I have seen the wonder-working power of prayer transform every disappointment into something beautiful and joyous.
Jesus will win every battle for those who wholeheartedly seek after Him and trust in Him. He heals broken hearts and restores what’s been lost.
Do not give up and continue praying in faith. God helps those who seek Him and wait on Him.
The Lord has great plans for every believer who trusts Him. Be confident and know that God wants to use you to bring hope to the world.
WHISPERS FROM JESUS:
I will go wherever I am called upon to help those who trust in Me. I will heal the brokenhearted and restore what has been lost.
LORD,
Thank You for being the HOPE of the world. Thank You for being the only ONE who fills our souls with indescribable peace and abundant joy every day. Strengthen us with Your Holy Spirit today and always. Help us to be hope-bearers and let us shine Your light everywhere we go. I pray in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
May you see the goodness of God today and every day.
Grace & peace,
Amy
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Christ has risen! Because He lives, we can rest in Christ’s presence and peace in the midst of a pandemic. We can face adversity with strength and joy because we know that we have our beloved Christ to carry us.
Christ died an agonizing death to pay the penalty for our sins so that we can live eternally, free of condemnation and guilt. He died so that we can live in eternal peace through every trial and loss. Christ’s love is all we need to make it through this life victoriously. The power that raised Jesus back to life is the same power that resurrects us and gives us new life. The resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead is able to lift us up and fill us with joy as we place our trust in Him. We can rejoice that death has been conquered. Our bodies are just temporary tents, so there is no fear of death for the believer in Christ.
I can imagine Jesus whispering words of love and grace to the world.
I am risen! Celebrate My resurrection. Come live fully in Me every moment of every day. Don’t give one thought to the difficulties of life on Earth. You can rest in knowing these are light and momentary troubles compared to the glory of Heaven. Keep your eyes fixed on Me and on eternal things not seen. As you live in Me, you will rise up on eagles’ wings and soar continually. Don’t be afraid of anything I ask you to do. Simply obey Me. Live in the fullness of My joy. Shout to the world of My goodness. Glorify My name so that those in need of Me will know the truth of who I am. Let this day be a day of new beginnings—a day to rejoice in My perfect love for you. My heart longs for you, My beloved bride. I am coming back for you and will live with you for all eternity. Come with Me to high places and never stop singing praises over all you have found in the gift of the cross.
Heaven touches us and stays in our hearts the moment we truly realize what Christ has done for us on the cross. We do not have to wait until after we leave our earthly bodies to begin experiencing Christ’s eternal gifts. Eternity begins when we surrender to Christ, allow Him to carry us through the trials, and trust Him to bring beauty in the midst of turmoil.
Hallelujah.
The hymn written by Bill Gaither is a beautiful song to sing and be reminded of the power in the cross to heal and strengthen us every day.
God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus; He came to love, heal and forgive; He lived and died to buy my pardon, An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.
Chorus Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives.
How sweet to hold a newborn baby, And feel the pride and joy he gives; But greater still the calm assurance: This child can face uncertain days because He lives.
Chorus Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives.
And then one day, I’ll cross the river, I’ll fight life’s final war with pain; And then, as death gives way to vict’ry, I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives.
Our Precious Jesus,
Thank You for dying an agonizing death so that we can live eternally in Your perfect peace. Help us walk in Your righteousness continually and let us live in the fullness of Your joy every day. Help us to remember daily the pain you bore so that we can live freely in Your amazing grace. I pray in Christ’s name. Amen.
It was a clear, February day and I was making valentine cards. As a young girl, I didn’t have a care in the world. I was safe in the comfort of my home with my mom close by in the kitchen.
That’s the last thing I remember before I heard my mother’s panicked voice hollering out: “It’s a fire!”
I looked up and saw the kitchen curtains engulfed in flames. My mom tried putting the fire out, but her main concern was my safety. We ran outside to get away from the smoke. A gentleman who had seen the smoke from the Post Office next door ran over to our house, grabbed a hose, busted a window, and extinguished the fire.
Later that day, we went back inside to assess the damage. In a matter of minutes, the flames had completely destroyed our kitchen and the smoke had damaged most of our house.
We never stayed in that house another day. We packed up our salvageable items and moved in with my grandparents. During the next few months, we waited for a beautiful, new home to be built.
My life had been turned upside down by the rampant flames that raged through my house on that winter day. It was difficult to have my life so shaken up, but knowing a beautiful home was being built for us helped to ease the difficulties. I remember visiting the new home and seeing the progress that was being made.
I was elated the day I first saw my completed bedroom with brand new carpet I picked out myself. It was breathtaking—nothing like my young heart had ever experienced. After losing my old home and the things I had been attached to, the new home was sweetness to my soul. It was amazing.
The new life offered by Christ reminds me of the new home I moved into after the fire. Before I fully surrendered myself to Christ’s plans for me, fiery trials swept through my life and destroyed many things that were important to me.
After surrendering everything to Jesus, He rebuilt my life and turned the pain of my past into a beautiful display of splendor. During the hardships, I remember wondering if I would ever have beauty in my life again. The stress of many problems all seemed impossible to repair.
As I wrestled to believe, my faith won and things began turning around for me. Christ restored all the broken things in my life. His love healed my marriage and turned all the trials into triumphant victories. Most important of all, Christ filled my heart with never-ending peace.
When we believe things are hopeless, then we will have a hopeless life. When we teeter on the fence of disbelief, we miss out on miracles the Bible promises we will see.
Whenever a doubtful thought taunts us, we can meditate on the Scriptures that bring life to a weary soul. Doubt cannot penetrate a heart that is fixated on the truth of God’s Word.
Are you struggling to believe God for good things in your life? Do you believe God can turn things around in America?
Jesus is the Restorer. Just as a builder builds a new house, Christ builds a new life out of broken pieces. He makes beautiful things.
Things begin changing when we step away from fear, leave doubt behind, and begin believing that Christ is the author of beauty.
Choose faith, pray, and watch as He rebuilds and recreates the beautiful life He longs to give all His children.
Father,
Thank You for being the giver of new life and new beginnings. Let all the believers in this nation surrender everything to You. Let us join together and pray until we see change and beauty arise in America. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit every day and let us go out and share the good news of the gospel of grace to a world in need. I pray in Christ’s name. Amen.
“Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
“We were buried in baptism as Christ was buried in death. As Christ was raised from the dead by the great power of God, so we will have new life also.”
