Bible Verse of the Day
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
A Prayer for Those Who Are Lonely or Isolated This Christmas
By Alisha Headley
Bible Reading:
“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” - Psalm 139:7-10
Listen or Read Below:
Christmastime can be full of joy, but it can also be full of loneliness and isolation. The holidays remind us of the year we’ve had, good or bad, and of the friends and family we have or don’t have around us. Perhaps you have friends and family all around you, but the holidays make you feel more alone and disconnected than ever. Whether you’re physically separated from loved ones, single, emotionally distant from family or spouse, or just going through a tough season, loneliness and isolation tend to come out during Christmas. When there is love and family time posted on social media and in every Christmas movie, it reminds us how we are not feeling those same things. It brings out feelings of being left out or feelings that your current situation is not so loving during the Christmas season.
When you’re feeling lonely and isolated, it’s tough to remember that you’re never truly alone. Today’s verse reminds us of God’s constant presence and within His never-ending presence, is also his never-ending love. Because He loves us so much, He promises to never leave us and that we are never alone. Today’s verse highlights the promises that no matter where we turn if we turn away from God Himself and His Spirit, if we turn to idols or things of the world for temporary comfort, He is still there; when we wake up, He is there, and when we go to bed, He is there. When we doubt Him, He is there/ When we cry ourselves to sleep, He is right there. When we can’t carry ourselves and get up in the morning, it’s Him who is there holding us with His right hand.
This Christmas, remember how precious you are to the Creator. Remember that there is nothing you can do or say that would ever separate His presence and love from you. It’s okay to go through Christmas feeling alone and isolated, but make sure you turn to God to fill those feelings of loneliness. Sit in His presence and let his presence overwhelm your lonely heart. He is right there, right now, right beside you as you are reading and listening to this now. He is there, and you are never ever alone.
Let’s Pray:
Dear Father,
Oh, how we need you this Christmas season! We feel alone and isolated, and seeing others’ picture-perfect posts on social media and everyone’s seeming togetherness reminds us of our aloneness. We feel lonely and isolated, but your Word promises that you are always there, and we never are truly alone. Lord, we ask that we would begin to feel that closeness and feel your presence. That it would not just be words we read in Scripture that you are near us and your presence is all around us, but that it would feel so real to us. That we would feel your presence so strongly that all the feelings of loneliness would diminish. We know that we are never alone, and you are always there, but Lord, make it known this Christmas season. Fill the empty and cracked parts of our story that are making us feel lonely. Remind us of the reason for Christmas, and may we sit with you during this season and grow more fond of you. Thank you for loving us so much that you promise to never leave us nor forsake us. Thank you for today’s verse that you truly never let us leave your sight, and you will continue to hold us up when our days feel lonely and we don’t have the strength to hold ourselves up on our own.
In your name, we pray, Jesus, amen.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/KatarzynaBialasiewicz
Alisha Headley is a writer + speaker who has a desire to meet the everyday woman in her everyday life with biblical truth. Stepping into her true calling, she left the corporate world behind as a former-financial VP to love on her family as a stay-at-home wifey + dog mama, while also being able to pursue her passion as a writer. Healing from a chapter of life consumed with lies she once believed about herself, she is inspired to point women to Christ to experience the freedom + power to overcome those lies with the truth written in God’s word. In her free time, Alisha enjoys road trips around the country, working out so she can eat her favorite foods, and creatively styling her outfits with a craft for fashion. Alisha is a proud wifey and dog mama living in Scottsdale, Arizona.
You can follow her blog by visiting her website or connect with her on facebook + instagram.
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
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Inspired by Sarah Young's classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts.
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