Names of God: Through Thanksgiving & Christmas / Day 21

Names of God: Through Thanksgiving & Christmas

Day 21 of 30 God's prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem would to come to pass through submission and trust in the most difficult of circumstances. A pregnant virgin Mary risked being stoned for fornication. Joseph risked the slander and stigma of illegitimacy. Jesus wrapped in flesh, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, risked and surrendered His very life to be with us. What appears on the surface to be the worst circumstance possible turns out to be God's magnificent plan of redemption to unite with His people. But His plan required the submission of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. Submission to God's will always involves risk. God has not called believers to live comfortable, convenient, and prosperous lives. He has called believers to live our lives surrendered to Him. A life fully surrendered to God will be uncomfortable and inconvenient, but we don't have to endure alone. Because of Jesus' advent, death, and resurrection, God is forever with those who have surrendered their lives to Him.  When you find yourself in an unlikely circumstance or on an uncomfortable and inconvenient journey, will you remember that God remains with you and He is in control? Will you remember that His plan for you will not be thwarted? Will you accept and persevere through the trial knowing that God's plan is not always the easy comfortable way? Will you choose to surrender and journey in humble obedience in order to remain in the will of God?  Father God, You are the Most High Almighty God who with Your Words created the heavens, the planets and all creation upon it. Yet, Your intense desire was to have intimate relationship with Your prized creation. In the most beautiful display of humility, You wrapped Yourself in sinful flesh, lowered Yourself into this sinful world to accomplish Your plan of saving sinful people. Help me, Lord, to model Your example of humility and to walk in the path that You have set before me with obedience and steadfastness. Lord, I pray for Your strength and Your courage to stay on task with Your plans for my life no matter how uncomfortable, incomprehensible, or inconvenient. Lord, remind me that through it all, I am never alone. You are my Emmanuel - always with me. In Jesus' precious name. Amen.   Matthew 1:18-23 Matthew 1:18-23 NKJV 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus , for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”