God With Us by David Jeremiah

 

God With Us   And they shall call His name “Immanuel”…“God with us.” Matthew 1:23   The days around Christmas can be lonely for many people, but there are ways to instantly recognize the presence of God near us. After all, that’s the core of Christmas. God wanted fellowship with us, and He gave Jesus the heavenly name of Immanuel—"God with us.”

Recommended Reading: Matthew 1: 22 – 25

Here are seven ideas for letting the presence of Christ cheer you: (1) Praise Him aloud, even if you don’t feel like it. Start talking to Him out loud, thanking Him for specific blessings you’ve experienced this year. (2) Listen to hymns and worship music. If the Christmas carols make you melancholy, play an upbeat version of “Blessed Assurance.” (3) Read through the book of Philippians, circling the words “joy” and “rejoice” every time they occur. (4) Confess your sins. Often our sense of God’s presence is hindered by something in our thoughts or behavior that we should confess. (5) Overhaul your prayer list, bringing it up to date. (6) Find a small task to do in Jesus’ name. (7) Light a candle. The temple contained a lamp, and Jesus said He was the Light of the World. Don’t let yourself become discouraged. Get up, get busy, and remember God is with you!