Devotional 12-20-20

 PROMISES, PROMISES …..

As I write this Advent Devotion, the Pandemic is raging in our country and all over the world. It is difficult to think about Christmas when people are so sick and dying.  It is especially important to remember the true meaning of Christmas and not the parties, gifting and such aspects of the season. My sister and I were talking about my writing a devotion and the topics.  We also mentioned that so many people were asking us for prayers for specific people who were ill. SO MANY!  We say that we will but do we keep all those promises??  Is it possible?
    
In  2 Samuel God makes a promise to David. The promise is called a Covenant. David is promised that his House will bear the birth of the Messiah. It will be an ever lasting Dynasty. God kept his promise.  We as Christians should be able to keep our promises but we are human and forget. But is it that simple?  I do not think so .There are so many promises that being a Christian entails.  We are supposed to love our neighbor, care for the poor, and so much more.  I usually say that I am a “Work in Progress” but is that a “cop out”? Perhaps we as Christians should exchange our thoughts of the commercial trimmings for keeping our promises to others and to God. We can make this a better world through love and understanding. That will be especially difficult for me because of our current political and historical situation.  But I can at least make a PROMISE to try! Perhaps when we pray for the sick we should set a specific time in the day just for them. Count to ten before judging others. Make a conscious effort to help heal this world and ourselves.

So on this day let us remember that God’s promise to give us a Savior who will die for our sins that we may have everlasting life and be able to see our loved ones who have gone before us. Let us celebrate His birthday as we imagine the light at the end of this tunnel that is attempting to overpower our thoughts.

Let us pray:
Our heavenly Father, give us the motivation and the determination to fulfill our promises to you and others and to have faith that we can “cast our anxieties on you because you care for us.” (1 Peter 5:7)

Carol Brown