Rend Collective - Campfire Christmas DevotionalSample

"For All That You Have Done” Devotional
Rend Collective

Your grace will never be forgot
Your mercy all my life
Will be my soul's forever song
My story and my light.

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him, from generation to generation.” - Luke 1: 46-50

Scottish tradition is to sing Auld Lang Syne to commemorate times of significance. It can be a birthday, the new year, a wedding, anything you want to celebrate and remember. We think there’s something incredibly profound about this practice because it sets a marker in a place in time. It’s declaring we won’t forget this moment soon.

Patrick, in our band, keeps a prayer log. He writes down every prayer request, no matter how small and insignificant. When his prayers are answered he writes that down too. It’s a log of God’s faithfulness to him in both the big and small things. While the rest of us aren’t quite as organised and meticulous as all that, we still believe there’s something absolutely necessary about remembering and praising God for his faithfulness.

The Bible also full of exhortations to remember the works and wonders of God. It’s because we’re prone to forget, to not even notice sometimes when our hearts’ cries are answered. We feel our need for Jesus’ power acutely in hard times, and are quick to exclude him from our celebrations. But the reality is God is faithful all the time. In the sorrow, in the dancing, in the laughter and celebration, even when we think there is no hope.

We need to preach and sing to ourselves so we don’t forget.

The Israelites would build altars to remember the works of God. Every momentous occasion, whether joyful or sad was marked by a time of communion with the Father. There’s something irreplaceable and powerful about remembering God’s work in our lives as a community, as the family of God. So when one of us is faltering, the others can come around and say remember when God was victorious? He will be so again.

So as this year comes to an end, let’s build altars in our hearts. Let’s bring this year to our Heavenly Father who has triumphed over sin, death, and all of life’s sorrows. He’s the one who brings the ultimate celebration into our lives. And he’s given us each other to sing with, for now and all of eternity.

Take some time to remember all God has done this year. Share it with a friend or family member, celebrate his faithfulness with others.