The Upper Room Devotional 13th December 2023
The Upper Room Devotional 13th December 2023, Wednesday Message by Maria M. Maitland (Virginia, USA)
TOPIC: Who Needs Christmas?
TODAY’S READING
Luke 1:26-38
Mary said, “Let it be with me just as you have said.” – Luke 1:38 (CEB)
Last night, during singles group, we were asked to tell how the Christmas season makes us feel. After hearing everyone share words like joyful, family-filled, and excited, I was hesitant to speak. Since my teen years, Christmas has always been lonely and sad for me. The older I get, the worse it gets. I am now in my thirties, and I am the only single person in my family. For me, Christmas is still lonely and sad.
After our family meal and gift exchange, everyone goes to spend time with their spouses, while I babysit the kids. So, I wonder, who needs Christmas? The story of Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel comes to mind. Being an engaged young woman told that she would give birth to a child sounds troublesome, not miraculous. Yet Mary said, “Let it be with me just as you have said.” Mary knew this situation would create trouble for her, yet she accepted God’s plan for her with faith.
Not knowing if I will ever be married troubles me. But Mary taught me that accepting God’s plans with faith leads to amazing experiences. Who, then, needs Christmas? Christmas is for everyone who is willing to embrace faithfully God’s plan for their lives, even when it feels troublesome.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God, let it be done in our lives according to what you desire for us. Redeem our troubles so that we grow more and more faithful. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Like Mary, I can accept God’s plan with hope and faith.
PRAYER FOCUS
Those who find Christmas a sad time
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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. The meditations are stories of real people working to live faithfully with the Bible as their touchstone. Every day, readers of The Upper Room around the world read the same story in many different languages and pray the same prayer together.
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