Following Jesus at ChristmasSample

One of my favorite scriptures foretelling Jesus’ birth is this one (Matthew 1:23) because it gives us a glimpse into God’s desire to be with us. Of all of the names and identities that could have been given to Jesus, He chose to reveal His heart to be close to us. God isn’t a distant creator who has no interest in you and your life. God hand-formed you and has an intention for you. And when we needed saving, He came and gave us His name, Immanuel, which declares to us that God didn’t just want to rescue us from hell, but wanted to rescue us to bring us close. Revelation 3:20 says that Jesus stands at the door and knocks. If we open the door, He will come in and eat with us. This reinforces the truth that He saved us to be close to us! So, when you pray, pray with boldness and confidence, knowing He hears you. And when you love and serve others, do it out of an overflow of His love for you.

Reflection

When you stop to reflect on your fears, doubts, and insecurities, you’ll find that most of them stem from not walking in the revelation of God’s love and value for you and His plans to be close to you.

The more you focus on His love and care for you, the more courage and faith will rise.