|
Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "Lord Dismiss Us With Your Blessing"1 (Lyrics) |
Romans 15:13 – Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NASB)
As a young "baby Christian" mother of two sons, I missed my parents terribly. They lived nearly 700 miles from my young family. I looked forward to Christmas so much in the years when they could make the drive and bring along my younger siblings and my grandmother to spend a week with us. My very young boys knew them because I spent time showing their pictures and telling stories about them. Anticipation for their arrival was at a high pitch.
Then — the visit came to an end in an instant. Our nurturing and enjoyable time was over as the family waved their goodbyes from the car, as my dad drove out of sight. I felt so alone because I had no idea when I would see them again. I felt as if they were gone forever. My tears automatically flowed without warning for several days. I didn't know at that time that I had a Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God, living within me to comfort me. I felt so alone.
We hear people say that somewhere during the holiday or shortly afterward, they feel deflated, like the air has been let out of their balloon. There are many reasons that people feel sad, alone, or empty, and may even be grieving. All types of preparations, unmet expectations, isolation because of health, age, not having family around, or other loneliness can bring on depression or feelings of loss. This wears people down. These feelings are real and need to be acknowledged.
Have we prayed for God's strength to keep our focus, energy, and emotions balanced? Have we drawn on His love to fill the emptiness that we feel during this time?
We believers have an incredible Lord Who has given us His Holy Spirit to comfort us. The Holy Spirit never leaves us, He prays with and for us, and He helps us to overcome feelings of depression or grief with the sunshine of His love. He delights in warming us with His presence. In time, He will restore our mind and renew our energy. He will comfort us in our time of sadness, and then, He will lift us up and balance us in His mercy and grace. He is ever-present and will not abandon us.
How amazing it is that He can calm our deepest fears and lift our hopes, so that we can function again. Remember that the Holy Spirit lives and breathes within you. Do you know the Holy Spirit? Do you understand that He is the power of God to work in your life?
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, we pray that new people may come to know You, and that we believers may learn to live in the resurrected power, comfort, and hope of the Holy Spirit. We praise Your holy name. Amen.
Forward this devotional Share this devotional on Facebook Like PresbyCan on Facebook
Although PresbyCan doesn't have a mobile app, you can still have a PresbyCan icon on your mobile phone home screen. 
Thursday, January 23, 2025 – In Europe — Pray for the Jewish community to be encouraged and feel the love of their non-Jewish Christian friends. Pray that the Holy Spirit would open the hearts and minds of these secular Jews, and for God's leadership in my work.
daughter: "Update December 30, 2024: And please touch her heart that she may turn to YOU.* November 12, 2024:..." 
Thank you.
Amen, Karen! To God be the glory! Blessings.
You are right and a real blessing with your understanding at our time of need (NOW!) Thank you for writing.
Amen Karen.
Living in a very isolated and tiny place, l don’t know what l would do without His company.
It was just last week that I commented on your submission…and another beautiful story of how loneliness can set in. We do need to remember the Son-shine love our saviour has for us. Thanks for your story!
Dear Karen,
Very inspiring and mindful devotional you have given us today. Yes, having the Holy Spirit dwelling within us is the greatest source of peace and comfort for us at all times. Our loving Lord’s provisions are endless. Blessings for these great writings you do.
Thank you for this and I will share that, for me, the story of the birth and visit by the Shepherds has always been a bit unbelievable. I say that because for them to come to the birthplace must have taken a long time and yet it is pictured as though they arrived at the stable within a very short time after the birth.
Good morning, Karen,
Thank you for your true words this morning, we can relate, we spent 1000s of miles from home. One year I spent Christmas in a camp in Oman. But faith and love and fellowship with others carried us through those times.
Blessings and a happy New Year.
Karen, I read your devotional and then followed it up with another and found this short prayer that seemed to fit with your thoughts:
“Praise to you, O Lord, for your mercies are great. Though our circumstances may be less than we desire, you accompany us and make us whole. Help us trust your healing power. Amen.”
Dear Karen,
I love this devotional because it is so full of love and feelings. You are an amazing writer.
I am lucky that I lived about 1/2 mile from my family home and most of my family stayed within hour’s drive of home. But still those feelings after Christmas were similar but not so large because of the anticipation and hard work are draining. You hit the nail right on the head.
This statement says it all “How amazing it is that He can calm our deepest fears and lift our hopes, so that we can function again. Remember that the Holy Spirit lives and breathes within you. Do you know the Holy Spirit? Do you understand that He is the power of God to work in your life?”
May we all remember the power of the Holy Spirit and work at passing it along to others. I share the devotionals with my own feelings that they stir inside of me with about 20 people each day which hopefully inspires their faith and trust in Jesus to grow and that they also pass them along. Thank you and may you and your family be blessed.
Thank you so much for this Karen. I so needed this this morning.