by Linda Knight Inspirational Christian devotions, faith, hope and love
Author: nofearlinda
I am a retired public school teacher that has developed a love of writing. God has lead me to write after many years of study and a life full of experiences. God has shown Himself faithful as I desire to share His love and unlimited character with others.
Besides writing, I love to quilt, cook, garden and travel. I enjoy spending time with my grandson, friends and family.
After spending some time in prayer, God has impressed upon me that my word for 2025 is to be Thankfulness. The idea solidified for me when I was convicted to begin a thankfulness journal for the New Year. Many times life seems overwhelming, and it is easy to get bogged down in the literal aches and pains of the days. God reminded me that thankfulness is an attitude of the heart and one He desires for me to cultivate in all circumstances.
After choosing my Word, thankfulness, I needed to generate 8-10 related words that come to mind when I think about thankfulness. I came up with: gratitude, heart, appreciative, grace, pleasant, willingness, praise, desired by God, loving.
I then went to the graphic design so I could visualize my word at http://www.wordart.com I played around with different images and colors and found I liked the turkey the best. It made me smile!
I thought it was a perfect visual as I always associate thankfulness with thanksgiving. However, this year I am seeing each day that thankfulness is day by day.
My next task is find the scripture to go with my word. I look forward to the search.
Have you ever thought of having a Word for the year? I started doing this in 2019. I was asked to choose a word for the year and then a Bible verse or verses to support me in that focus. I prayed and asked God to give me a word to focus upon for 2019. He gave me the word Trust. Right then I was going through some things that required that I Trust in Him more than ever and not the world, things or people around me. The verses I chose were Psalm 37:5, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this” and Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,
In 2020, God gave me the word Hope. I did not know a pandemic was coming but God did and it was the perfect word. In 2021 I found myself bogged down by the pandemic, life’s complexities with schooling my grandkids, working on Zoom and continued isolation. I felt I lacked something and the word God gave me was Joy. In 2022, God impressed upon me that I needed to seek Him and focus on Faith. In 2023, my word was Obedience. That word was wonderful and I saw spiritual growth in so many ways. In 2024, my word was Commit. As I recently reflected, God showed His faithfulness in different aspects of my life as I committed to serve Him.
So what about 2025? Actually, the word God has impressed upon me is Thankfulness. Unlike last year when I prayed for several weeks about the word, it came to me quickly and I feel assured this is the word God intends for 2025. In the next few days, I will pray about 8-10 words related to thankfulness that will help to hone and sharpen my thankfulness focus.
Pray about your 1 Word. Ask God to give you direction and focus that can carry and motivate you throughout the year. If you have it, send me a response, I’d love to see it. I’ll blog more about the related words in a few days.
Linda
(After I got started with this, I discovered there is actually a book called One Word that will change your life. It is written by Jon Gordon, Dan Britton and Jimmy Page. It is a short book that explains how they arrived at this discovery and how God has used it in their lives both personally and corporately. I got mine on Amazon.)
We live in uncertain times and do not know what this year will bring. However, as a believer I can know with certainty that I know the one who Holds the Future! As I testified in my reflections for 2024, God is faithful. Here are some scriptures to encourage you as you look into the New Year: (be sure to read the note to self at the bottom)
I
God is faithful and His mercies are new each and every morning.Lamentations 3:21-23“But this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” I can cling to God’s character as I traverse this year being assured of His unending love for me and His faithfulness to those who believe in Him.
God cares for me. Nahum 1:7“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,” I can depend upon the goodness of God, His protective nature and His care for me.
God a plan for my life that is good.Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Whatever this year may hold, I can trust in God’s plans for my life as they are good and filled with hope. My future is secure in Him.
God’s salvation plan is secure because of my faith in Jesus. John 10:28“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
God’s promises are true and He is always with me. 2 Peter 1:4 “Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” I know God has given me His promises so I can live rightly for Him without fear. Deuteronomy 31:6“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” I do not need to live in fear of them- the world, enemies, bad economic downturns and difficult times, because God is always with me. I can depend upon His faithful character.
May you look to the New Year with hope and anticipation of what God will do in and through your life in 2025! The world is constantly changing and often not in a good way. But we can remain steadfast and plugged into God as He is constant and will not change on us. Hebrews 13:8 is a promise to hold onto, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”. Praise God we have a faithful, immutable God to lead us in 2025!
I am always amazed when I reach the 31st of December and look back. Where did it all go? My word for this year was Commit and I choose the following two scriptures.
Psalm 37:5 “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”
Commit is almost a dirty word in today’s society. Trying to get people to commit to being on a committee, working with a group, deciding to read or study a certain book, being in a relationship… etc. People don’t seem to want to tie themselves down incase 1- something better comes along or 2-things don’t go so well, they worry about how to get out of it. Knowing this, God wanted me to focus on things in my life and be faithful to continue them.
God enable me to read the New Testament this year with a reading plan so that a read a portion of scripture daily.
God enabled me to continue working and serving children in the school district that are unable to go to school and to work with children at Bible Study Fellowship.
God gave me health issues to persevere through, though no always cheerfully I might add.
God allowed me to continue writing my blog and one for the church I attend.
What did I learn? God is faithfully with me each day and gives me joy and inspiration when I write or teach. Even when things are not the best, God is with me and helps me to persevere. God provides me with multiple opportunities to thank and praise Him!
I am looking forward to 2025 and what God will teach me in the New Year.
This Christmas Day our scripture is from Matthew 1:18-23. This passage recalls the angel’s appearance to Joseph and the revelation that Mary, his betrothed, was to bear the son of God, the Messiah. Let the familiar words cause you to reflect on the place Jesus has in your life.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”(which means, God with us).“
What does it mean that God is with us? How much God must love us to send His son to dwell with us and die for our redemption? Without Jesus, we would still be stuck in our sinful nature and subject to God’s wrath. Without Jesus, we would not know the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit in our lives through faith. Without Jesus, we would be lost and without hope.
Thank you God for sending Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-6 captures our hope in Jesus. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” Thank you Jesus for coming to save us.
May you have a blessed Christmas as you remember how much we have in Jesus!
Today we come to the Christmas Eve story of the birth of Jesus. I marvel each time I read this passage at the protection, the provision and the majesty of God that we see in these words. Luke 2:1-20
The journey for Mary and Joseph at the decreed of the government was used by God to reposition Mary and Joseph to be in Bethlehem for Jesus’ birth as foretold by the prophets hundreds of years before. “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. God protected them on the road, made it possible for Mary to withstand the journey on a donkey and brought them into Bethlehem for the birth.
The birth of Jesus was timed perfectly as God provided a place for them to stay, when there was nothing available, and provided for the delivery of the child. “6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.“
After the birth, God joyously announced the arrival of His Son to the lowly shepherds watching their flocks just outside Bethlehem. “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Having received the glorious news the shepherds wanted to see this child for themselves. “15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.“
Do you seek to see Jesus yourself during this Advent season? Do you identify with the journey and how God provided? God can and will do similar things in our lives if we know Jesus. Knowing Jesus is the key to life and happiness as he brings love and peace into our hearts.
I pray this Christmas Eve story finds a special place in your heart today.
Our scripture for today continues on the theme of Love after lighting the Love Candle yesterday on the Advent Wreath. 1 John 4:9-11 speaks of God’s great love for you and me.
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
The word propitiation is not one we use much. The dictionary defines it as appeasement. That is what Jesus did for us in turning God’s wrath away from us, appeasing God. Jesus covers our sins with His righteousness and enables us to be reconciled to God. God’s love is amazing in that He sacrificed His own son on our behalf. Jesus’ love is amazing as He did as His Father asked and came willingly to sacrifice himself for you and me.
Paul is encouraging us in sight of this great love to pass it forward and treat others with love and care. Just as God loved us we are to love one another. Of course that is easier said than done. Only through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit is this possible. He empowers us as we love Him and seek to live for Him.
As we near the end of our Season of Advent, let His light shine in you as you show His love to those around you.
Today’s scripture is from Isaiah 9 and describes the coming Christ. It tells us that He will come as a child but his potential for impact will be enormous. All of creation will rest upon Him and His kingdom will be eternal.
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!
As you reflect on the Love of God that caused Him to send Jesus to provide for us, to redeem us and reconcile us to Him, say a prayer of thanks for his generous love. John 3:16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” It was love for you and me that motivated God to send Jesus. I am continually touched by the message of Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that whilewewere stillsinners, Christ died for us.” He loves me that much! He loves you too. Turn to Him this season and feel His love.
Today’s Advent scripture is from John 1. The first scriptures in verses 6-8 tell us who John is was and why he had come.
“God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.” He was to have a powerful testimony before the people about the messiah to come.
Later in Chapter 1 verses 19-28 relates a confrontation John the Baptist had with the religious leaders of his day. “This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” 20 He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?” “No,” he replied. “Are you the Prophet we are expecting?” “No.” 22 “Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”
23 John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”24 Then the Pharisees who had been sent 25 asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?” 26 John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. 27 Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.” 28 This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.”
We see very clearly that John knew who he was and what his purpose. Even though the Pharisees were learned men who had studied the Torah, they did not see that John was the one foretold by the prophet Isaiah. John did not try to persuade them or mislead them in any way – he gave them the truth of the coming Messiah who would be greater by far.
How can we relate to this passage? Do you think God has a mission for you too? Jesus told us in Matthew 28:18-20 “Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” When Jesus gave this command, it was to and for all believers until He returns. So what are you doing about telling others?
I created this acrostic to help me remember the importance of being a WITNESS.
W-wonder and amazement should be on my mind as I look to tell others of my faith in Jesus.
I–intentional giving out of my testimony of how I came to trust in Jesus.
T-timely speaking to others, look for that God opportunities.
N- newness of life in Jesus is good news for everyone, let it be known.
E- eagerness to tell others at home, in my city, in the world.
S-seeking to tell the lost about Jesus is a must do.
S- Savior Jesus is my answer, I want you to know Him too!
I pray this acrostic speaks to your heart and you see that you have the same purpose as John the Baptist to tell others about Jesus. It is a timely message that is so needed, especially at this Advent Season.
Today’s passage is from Psalm 89. This psalm begins with a declaration by the psalmist that he knows and trusts in God’s love. I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness. 2 Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens. Can you make this same declaration? Do you know that God’s love is unfailing and eternal? David had a life filled with challenges that serve as an example to us today that no matter what happens in our lives- God is always there with His eternal love.
Verses 19-26 Long ago you spoke in a vision to your faithful people. God made a covenant with His people and is faithful You said, “I have raised up a warrior. I have selected him from the common people to be king. God choose David as king. 20 I have found my servant David. I have anointed him with my holy oil. 21 I will steady him with my hand; with my powerful arm I will make him strong. God promises to stand by David and support him. 22 His enemies will not defeat him, nor will the wicked overpower him. 23 I will beat down his adversaries before him and destroy those who hate him. His enemies will not overcome him. 24 My faithfulness and unfailing love will be with him, and by my authority he will grow in power. God promises faithful love and growth in our lives. 25 I will extend his rule over the sea, his dominion over the rivers. 26 And he will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’ David acknowledged God and he was called by God a man after His own heart.
Do you seen God’s hand in you life as David did? The promises made to David are ours to claim in Jesus. He came that we could be part of his forever family. He came that we would know Him and have Him to depend upon in our lives. He promises that temptations and enemies will not overcome us and that we will be victorious in Jesus. Can you claim that God is your rock and your salvation? Can you call him Father? In Jesus all this is possible. It is said that “Wisemen” still seek Him, will you be wise and seek Jesus this season? He is ready and willing if you will just call upon Him. Learn to know Him like David did and your life will be mightily blessed.
Fearless Living 