Encouragement

“For the sake of Your name, Lord, revive me. In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble. And in Your faithfulness, destroy my enemies, And eliminate all those who attack my soul, For I am Your servant.” – ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭143‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬‬‬

David’s prayer for deliverance, where the psalmist asks God to preserve their life, bring them out of trouble, and destroy their enemies, all for the sake of God’s name, righteousness, and steadfast love, recognizing they are God’s servant.

It is evident that the top two priorities in His relationship to God are worship and prayer. He continually praises, offers up sacrificial worship, and desires His presence daily. In his prayer life, he continually calls and cries out to Him. In this, God knew he was a man after His heart.

There are four keys in these two verses that are good for us to see:

First, for the sake of Your name. It is His name that gives us access to Him. It is in His name that we uphold. It’s so important in our prayer life that Jesus gave the disciples His name. “My Father will give you whatever you ask in My Name.

Secondly, in Your righteousness. Our righteousness is as filthy rags; it is unacceptable in His Presence. We are instructed to seek the righteousness of Jesus. In which we received when we were born again. We are clothed, robed, in His righteousness. Standing faultless before the throne.

Third, in Your lovingkindness. His faithfulness and new mercies are great in keeping His covenant to us. His steadfast love never ceases, and no matter our failures, it does not change in any way. No Never!

Fourthly, for I am Your servant. He reaffirms his personal commitment to God’s will and purpose.
He has answered God’s call and choosing of him. He knows He will never abandon His servants.

In closing, there is one repeated word: Your. This is the focus of prayer, fixing our eyes on Him, the author and finisher of our faith. Be honor and glory to His name.

“Arise and shine” the prophet Isaiah calls out to the people of Israel, “For your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1).

This is a wake-up call with an equal amount of optimism and purpose spoken to the people of God who might have wanted to pull the covers back over their head. As Paul wrote, “Awake thou who sleepest, and Christ will give you light.”

Jesus said, “Do not hide your light under a bushel.” It is the light that shines forth in us that brings glory to God. Giving God glory starts with recognizing that God is the source of life, truth, love, and all good things. It’s saying (out loud or in your heart), “God, You are worthy.”

This can happen through prayer, worship, or simply thanking God. When you give God glory, you’re not taking credit for everything yourself. Instead, you’re acknowledging God’s role—your abilities, opportunities, and successes as gifts rather than something you earned alone.

Actions matter just as much as words. Showing love, humility, honesty, forgiveness, and compassion reflects God’s character and gives Him glory.

In this sense, your life becomes a “picture” of what God is like. Giving God glory means making God visible and honored through how you think, speak, and live—so that others (and you yourself) see more of God, not just you. Two angelic declarations that manifest heaven are “Holy, Holy, Holy” and “Glory to God in the Highest.” The announcement of the birth of Jesus was full of the Glory of God.

How powerful is our confession when we simply say, Glory to God! It is a part of our giving to Him. He alone deserves all of the Glory. Blessings!

We know and have heard many sermons on joy. It is one of the wonderful evidences of the Holy Ghost, especially the baptism in the Holy Ghost! I remember after receiving Him the most joy and gladness I had ever experienced. For righteousness, peace, and joy are in the Holy Ghost. We are baptized in Him and receive the Kingdom of God with great joy.

The night of Jesus’ birth, the heavens were filled with great glory and great joy. This great joy was announced to and for all people.

Be joyful unto Him and bless His name was a chorus we sang during the pouring out of His Spirit in the late 60s and 70s.

Great joy in the Bible centers on God’s presence, salvation through Jesus, and the hope of His coming kingdom. It was accompanied by and highlighted by angels announcing Jesus’ birth as “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10). The disciples’ overwhelming happiness at His resurrection and the spread of the Gospel was a supernatural, enduring joy deeper than circumstance. It is an eternal fountain springing up in us. It is God’s delight to see joy in His people.

Heavenly Moments of Great Joy

Jesus‘s Birth: Angels proclaimed “good news of great joy” to shepherds, marking the arrival of the Savior. 


Jesus’ Resurrection: The disciples experienced “fear and great joy” running from the tomb, and later returned to Jerusalem “with great joy” to praise God.

The preaching of the gospel through all the world: The inclusion of Gentiles brought “great joy” (Acts 15:3), showing the joy of God’s kingdom expanding with salvation and new life. Jesus spoke of His joy being in believers and John the Baptist leaped in the womb at Mary’s greeting (Luke 1:44). 

During this season and the celebration of His Birth, let us receive His wonderful joy and may we be filled to overflowing with it. Glory to God in the Highest, and great joy to all!

-KC

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. – Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

As scripture has spoken to us very clearly about the birth of Jesus: He came in the fullness of time. This was the time that was prophesied and chosen by God. This was divinely appointed, the perfect time for Jesus to be born.

While they were in Bethlehem, her time had come to give birth. Mary giving birth is the fulfillment of God sending His Son into the world for His redemptive work in mankind. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, a trough, where animals eat.

The word Manger means to eat. This has such spiritual significance because Jesus would be known as the bread of life. Spiritual Sustenance: Jesus presents Himself as the true bread that satisfies spiritual hunger and thirst, offering eternal life, unlike physical bread that perishes.

We might say God’s timing, His place of choosing, and the sending of His Son have set a table for His invitation: “Whosoever will may come.”

“Do not despise small beginnings” means that humble, seemingly insignificant starts are valuable and can grow into great things. A little town, a little couple, and a little baby will begin a journey that will shake the nations of the world. We will see the words of the Innkeeper echo from this little Inn, because there was no room in the Inn.

The question is, will we make room for Him in our hearts? If you have not, I employ you and even beg you to make room for Him in your heart.

Hallelujah!

Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. – ‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. – Micah 5:2

Key aspects of the prophecy:

• Birthplace: Bethlehem Ephrathah (the specific Bethlehem in Judah).
• Figure: A ruler/leader for Israel.
• Origin: “From of old, from ancient times,” signifying divine or eternal origins. 

Bethlehem of Judea, a small and seemingly insignificant little city. For in the very beginning, as Paul writes, he humbled himself, left heaven, and became a man. The seed of God planted in a virgin, a miracle of all miracles.

He would be a leader and ruler of Israel whose origin was the ancient of times. This is not an ordinary birth. This child will be known as the son of God.

As Joseph leads Mary on a donkey into the city that in itself is prophetic. Jesus is prophesied to make another entrance in about 31/2 years into Jerusalem, the city of the great King, on a donkey.

Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is righteous and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. – Zechariah‬ ‭9‬:‭9‬

So now this changes everything. Nothing will ever be the same. In fact, all things shall become new.

Hallelujah!