The One Year Wisdom for Women Devotional: 365 Devotions through the Proverbs (94 page)

December 24

Good Things Come in Small Packages

Do you ever feel little? Do you ever feel that your life doesn’t matter? I think most of us feel like that at times. For many people Christmas can be the hardest time of the year. You look around and feel that you don’t measure up, you don’t have the picture-perfect family, you feel small, insignificant. So if that’s you, God wants you to know that he has poured wisdom and beauty into weak, little things.

There’s a test that’s circulating on the Internet:

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
   
2. Name the last five winners of the Miss America Pageant.
   
3. Name ten people who have won a Nobel Prize.
   

How did you do? The point is, none of us really remember the prize winners of yesterday. Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one.

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
   
2. Name three friends who have helped you through difficult times.
   
3. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
   

Easier? The lesson: the people who make the difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, money, or awards. They are simply the ones who care. So be yourself. Everyone else is taken.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

The very first Christmas eve occurred in the little town of Bethlehem. Two great men were born there, David and Jesus. David was a man who loved God; Jesus is God who loves man. Sometimes great things and people have humble beginnings. Athlete Lance Armstrong never knew his birth father. Apple creator Steve Jobs was born to an unwed mother. Albert Einstein had a speech impediment as a child. Charles Schultz was a shy, timid teenager. Plain, ordinary, slightly flawed—do you feel that describes you? Brown paper packages tied up with string . . . these are a few of God’s favorite things.

One Year Bible Reading

Zechariah 6:1–7:14; Revelation 15:1-8; Psalm 143:1-12; Proverbs 30:24-28

December 25

Come, Let Us Adore Him

     
There are three things that are stately in their stride,

          
four that move with stately bearing:

     
a lion, mighty among beasts,

          
who retreats before nothing;

     
a strutting rooster, a he-goat,

          
and a king with his army around him.

Stately
is “a manner that is graceful and yet weighty and dignified.” It is the picture of strength under control. The lion stands above the rest.

On this Christmas day let’s remember that the baby born in a manger was really a lion king. He was and is the Lion of the tribe of Judah in disguise. The eternal King of the universe chose to humble himself and become humanly confined to that little body. Immanuel—such an amazing title. Do you know what it means? “God with us.” It was God in that manger so small and yet so stately.

Let’s read the words of that wonderful song “Mary, Did You Know?”

     
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to the blind man?

     
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?

     
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

     
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God?

Merry Christmas. May you know that your Lion King became weak so you could be made strong. Now that is a King who was and is stately.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

That first Christmas day there were many who had no idea that the King of the universe was near. They were busy, they were distracted. We, too, can get so caught up in all the busyness of this Christmas day and entirely shut him out.

Before the day is over, will you slip away to a quiet spot? Will you bow your head and even get on your knees if you can? Will you still your heart and let the words of another Christmas song invite you into his presence?

     
O come, let us adore him.

     
O come, let us adore him.

     
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

One Year Bible Reading

Zechariah 8:1-23; Revelation 16:1-21; Psalm 144:1-15; Proverbs 30:29-31

December 26

Just Stop!

     
If you have been foolish in exalting yourself

     
Or if you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth.

Here we’re warned of two very foolish things: exalting yourself and devising trouble.

What is the practical advice given to those who do that? Stop! Put your hand on your mouth and stop talking. It’s foolish to either excuse the behavior or accuse someone else. Just stop talking.

So let’s look at the foolish behavior of exalting self. In most families there is someone who is always on their high horse, belittling others, critical, bossy. Anytime we exalt ourselves, others are unexalted, whether we mean to or not. So if it’s you, put your hand on your mouth, and let it be a filter saying, “In this conversation, Lord, check me. Keep me from saying anything that makes me look better than others, puts others down, or hurts other’s feelings.”

Secondly, have your words been used to plant little seeds of discord? In your family have you criticized your sister or brother-in-law or mother? Are you still complaining about something someone did last Christmas? If so, face it. The Bible calls that “devising evil.” Shame on you. In all these things put your hand over your mouth and stop it.

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29,
NKJV
).

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Harmony and sweetness of spirit are distinct characteristics of godliness. Could you say that is your heart’s desire? If it is, then it’s good to do some periodic fruit inspecting. Prayerfully ponder all the interaction with people you have had over the last few weeks. Was there evidence that the Holy Spirit and all of his personality traits (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) were active and overflowing in your life? If not, would you like him to be?

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, I come to you with an honest heart. I know I fail. But with all my heart I want to grow. I’m like an empty cup; fill me with your Holy Spirit and make me more like you.

One Year Bible Reading

Zechariah 9:1-17; Revelation 17:1-18; Psalm 145:1-21; Proverbs 30:32

December 27

Calm Down

     
As churning the milk produces butter,

          
and as twisting the nose produces blood,

          
so stirring up anger produces strife.

Agitation. Jon Courson comments, “Rather than letting hurt feelings heal, those who continually revisit the problems and rekindle the fire of misunderstanding will make the situation infinitely worse, as sure as stirring milk results in butter and wringing the nose brings forth blood.”

Let’s take an example. Your friend calls. She is livid. Her mother-in-law was domineering and rude on Christmas day. Your friend is hurt and wants to vent. Okay, what kind of friend are you, really? A carnal friend would not just be sympathetic, she would add fuel to the fire, adding criticism and reinforcing the woundedness. This does not help, and it is not true friendship, either.

As true godly friends, this very same encounter could take you both to a higher place, the Cross. First, just listen, but pray as you listen. Sometimes, when people share, they see things more clearly. Then ask, “How can I help? How can I encourage you in the Lord?” Then don’t hang up until you’ve said, “Let’s pray regarding your mother-in-law and let’s pray
for
her, right now.” I’ve heard it said that you cannot truly pray for someone and hate them at the same time.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9,
KJV
).

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Honestly, are you annoyed, irritated, even fuming at someone right now? Anger is a dangerous thing. Here are some tips to avoid the pitfalls and traps.

• Don’t call your friend to vent. Getting her riled up won’t help.
  
• Don’t just stuff your feelings either. That can turn to bitterness and resentment and depression.
  
• Take your anger to God, not just once, but again and again until it’s gone.
  

Let’s Pray

Lord, I come to you alone with this hurt. Please give me your grace to open my heart to release it to you. Free me of this burden. Free me from dark, angry thoughts and replace them with your peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

One Year Bible Reading

Zechariah 10:1–11:17; Revelation 18:1-24; Psalm 146:1-10; Proverbs 30:33