An Evening Prayer;     
Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may God lead us to eternal life. Amen.ay the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may God lead us to eternal life. Amen.

Responding to Disappointment  

Matthew 1:18-25    

To find examples of wise, godly reactions to disappointment, you’re more likely to turn to Psalms than to Matthew. But thevery first chapter in the New Testament tells the story of an upright man’s reaction to painful and disheartening news.

Joseph—Jesus’ earthly father—was a righteous person. A godly man wants a wife who shares his desire to honor and obey the Lord, and Scripture indicates that Mary was exactly that sort of woman (Luke 1: 45-55). So imagine how stunned Joseph must have been when Mary returned from a long visit with her relative Elizabeth and told him that she was pregnant. Moreover, she was claiming no man had touched her.

Any way Joseph looked at the situation, it appeared grim. And yet Matthew 1:20 says that he “considered”—in other words, he sought a wise, righteous response. God entered Joseph’s life in a dramatic way to confirm Mary’s story and put a stop to his “quiet annulment” plans.

The Lord turned Joseph’s mourning into joy. Mary had told the truth—strange and startling as it was. The couple would bear the intense public censure of an early pregnancy, but Joseph stopped thinking about what others would say. God had blessed work for him: to raise the Messiah alongside a faithful woman.

Followers of Christ should seek a godly response to disappointments they face. Since the Lord always has a plan, the wisest reaction is to anticipate the good He can do and await His timing. God certainly blessed Joseph for his willingness to “seek first His kingdom” (Matt. 6:33).

By Dr. Charles Stanley 

Something Happened in That Small Church  SUZIE ELLER     “Then the woman left her water jar, went into town, and told the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?’” John 4:28-29 (CSB) The first time I heard the name Jesus, I wasn’t that interested. Faith didn’t make sense to me. Life was hard, and I had already developed a worldview that didn’t include Him. One day, a friend invited me to go to church with her. To be honest, I only went so she would quit asking. It was going to be a one-and-done event. Something happened in that small church. Something that still lives in me today: I encountered Jesus. With a heart so tender from hurt it ached, I felt something beautiful that day. Love. The real kind. The kind that snuck past all the wounded places to take up residence. The kind that would grow over time and transform my whole life. In today’s key verse, we meet another woman who was wounded. She knew about religion, but not a lot about a relationship with God. She longed to belong and, as a result, had accepted less than she deserved in the pursuit. Jesus meets her at noon at Jacob’s well. He is tired and thirsty and asks her for a drink. As their conversation unfolds, we get a glimpse of how Jesus loves so well. By asking a Samaritan woman for a drink of water, He let her know she had something to offer. He made space for her honest questions and took time to answer them. He already knew about her broken places and gently led her to a loving Heavenly Father. In the end, the Samaritan woman abandons her water jar and runs to the city. She can’t wait to tell others about this encounter. “Then the woman left her water jar, went into town, and told the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?’” (John 4:28-29). The people in town left what they were doing and made their way to Jesus. He remained with the Samaritans for two days. “And they told the woman, ‘We no longer believe because of what you said, since we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world’” (John 4:42, CSB). What I love best about this is that she didn’t wait to share her story. There was a good chance some might not receive it. She told them anyway. And it had a powerful impact. Years ago when I encountered Jesus in that small church, I also couldn’t wait to share the news. My friends looked at me with doubt. They weren’t sure what to believe. Some listened. Some came to church with me. Some were changed by His love.  When we encounter Jesus, our story can be like a ripple. It drops into the hearts of those who long for the same freedom. Our words may not be eloquent, but that doesn’t mean His miracle is not evident. Like the Samaritan woman, not all will receive our story. Those who do, however, will be drawn a little closer to Jesus. It is He who will speak into their need and their encounter will be as personal as our own. Lord, whether just healed, a work-in-progress, or totally whole, You are doing a miracle in my heart. Help me to share my story and lead that someone closer to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. Psalm 71:15, “I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words.” (NLT) Romans 10:14, “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” (NLT)

Do We Forget Our Larger Enemy?
by Debbie Holloway       

“Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light…” (2 Corinthians 11:14)

Have you ever suffered a crushing loss, only to have someone tell you, “Well, it’s all part of God’s plan”? Have you ever projected pure hate or bitterness toward a fellow human being because of violence or deceit displayed by his or her actions? Have you ever watched the news as innocent children die in war, and wondered how God could allow such things to happen?

I’ve been there. I can hazard a guess that we’ve all been there. It’s only natural to lash out at each other during tough times, and we’re also very quick to give God the responsibility for bad things when they happen. But it’s crucial that, when such times come, we mustn’t forget our larger enemy: Satan.

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

It almost seems like a silly reminder, doesn’t it? So obvious! Of course Satan exists. References to him are peppered throughout Scripture, and in reading the Gospels we see Christ rise victorious over him once and for all. But unfortunately, Satan has a way of conning even the most steadfast Christians into temporarily forgetting about his existence. I believe we do this mainly in two ways.

Mistake #1: We direct our hate at suffering, injustice, and sorrow toward each other.

We are instruments in many ways, and many people choose to be instruments of darkness rather than of light. But should we truly speak curses on murderers, or should we pray for their repentance? Should we delight when a terrorist is given the death penalty, or should we hold firm in the faith that Christ’s love is strong enough to conquer any heart?

At the end of the day, we must remember that Satan and demonic forces are strong influences in this world, and we all fall prey to the temptation in different ways. The Bible verse that helps me remember not to direct my hate toward another person is Ephesians 6:12:

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Mistake #2: We direct our hate at suffering, injustice, and sorrow toward God himself.

Scripture tells us we are to praise God through all things. In no way does this signify that God is, himself, the cause of all things. This mindset can lead to dangerous and depressing ideas about our good Creator. Jesus told his followers,

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

In this, Jesus plainly rejects the notion that evil things (murder, destruction, and disorder) are the result of his will. Yes, God takes those things and repurposes them  for good, but God’s will is for life, abundance, and wholeness. When chaos runs rampant, as it often will because of the freedom God gives us to make choices, we must remember that it’s a result of human choice and Satan’s influence – not the desires of God.

The grace and good news is that the Holy Spirit equips us, and we need have no mortal fear of Satan…so long as we remember that he’s still around! James writes,

“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

Intersecting Faith and Life: The next time you seek to place blame or anger at the doorstep of God or another person, remember the cosmic battle that even now God wages against the powers of darkness. Let us not forget our larger enemy!

A Morning Prayer for Strength      

Lord, I am weary and don’t know when this “race” will end in my life. I feel like I’ve been running forever, trying to outrun this trial. Help me to stop trying to outrun my pain but rather run with endurance the race you have set before me. I know that because of you I am ultimately a victor over the trials in my life. I know that nothing in this world can separate me from your steadfast love. Please give me a measure of your love today; give me the strength to endure this trial. Thank you for your love for me that never ends! And thank you for the crown of joy that awaits me forever in your Kingdom! - Adrian Rogers,  Love Worth Finding

CREDIBILITY    

By Rebecca Barlow Jordan

"Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does.
But if I do it, even though you do not believe me,
believe the miracles."
John 10:37-38

FROM THE FATHER'S HEARTMy child, examine My words. Test My promises. Read of My miracles. Then ask, believing I will answer. I have no agenda except what My Father has written for Me. If I acted on My own, there would be no credibility to My character. But My authority — and My assignment — comes from above. Believe in Me because He sent Me.

A GRATEFUL RESPONSEWho in their right mind could deny Your power? Who could witness Your work and not believe? You have credibility, not because we say so, but because You mirror Your heavenly Father. You love as He loves, heal as He heals, forgive as He forgives. Lord, I don't need a miracle to know You are real.

SIMPLE TRUTH

Some people refuse to believe unless they see, and some refuse to see even when they do believe.