Daily Devotional for December 21, 2015

Luke 2:6-7
...and while they were there, she gave birth to her first-born son. She dressed him in baby clothes and laid him on a bed of hay, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

There is an old adage that “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.” Mary knew that her “due date” was eminent.  But like many expectant mothers, the exact hour that the newborn was to arrive was a mystery. Once in a while, there is no time to adequately prepare for childbirth.  It happens more often than we realize.  Even though everyone knows that a baby is on the way, you hear about infants being born in cabs, on the bathroom floor at home, and in other less-than-ideal locations.

So what do we learn from situations that stop us dead in our tracks and instantly change our course?  It seems to me that these are opportunities for us to recognize the supremacy of God.  I can often see how God orchestrated dozens of things perfectly amidst the unsettling nature of events that have unfolded in my own life.  I can see how beautifully God prepared for the birth of His Son – our Savior – in the lowliest of places.  How else could He have shown us the purity of humility than to deliver the Prince of Peace in a bed of hay?

Instead of telling God how we intend for things to go, why don’t we ask Him to show us what to do with each day?  Rather than question His motives and the unexpected “deliveries,” shouldn’t we ask God to direct our steps and guide us as we navigate the detours?  What do you suppose would happen if we started trusting God in everything…even when it didn’t appear that things were going to turn out as we had hoped?  Are we ready to deliver a baby in a bed of hay…to surrender our plans and ideas of how things should go in favor of God’s?

We’ve been given the perfect demonstration of complete trust in God - and His plans -  over our own mortal ideas.  Isn’t it time we took this to heart and incorporated this attitude in our own life?  Are we really ready to “let go and let God?”  Isn’t this the right time to do so?


©2015 Debbie Robus

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