God, Our Emmanuel

Today’s word is an encouragement to a reader of this devotional. Regardless of what you are passing through in your life, God is with you. He is not a man that should lie neither a son of man that should repent (Numbers 23:19). He is faithful and He stands by His promises. You may be passing through fire or walking through deep waters, God’s assurance is this, “I will be with you’! King David understood this reality when he wrote ‘Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me’ (Psalm 23:4). Emmanuel, ‘God with us’ means God is present in that circumstance. In fact, He is a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46). This means that God is not far away. He is there with you even in this moment— no distance at all. The fact that He is there does not mean he will make you skip the experience. Rather it means He will give the grace and all the resources needed for you to make it through because it is in making it to the end that strength is built, and grace is released. Here’s how Apostle Paul puts it, ‘… but we glory in sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us’ (Romans 5:3-5). Dear friends, only focus on Jesus and avoid distractions. Let your situation drive you to Him and not away from Him. Let your experience refine your character, attitude and perspective as you examine your experience through the lens of the word of God. Gain stamina from the Holy Spirit as you pray, and receive wisdom and grace needed for the journey ahead. And when this season is over, you will look back and be grateful not only for a guaranteed future that God has for you alone but also for the life of Christ that is being built in you (Jeremiah 29:11).

Daily Confession: God I thank you because you are here with me — in my matter what I’m passing through. Help me to trust you in this journey in Jesus name, amen.

Intercessory prayer: pray for anyone that may be passing through challenging times around you

Hymn: Through the love of God our Saviour,

all will be well.

Free and changeless is his favour,

all, all is well.

Precious is the blood that healed us,

perfect is the grace that sealed us,

strong the hand stretched forth to shield us,

all must be well.