Comfort And Trust
Monday December 23, 2013
Silent night, Holy night. Son of God, Loves pure light. Radiant beams from thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus Lord at thy birth. Jesus Lord at thy birth.
Christmas is almost here. People travel from one end of the country to the other to be with family members during this special time. Caring and supportive family relationships are God’s plan for all of us. Within the safety and the comfort of God’s unfailing love for us, we were meant to have the strength and love that would enable us to develop sound and trusting relationships in our family circle and with friends.
However, for many of us Christmas was, and for some still may be, a time where addiction and violence continue to come forward in unsettling ways. Memories that trouble our hearts begin to surface. Our comfort level goes down as we think on things that happened to us, or things we may have done to others on past Christmases. Our trust in ourselves, and in others, becomes fragile as we remember the numerous disappointments we were the cause of or have endured. God knows these things and cares about each of us. He encourages us to think on those things which are good in our lives today.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8 NLT)
This Christmas God offers us forgiveness, acceptance, tenderness, and comfort. We have a choice today whether or not to live as persons of integrity within our families, in our work relationships and in our friendships. If we listen, as the shepherds did to the voice of the angels, God’s voice will give us guidance and direction in all that we say or do. Jesus came to earth to give us forgiveness so we can be restored in our relationship with God. He also gives us love and forgiveness to offer to those with whom we need to rebuild relationships this Christmas.
When we realize how much we have been forgiven we will choose not to withhold our forgiveness of others. The birth of Jesus truly was the dawn of redeeming grace.
GOD made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I got my act together, he gave me a fresh start. Now I’m alert to GOD’s ways; I don’t take God for granted. Every day I review the ways he works; I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I’m watching my step. GOD rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes. (Psalm 18:20-24 MSG)
We may be close or distant from family or friends this Christmas season, however, God will enable us to live well in the place where we are. He will comfort us as we trust Him to companion us. There's no need to hide from Him because of our past. He knows all about us anyway. The invitation of Christmas today is to let God heal us and use us to offer healing to others. Today let’s give thanks to Him and rejoice that we are not where we once were. Let’s invite God to build faith and trust in us and comfort us with His love. He truly is Immanuel, God with us.
©2013 Partners in Hope
More information on this and other related topics @ www.partnersinhope.ca/resources
Audio for Comfort And Trust
Recent Meditations
Giving Hope
Partners in Hope is supported wholly by our friends and community. We are thankful to everyone who partners with us to help bring hope to the discouraged, hurting, and hopeless.