CHRISTMAS DAILY DEVOTIONALS

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18

Read
Luke 2:10-11

Reflect

• Who is one person you can invite to church tomorrow who needs to hear about the God who pursues us with His goodness?

Respond
Pray for that person and invite them to join you at church at 9:00AM or 10:45AM tomorrow or online at newcov.com.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17

Read
Prayerfully read Luke 1:46-55.

Reflect
Though Mary faced an unimaginable circumstance, she knew that God was at work. As a result, Mary viewed her situation as a reason to magnify and rejoice in the Lord.

• How can you magnify and rejoice in the Lord today?

• In what ways has the Lord blessed you and done great things for you?

Respond
Pray and ask God to remind you of the ways He has blessed you and done great things for you. Close by expressing thanks for the blessings and goodness of God.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16

Read
Prayerfully read Zephaniah 3:17 and Phillipians 4:6

Reflect
In Mary’s story we can see how she could have easily spun out on all that was going on around her. In each season of her life, from the journey to Bethlehem, to Jesus’ birth, to the escape from Herod to Egypt, Mary seems to have a quiet strength and peace.

• Has God ever given you grace to overcome something extremely difficult or seemingly impossible?

• did you find the serenity to keep going?

Respond
Close in prayer asking God to give you peace in the face of whatever you might be facing today.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15

Read
Prayerfully read Psalms 131:2

Reflect
After the angel’s visit to Mary, her life got infinitely harder! Imagine trying to explain being pregnant as a virgin! Despite her circumstances, Mary somehow quieted herself and was able to be present enough to “live in the moment” and rise to the task that was presented to her.

• Do you struggle to quiet yourself enough to be present to those you love?

• What distracts you from your focus on Jesus?

Respond
End your devotional time with 10 minutes (set a timer) of listening prayer. No talking… only listening!

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14

Read
Prayerfully read Luke 2:19

Reflect
“Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them…” Based on the situation that the Lord put Mary in, she could have held resentment against the Lord! He put her in a very tough spot, but instead, Mary treasured what she knew God was doing!

• Has there been a time in your life when you resented God’s work in your life?

• How can we turn from resentment to valuing God’s work in our life?

Respond
Take a moment to pray and ask God to help you appropriately trust and value His work in your life.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 13

Read
Take a few minutes to quiet your heart in prayer before reading the story of Jesus’ birth in Luke 1 and Luke 2

Reflect
When the angel came to Mary to tell her she would be pregnant Mary was confused! She questioned the angel saying, “How can this be since I am a virgin?” Though she didn’t know how God’s message to her would be fulfilled, she responded with faith, saying, “May Your word to me be fulfilled.”

• Have you ever experienced a scenario God was orchestrating in your life but didn’t understand until later what God’s purpose was?

• In your confusion did you respond with faith or fear? Or both?

Respond
End with a time of prayer inviting the Lord to work His purposes in and through you even when you don’t understand them.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12

Read
Begin your devotion time by prayerfully reading Psalms 116:1-2 and Philippians 4:9.

Reflect
In the story of Herod we learned when we trust in God we don’t need to feel threatened and insecure. Listening to Him is the pathway to peace.

• Have you set aside times to stop all other activity and take a moment to solely listen to God?

• What or how has God spoken to you in those moments of quiet and solitude?

Respond
End with a time of prayer and think of how Jesus’ birth brings peace. Express your gratitude for God’s peace in a prayer.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11

Read
Begin with a time of prayer to prepare your heart for God’s word. Read Psalms 23.

Reflect

• Who is one person you can invite to church tomorrow who needs to hear about the God who pursues us with His goodness?

Respond
Pray for that person and invite them to join you at church at 9:00 AM or 10:45 AM tomorrow or online at newcov.com.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10

Read
Begin with a time of prayer to quiet your heart and mind. Read Matthew 2:19-23 and John 10:10.

Reflect
We live in a world system that seems to look for abundant life in all the wrong places. This empty search will ultimately drain us.

• How can we hang on to the joy we have in Jesus?

Respond
Close in a time of prayer and thank God for His grace which is enough to give us abundant life.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9

Read
Begin with a time of prayer to prepare your heart and read Matthew 2:17-18 and Jeremiah 31:3-4.

Reflect

• Has God ever allowed something in your life that was almost too hard to bear, but then God built you backup after your experience?

• How have you experienced God’s “everlasting love” like what Jeremiah speaks of?

Respond
Close in prayer asking God to reveal His everlasting love to you in new and fresh ways this Christmas season.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8

Read
Take a moment to quiet your heart and mind by starting with a time of prayer and read Matthew 2:13-16.

Reflect
Herod, though he was a Jew, committed genocide out of insecurity.

• Have you ever done something you regret out of insecurity?

• How did God care for you despite going through something hard?

Respond
End in a time of prayer thinking about God as our Protector.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7

Read
Prepare your heart by taking a few minutes to pray before reading Matthew 2:9-12.

Reflect
When the Wise Men saw the star they were filled with joy! They believed there was something special about Jesus so they worshipped Him and gave Him gifts.

• Do you take time to worship Jesus?

• Why do you think we are filled with joy when we truly worship Jesus?

• Are you more overwhelmed by the stress of Christmas, or are you able to soak in the joy of Christmas?

Respond
Take a moment to pray and worship Jesus for being born and allowing us to be in His presence.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 6

Read
Begin today by looking at the Christmas story through the eyes of Herod. Take a few minutes to quiet your heart in prayer before reading Matthew 2:1-8.

Reflect
It had been prophesied that Jesus would be born “The King of the Jews.” This came as a shock to King Herod because he had already been enthroned as the “King of Judea” by the Roman Senate.

• Have you ever experienced a time when your position or personal safety became threatened?

• How did you respond to that threat?

• Were you tempted to take matters into your own hands?

• Do you think God would have wanted you to respond differently?

Respond
End with a time of prayer confessing any independence from God as your provider and protector and reflect on how you can trust God to be your defender.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5

Read
Begin your devotion time by prayerfully reading Luke 1:67-80.

Reflect
Today we learned that God’s faithfulness and promises are revealed in Jesus.

• Are there any of God’s promises that you find hard to believe?

• How does the coming of Jesus help us find hope in the midst of our doubt?

Respond
End with a time of prayer and think of how Jesus’ birth brings you hope. Express that in a prayer of thankfulness to the Lord.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4

Begin with a time of prayer to prepare your heart for God’s word. Read Luke 1:78-79.

• Who is one person you can invite to church tomorrow who needs to hear about the tender mercy and peace of God?

Pray for that person and invite them to join you at church at 9:00AM or 10:45AM tomorrow or online at newcov.com.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3

Begin with a time of prayer to quiet your heart and mind. Read Luke 1:76-77.

Jesus wants to give us knowledge of salvation.

• How can we know we are saved?

Our sin separates us from God and causes us to need forgiveness.

• How has the work of Jesus provided the forgiveness of our sins?

Close in a time of prayer thanking God for the knowledge of salvation and sending Jesus to forgive our sins.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2

Begin with a time of prayer to prepare your heart to recieve the word of God. Read Luke 1:74-75.

God’s deliverance is meant to lead us to serve Him.

• In what ways can you serve God?

God’s deliverance leads us to goodness and righteousness.

• In what ways does Jesus make us holy and righteous?

Close in prayer asking God to reveal how you might be able to serve Him and thank Him for changing your life in making you more like Jesus.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1

Take a moment to quiet your heart and mind by starting with a time of prayer and read Luke 1:70-73.

The prophecy speaks to God’s faithfulness to fulfil what He has promised.

• Why is it important for us to know that God is faithful?

• Is there something in your life causing you to doubt God’s faithfulness?

• How can the arrival of Jesus help you know God is faithful?

End in a time of prayer reflecting on the faithfulness of God.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30

Prepare your heart by taking a few minutes to pray before reading Luke 1:68-69.

Luke records the prophecy of Zechariah and other Old Testament prophets.

• In what ways has the Lord redeemed you?

A horn is a symbol of strength.

• In what ways has Jesus served as your strength and your salvation?

Take a moment to close in prayer and thank God for His redemption and salvation.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29

Begin today by looking at the Christmas story through the prophecy of Zechariah. Take a few minutes to quiet your heart in prayer before reading Zechariah 1:16-17.

The Lord promises to return to His people with mercy and comfort if only they will return to Him. This prophecy is the promising of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

• In what ways have you experienced mercy and comfort through the coming of Jesus?

• What role does repentance play in receiving mercy and comfort?

• Is there anything you need to repent of and turn back to God?

End with a time of prayer confessing sin and thanking the Lord for His mercy and comfort.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28

Begin your devotion time by prayerfully reading Habakkuk 3:17-19.

Today we learned that no matter the circumstances, Habakkuk would still rejoice in the Lord.

• What is one way you can rejoice in the Lord today?

• How does the coming of Jesus help us find joy in the midst of our good and bad circumstances?

End with a time of prayer and thank God for one thing you can rejoice in.