Wednesday December 27, 2023

Today is Wednesday, December 27 and we are celebrating that Christmas is here and Christ is here.

As I enter a time of prayer, I pause and become still. I calm my thoughts and silence my mind. I breathe deeply and slowly, and focus myself on God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Pause and Pray

Holy and loving Father, I rejoice that Christmas has come. I long to put Jesus Christ first in my life today and always. Through the power of your Holy Spirit, enable me to hear the message you have for me. Show me what it means to find Christ in Christmas. Amen.

Today, I pray to God and praise him with the words of Psalm 16.

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.” Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations to such gods or take up their names on my lips. Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. Psalm 16:2-5

Pause and Pray

In the book of Isaiah, the prophet urges people to worship the Lord God and not turn to idols. God’s people are commanded to have no other gods other than the one true God (Exodus 20:3-4). The people are to destroy all man-made images in the Promised Land and are to never craft idols to worship. Unfortunately, despite these commands, God’s people often turned away from the living God to idolatry. The worship of man-made images is not the only form of idolatry. Idolatry takes many forms in our lives today when we prioritize other things above God.

This is what the Lord says – Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come – yes, let them foretell what will come. Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one. Isaiah 44:6-8

Idolatry is more than the biblical understanding of bowing down to golden statues or worshiping false gods. Idolatry is alive and well today. Idolatry is so well disguised that I often don’t realize I am participating in it. An idol is something that preoccupies my heart with cravings and desires. Idols are the things that I place above and treasure more than God. Idolatry happens when I look to other things to give me comfort or fulfillment instead of God. Identifying my idols can be tricky. I ask myself, what do I love or treasure more than God? What do I prioritize above God? Do I look to anything or anyone to meet my needs instead of God? Where do I seek comfort, fulfillment or satisfaction outside of God? Where do I spend the majority of my money? Where do I invest the majority of my time? Where do I find security?

Ask: What possible idols can I identify in my life? Where are they hiding?

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, you are here. I praise you as my King and my Redeemer. You are the first and the last, the beginning and the end and there is nothing that compares to you. No one is like you and nothing is greater than you. You are my Rock, my life and my hope. You are the one I love and treasure. I turn to you alone to meet my needs, fulfill my longings and comfort my soul. I read Isaiah’s words again and listen for the message you have for me today.

This is what the Lord says – Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come – yes, let them foretell what will come. Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one. Isaiah 44:6-8

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

I try to find myself in today’s passage from Isaiah. I recognize things in my life that attempt to separate me from God. I try to identify persons or things that occupy my heart and mind. Where do I focus first and last – the first waking thought of my morning and the last thought before bedtime? What has power and sway over my life and unsettles my priorities? What is the “Rock” on which I set my foundation and look to for my strength? Where do I need to be cautious placing anything or anyone above or before God?

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, I make a new commitment to put you first in my life. Forgive me for returning to false idols and seeking the things of this world before I seek you. You are my first and my last and apart from you there is no good thing. Nothing compares with you. Forgive me when I forget that. Show me how to give you all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. Amen.

Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Revelation 22:12-13

As I leave this time of prayer and go throughout my day, I worship Christ and him alone. Show me how to live a life of love, proclaiming Jesus to everyone I meet.

Amen