The Upper Room Daily Devotional 24th December 2022. As you study today’s devotional, remember this; “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT)
TOPIC: God Is with Us
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TODAY’S READING
Matthew 1:18-25
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”). – Matthew 1:23 (NIV)
The Upper Room Daily Devotional 24th December 2022 MESSAGE
As worship leader in my church, I always planned the Christmas worship services with great care and excitement. One year I asked a soprano named Rebecca to sing “O Holy Night” during the last Sunday morning service before Christmas.
As the date approached, Rebecca called me and said, “I keep feeling like God wants me to sing ‘O Holy Night’ in French. Is that weird?” I told her I thought it would be glorious, and that if God was leading her to do it, then she should. Our church had an English-speaking international congregation with 15 countries represented weekly. We were not aware of any attendees from French-speaking countries, but we both felt certain this was God’s plan. We had no idea just how beautiful God’s plan was.
That week in our Sunday service, a French businessman was depressed because he had to spend the holidays far from home. He was feeling discouraged and alone until Rebecca sang. As he listened to the hymn, he was flooded with the love of God and knew he was not alone. God encouraged and blessed that man through our simple act of obedience. That Christmas will forever remind me that Jesus truly is Immanuel, God with us.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Lord God, thank you for blessing us as your children. Remind those who feel alone that you are with them. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
God is with us always.
PRAYER FOCUS
Those who are alone for the holidays
The Upper Room is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. Read More
