WAITING

The Eleventh Day of Christmas

PSALM 40:1 (MSG)
I waited and waited and waited for God.

    At last he looked; finally he listened.

JOHN 5:7-8 (NLT)
   “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”

   Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”.

THE ESSENCE
Eventually, we realize that God hears us. 

DAILY FODDER
Why do we have to wait so long to get a response from God? What's the point in that?

PRAYER
I'm grateful, God, that you do listen to us. I admit, though, that I'm impatient and that I don't like waiting for an answer. And it’s even more frustrating when your response isn't exactly what I thought I wanted. Help me to embrace the waiting so that I can experience the type of healing that only you know I need. I'm going to treat all the waiting experiences as opportunities to expand my faith in you. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

LIVING ACCORDING TO TRUTH

The Tenth Day of Christmas

JEREMIAH 5:3 (MSG)
But you, God, you have an eye for truth, don’t you?

3 JOHN 5 (MSG)
Dear friend, when you extend hospitality to Christian brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers, you make the faith visible.

THE ESSENCE
Faithfulness is living according to the truth. 

DAILY FODDER
Why do you think John uses hospitality extended to strangers to illustrate the notion of faithfully living according to the truth? 

PRAYER
My Lord, you are the way, the truth, and the life. You see through my times of hypocrisy, pretense, and going through the motions. Help me to be open and honest with you always. I want to live the truth, not just believe it. Let me see opportunities to serve faithfully my brothers and sisters in you. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

THOSE WHOM GOD BLESSES

The Ninth Day of Christmas

PSALM 115:13 (GNT)
God will bless everyone who honors him,
the great and the small alike.

1 PETER 3:9 (NLT)
Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.

THE ESSENCE
God blesses those who honor him through their radical Christ-like actions.  

DAILY FODDER
Practically speaking, what does it look like to bless those who abuse you? How do we do that so it doesn't appear that we are condoning their actions? 

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, you are so good to me. Thank you for countless blessings day after day. I seek to have your mind and attitude, yet I succumb to my sinful nature. Please turn my pride into humility. Instead of reacting in anger, lead me to pray for and to bless others. Shine your love and light through me. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

THE TRANSFORMATIVE LOVE OF CHRIST

The Eighth Day of Christmas

ISAIAH 25:8 (ABP)
God will transform the humiliation his people around the world have suffered, turning it into honor.

1 JOHN 4:9 (MSG)
This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him.

THE ESSENCE
Through the love fleshed out in Christ Jesus, God reveals the love that forever transforms our lives.  

DAILY FODDER
Consider making the TRANSFORMATIVE LOVE OF CHRIST your theme for 2026. Use the next twelve months to study and ponder what this key idea means.

PRAYER
Glorious God, I'm grateful for the transforming presence and sacrifice of Christ Jesus. All my guilt and shame have been dismissed and I'm free to live a new life associated with him. Forgive me for wasting my energy on lesser pursuits. Help me to understand and embrace the new life he gives. My goal this year is to live into the transformative love of Christ. Amen. 

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.