The purpose of this devotional is to help prepare you for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. You may do this as your own quiet time, but we would encourage you to gather some family or loved ones to go through it together.

Most of my life, I have found myself questioning everything. I questioned every opportunity or decision I had to make. It is easy to find yourself questioning: Am I making the right decisions for my child? Am I teaching my child enough to love and honor God? Is this the job God is calling me to do to fulfill His purpose for me? It is easy to doubt your life when you try to do it on your own. But, God doesn’t call us to do it on our own. He tells us to trust Him!

A few years ago, I was at a job that I had planned to retire from. However, my plans did not line up with God’s plan for me. After 7 years at this job, I felt God calling me to leave this job for another job. I had so many questions about how it was possible. Surely, God wasn’t calling me to do this. I tried fighting it, and after 2 weeks I submitted to God. Every question and every detail I had thought of to make this switch possible was answered. God provided the way for this transition to be possible because it was His plan for me.

I wonder how Mary felt when the angel Gabriel came to her and told her of God’s plan for her to carry a child who would be named Jesus. In Luke 1:34, Mary questioned God’s plan “How will this be…since I am a virgin?” It is hard for us to understand God’s plan, but we have to trust and have faith. Later in verse 38 Mary answered “I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be fulfilled”. As we celebrate Christmas, remember God has a plan for us and we need to trust and submit to Him!
-Melissa Sage, Accountant