Luke 1 tells the story of the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah and Elizabeth. They had no other children, and were much too old to have children without a miracle, but the angel, Gabriel, came to Zechariah and told him they would have a child, who would prepare people for the arrival of the Messiah.

Zechariah was skeptical as a result, Gabriel caused him to be unable to speak until John was born.

When Zechariah was finally allowed to speak, he spoke the prophecy of Jesus’ coming in Luke 1:68-79. The final verses are a beautiful and simple summary of the Good news, Luke 1:78-79 “Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”

Dear Lord, We praise and thank you for sending the “morning light from heaven,” which is Jesus who brings us out of the darkness of our sin and into your light, allowing us to live in Your peace. In His name we pray. Amen.

How often have we faced a situation where we knew what we should do, but had trouble controlling ourselves and doing the right thing? It might be something simple, like skipping desert, working out rather than watching TV, or going to Church rather than sleeping in. It might also be something very serious like avoiding a cigarette for a quitting smoker, a drink for an alcoholic, or drugs for an addict.

Paul says in his letter to the Philippians that he has the secret to being content in “any and every circumstance,” verse 4:13 he writes “for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.” TLB

What he is saying is that he doesn’t have to carry the burden of his struggles. Christ carries the burden, allowing him to handle anything, even torture and death for his beliefs which he endured.

Dear Lord Jesus, help us have the knowledge that we can do all things and handle anything if we put our faith in You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Do you exercise regularly and read about health and fitness routines to keep yourself healthy? Do you take vitamins and manage what you eat? These are good things to do, as it says in 1 Corinthians 6 our bodies are the Lord’s temple, and we should, as it says in verse 20, “glorify God in our bodies.”

But even more important than our health and fitness routine, is trusting in God’s wisdom and doing what he tells us. Proverbs 3:7,8 says, “Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.” NLT

Dear Lord, help us turn away from those evil things we know we should avoid, and follow your will in our lives. Help us look to your word in the Bible, and believe your promise for the healing and strength. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

We never know, at the time, the good that will come from the struggles and tragedies in our lives, but as Christians we do know that God uses “all things” for our good.

The apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:28 “and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” And says in verse 31 ” So if God is for us, who can be against us?” NIV

We can proceed in our lives with this power, knowing that if we love God…keeping His will as our priority, we have His almighty power coordinating “all things” for our good.

Dear Lord, we thank you that we know you are there for us; that our struggles and tragedies are not a surprise to you and you are using them for our good. Help us trust your will and be at peace in this knowledge. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Most of us know the story of Jesus tempted in the wilderness in Matthew 4. Verses 4:3-4 write, “During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

The scripture that Jesus is referencing is Deuteronomy 8:3, which tells the story about God providing manna to the Jews when they were in the desert after escaping from Egypt.

There are many ways to look at Jesus’ comment, “that people do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

It is easy to think the passage was just about spirituality, that Jesus is saying we need to feed our spiritual self with God’s word. However, the reference back to the story in Deuteronomy is a story of God fulfilling the physical needs and wants of the Jews in the desert, not just their spiritual needs. I think we can get this message from Jesus’ words, as well. The message that God’s word, the Bible, will give us direction and wisdom to provide for our physical wants and needs as well as our spiritual needs and wants.

Dear Lord, whether we acknowledge it or not, you provide everything we have. Help us remember to praise and thank you for what you provide us. Help us also to come to you for both our spiritual and physical needs and wants. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.