Editors note: The devotionals that appear from this month on will be taken from the archives because I want to present devotionals relating to the reason for the season. It is possible they will have updates and will be highlighted in pink.

Quiet Times: ( Matthew 1:20-23)

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”---which means, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:20-23)

Joseph had in mind to divorce Mary quietly after he found out she was pregnant with someone’s child but not his. Yet, he did not want to publicly disgrace her for what he believed to have happened.

It is into this situation, the angel appears to Joseph in a dream. In this dream, Joseph is told multiple things by the angel which I decided to list.

1. Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife.

2. What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

3. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.

4. Jesus will save his people from their sins.

5. All this has taken place to fulfill prophesy.

6. The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son.

7. They will call him Immanuel—which means “God with us.”

Today, I decided to focus on Joseph's actions and tomorrow I want to focus on the angel's actions. 

What stuck out in my mind is the dream Joseph had when the angel appeared to him to clear some things for him. For Joseph to have had the dream, he had to go to sleep. This meant to me that he did not act right away in haste when he found out about Mary’s situation. Rather, he pondered on what he was going to do but did not rush into judgment. He just had in mind what he was going to do. Since he did not rush into judgment, he now received a new perspective because he waited.

I saw important implications for my own life.

When things go wrong in my life, I have had the tendency to rush to judgment against other people. Not only that I like to hastily make decisions to rectify the situation especially if I feel I was wronged. I found out that is not the best way to go. Instead, whatever decisions I need to make I should sleep on it rather than rushing into judgment.

This is what Joseph did and got a new perspective. I believe when I don’t rush into judgment the Lord will show me a new perspective on how to approach things. It can then be done in wisdom from the Lord rather than taking unwise advice from the devil. When we do rush into things we do give the devil an upper hand.

I ask you now dear friends, do you sleep on things?

Dear friend, when things don’t go our way it can be tempting to rush into judgment and make something happen especially when we feel we have been wronged. Yet, I learned that could be the worst mistake we make. Rather, we should sleep on things and wait on the Lord. It is possible that the Lord could speak to us through a dream or through other means. When we wait, we tell the Lord that we are trusting in Him and put our complete trust in Him even through the pain. Then, the Lord will work in us and through us and help us make the right decision. Then it will be up to us to act upon that decision rather than giving into the enemy.

Friend, may you depend on the Lord even through pain and allow Him to influence you as you seek Lord's enlightenment everyday peacefully! For the Lord could give you enlightenment even in your sleep! Amen!

"Seek Lord’s Enlightenment Everyday Peacefully!" (S.L.E.E.P)/"Do you S.L.E.E.P on things?"

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you I learned that I should not rush into judgment but it can help to sleep on things. Oh Lord, thank you that you can speak to us through dreams too to help us make decisions we are pondering on. Give us strength and the ability not to rush into judgment when we have been tempted to go our way. Help us to discern the dreams you give us and seek wise counsel. I thank you so much Jesus for your help. Thank you for being there for us. Help us to wait on you always. Thank you Jesus you have heard us and answer us. I give myself to you and ask you to be in control of my life to guide me and lead me. Thank you Lord you will do that. In Your Precious Name I Pray Jesus! Thank you for dying for our sins and coming back to life to save us. Thank you we belong to you as we confess our sins, repent of our wrongdoing and turn to thee. Thank you when we mess up and turn to you, you are always ready to pick us up and help us! Amen!

Won’t you allow Jesus to be a presence in your life this season! You can do it right away and don’t even have to wait! Why not pray these words in your heart and mean it!

Prayer:
Jesus, I heard that you want to be part of my life. I want you in my life. I do have a lot of baggage with me. Most of the baggage is damaged goods and only you can set me free. I want to have your presence in my life, for you say when you come in, you will never leave us nor forsake us. I am so sorry for my sins Jesus. You know all my sins what I have done, you know where I have been in my life! You alone can give me new life. I don’t expect everything to be peachy when I come to you but I do know you will be with me and help me through whatever I have to face in life. Thank you Jesus! Please forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with your cleansing blood. I believe you died on the cross to save me from my sins and came back to life to give me new life. I accept all that you have done for me through your grace! Thank you for your grace, you want to impart in my life. Please come into my heart now and make my heart your home forever! Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life as you help me through the Holy Spirit. Fill me Jesus with the Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home! Thank you for being part of my life as I acknowledge you as my Lord and personal Savior! I am not alone but you are with me guiding my path! Thank you Jesus I am born-again into your family and when I have backslid you have brought this prodigal son or daughter back to you. Thank you Jesus for being my Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you, you have heard my prayer and answered me! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark! It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches Christ crucified and risen to bring us hope, healing, and help! As a student, it is not too late to join a fellowship on campus too this coming new year!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-720-4579

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

Next Devotional:
"Do you S.L.E.E.P on things?"

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