Your understanding of God shapes your perception of God. 

As one of the Psalms of Ascent – Psalm 130 was sung by Jewish people as they traveled up to Jerusalem to worship. These Psalms of Ascent celebrate the power, compassion, refuge, and grace that God shows His people. These songs would prepare the hearts and minds of the Jewish people as they traveled into the Holy City to worship. This psalm in particular gives us an understanding of God’s attentive nature. 

When some think about God being attentive they picture an angry God diligently taking notes on the wrong that every person commits. In their minds, every mistake is recorded in an effort to show humanity why they are evil and not good enough to live up to God’s standards. Psalm 130 shows us a different picture of God’s attentiveness. The psalmist is asking and expecting God to be attentive to his cry for help. God, in His infinite knowledge, does know all of the wrongs that you commit, but He is also attentive to your needs, your concerns, and your cries for help. 

• God is attentive to our need.
• God is sensitive to our situation.
• God is compassionate and forgiving.

There is no need to feel ashamed or fearful for crying out to God for help when you are experiencing a low moment in life. He knows. He hears. God isn’t sitting in heaven mounting up a legal case against you to prove that you aren’t worthy so he can throw you away –  God pours out His love and grace to redeem you and to bring you home. God is attentive to your cries for help.

By no means should you abuse God’s grace but instead we celebrate that God has hears our cries for help when we are victims of someone else’s sin or of our own sin. 

Hebrews 4:16 says, “Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.”

 Live It: 

• What do you need to boldly bring to God today? 

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“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this.” – Psalm 37:5

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” – James 1:12

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” – Romans 12:18

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”  – Isaiah 41:10

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  – Philippians 4:19

Live It: 

• What verses encourage you to continue to walk in faith?

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When it comes to promoting peace and unity, there are two types of people – those who drain other people with their requests, discouragements, lofty expectations, or complaints and those who energize others with their encouraging words, joy, peace, friendship, and passion for Jesus. 

It is easy to identify the drainers in our lives. These people are the one who are constantly asking us for something but never pour into us. They ask for help, suggestions, ideas, and present problems for you to fix but they fail to do the same for you. When you see a drainer walking down the hallway you feel like a wet blanket has been thrown on your joy. You know they want to talk with you but you hope that they don’t see you! They are drainers. 

Energizers are the exact opposite of drainers. These are the people that will fill you with joy and peace. They genuinely care about you, ask how you are doing, chip in to give you a hand when you are in need, and will listen without trying to formulate an answer. A smile comes to your face when you see these people in the hallway and you make it a point to see them! They are energizers. 

1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.” I love this phrase, “as you are already doing.” The church in Thessalonica encouraged one another, at least during this season of ministry, and made it a point to build one another up. Can you say the same about your church or small group? Are we known for being encouraging?

I’ve never had someone tell me that they were too encouraged. Could you imagine someone calling a meeting with a friend to say, “I appreciate all of the kind things you say about me, but you are being too encouraging. You need to tone it down!” The truth is that we all need to be encouraged more. Life is difficult and confusing. We need people who are following Jesus to help us follow Jesus. Sometimes people fail to take a step of faith because they haven’t been encouraged by other Jesus followers. 

I’m sure it is easy to think of a few drainers and encouragers in your life. Think for a minute about your friendships – are you a person who is draining others or are you energizing others? Are you a drainer or an energizer? 

Live It: 

• Are you spreading words of encouragement or discouragement? 
• Do you spread peace or do you spread descension? 

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God always directs our lives in such a way that as we are obedient he works things together for our good and His glory. 

This verse can cause anxiety for some because of the questions that arise. Is God in control of all things? Does God cause all things? Is God going to bring us out of our bad situations and into a good situation? What is “good” and “bad”? 

The biggest question that comes from this passage centers around what is the “good” will we receive? Some incorrectly teach that God is working all things together for our financial, physical or social benefit. This isn’t the Gospel message. The promise here doesn’t focus on material or earthly goods but spiritual benefit.

The “good” that is mentioned in Romans 8:28 is connected to the reference to Jesus in Romans 2:29 “For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…” The ultimate good is for us to be conformed into the likeness of Jesus. Maturing in the likeness of Christ will bring us to our true purpose in life – glorifying God. Every situation and circumstance that we encounter is changing us from who we use to be to the likeness of Jesus. Because of this, every situation can be used for “good” because we are growing in our likeness of Christ. 

Many questions surround this passage but the promise is the same – God is watching over His people. Every detail of our decisions and lives, large and small, are known by God. Nothing happens outside of His understanding or knowledge.

Live It: 

• How does a knowledge that God is working all things together for your spiritual benefit encourage you to continue in the faith when difficult times arise? 

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Why do we give gifts at Christmas? 

While the practice of giving gifts to one another during Christmas doesn’t have a clear origin, the practice is stems from the gifts that the wise men offered to Jesus after his birth. 

Shortly after Jesus was born some men from the East traveled hundreds of miles to celebrate the birth of the king of the Jews. These wise men brought gifts that were fit for a king – gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They bowed down and worshipped Jesus because the King had been born. 

Giving gifts today can quickly become about greed, self-centeredness, and materialism – but that doesn’t have to be the message of gift giving. The wise men gave gifts to express honor and worth to Jesus who was born as the king. Giving gifts is one way to express love, honor, and gratitude to the people who are in our lives. 

[Read: Why Do We Sing Christmas Carols?]

Christmas is not about giving a ton of gifts but receiving the gift of Jesus. Jesus is the ultimate gift to humanity. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The gift of God’s son is the reason for Christmas. We exchange gifts and practice selfless giving during Christmas because Jesus selflessly gave His life as an offering for humanity.

Live It:

• How can you focus on the gift of Jesus’ love and salvation this Christmas? 

Why do we sing Christmas carols? 

Carols began as pagan songs that were sung during the winter solstice. Carols, joyful songs, lifted spirits during the long, cold, dark winter months. By the late Middle Ages, when most of our Christmas traditions began, carols were associated with Christmas and the birth of Jesus. During the Middle Ages, most people were not able to read and write. Singing songs about the birth of Jesus was a great way to teach religious truths to people who were unable to read. 

Today, Christmas carols are joyous songs meant to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The darkness of sin has been broken by the light of Christ coming into the world. Jesus doesn’t merely lift our spirits but He gives us new life, new hope, and a new identity. Psalm 95:1 says, “Come, let us shout joyfully to the LORD, shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation!” Our joy comes from the Lord of our salvation. The Rock of our salvation came into the world as a baby and was laid in a manger. The joy, worry, pain, and anxiety that came with Jesus’ entrance into the world was the first step of his earthly ministry that would make salvation available to the entire world. 

[Read: Why Do We Put Lights On A Christmas Tree?]

Christmas carols align our minds with our hearts – our knowledge of salvation with the joy of salvation.

Live It: 

• What is your favorite Christmas carol? 
• How does it remind you of the hope that is found in Jesus? 

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