‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV — Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.‬‬

Let’s do a heart and mind check-in. Our hearts and minds are connected. What thoughts is your mind consumed with? What is laying on your heart at the end of the day? We can declutter our thoughts by letting go of trivial things. Especially if we are holding onto old baggage. In Proverbs we are instructed to guard our heart.

Think about baggage on an airplane. If you check in baggage you are charged based on weight. You can also take a carry-on with only the necessities for free. In life when we hold onto the trivial things, it weighs us down. We often pay for it when we don’t act or react well with others. I encourage us this Christmas to give ourselves the gift of letting go. What do you need to let go of? Maybe it’s an attitude, a grudge, a situation, or even control. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for loving me and all my baggage. Show me those areas of my heart and mind that need decluttering. Help me to let go of the trivial things that can be costly. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Let’s do a hope check-in. Where is your hope today? Do you feel like you’re in the wilderness with no clearing in sight? Or do you have a pretty clear path ahead? Are you hopeful for what the future holds?

A running race event always displays a map of the race course in advance. The map not only shows every turn but also if and where there are hydration stations. For longer courses, it will also show fuel and aid stations. As a walker or runner, it is good to review the course. Some participants may even drive through the course ahead of time. Spectators might use it to see where they will cheer their walker or runner from. On race day, each mile is indicated with a sign and arrows of where to turn next. 

Take a moment to read Isaiah 43:16-41 NIV. If only we had a race course map of life. Be reminded of when God has made a way in the past. Take time to reflect on where God has brought you from. If you have lost hope, He can renew it. As Christians, God wants us to shine hope to others but that can be difficult if our own hope is dim.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for where You have brought me from. Thank You for the hope of what tomorrow holds. Guide me along Your path to shine hope to others in need. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway

Let’s do a joy check-in. How has your joy been lately? Our joy found in Christ Jesus can overcome our adversities. A few years ago I saw an example of a “Joy Jar” on Pinterest. When I returned to work after that Christmas break there was a Mason jar, free to a good home. I immediately took that as a God wink to start my Joy Jar. The scripture verses I chose to reflect on came from ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:8,‭12‬ ‭NIV —

(verse 8) Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.

(verse 12) Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.‬‬

This meant so much to me since that Christmas Eve we had received the news that my Dad was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. Since that diagnosis, my motto has been, “Finding Joy in the Journey.”

We must not let Satan steal our joy. Let’s think of it as daily giving Satan an eviction notice. We know that in the midst of our joys and sorrows, God works it all out together for our good. We can trample Satan and stand on ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — 

‭‭And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for working all things together for Your glory and my good. Today I will choose joy. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭MSG — Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.‬‬

Let’s do a last 90 days check-in. Are you getting up earlier to spend time on something you enjoy? Are you writing your five gratitudes? Are you drinking half your body weight in ounces of water? Are you getting 30 minutes of movement in? Are you eating the right foods? Maybe you’re successful at a few but need to be reminded again. It’s OK! We can’t be successful at everything all the time. Even in the indulgence of all the festivities, we can begin again.

In today’s verse we are told to be cheerful no matter what. How can we be cheerful? I think of the Christmas Spirit. We should remember to carry the Christmas Spirit with us not just in December but 365 days a year. God also wants us to live in constant communication with Him. We have 14 days left in the year. Let’s use this time to be thankful, find our gratitude, and share it with God and others through our Christmas Spirit. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You that I have the next 14 days to find gratitude. Help me to finish out the year strong by taking care of me so that I can share the Christmas Spirit with others well. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Let’s do an Advent check-in. How has your rejoicing through the Christmas season been? Today is the third Sunday of Advent which is also referred to as “Gaudete Sunday.” The Latin meaning of Gaudete is “rejoice.” Deborah shared on Gaudete Sunday a few years ago, which you can read by clicking the link. Her focus was on the verses that followed in Philippians 6-7. She shared about peace by taking our worries to God through prayer in the midst of our busy Christmas season. 

For today I want to focus on the second part of two key verses. According to the dictionary, gentleness is the quality of being kind, tender, and mild-mannered. Take a moment to think about the tenderness of baby Jesus. We should offer that same tenderness to others through a gentle spirit. We can’t be grouchy and rejoicing at the same time, right? I encourage us all to relax and really enjoy this week as we prepare for the birth of Jesus.

Let’s pray. Dear God, may the tender, gentle Spirit of Jesus shine through me today. When I start to get grouchy, help me to turn it into a rejoicing attitude of Christ. When others are grouchy towards me, guide me in showing kindness. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

John 3:16 NIV — 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.

This week our subject has been hospitality. We have brainstormed ways to practice hospitality and asked God to lay on our hearts specific people He is calling us to reach. As we finish on this Friday, let’s examine our hospitality towards Jesus. 

Today’s scripture reminds us of the sacrifice that was made for you and I to be forgiven of our sins and have eternal life. Jesus’ sacrifice of love is the ultimate act of hospitality. He is the bread broken for you and I. Have you reciprocated? Have you invited Jesus into your life? Are you sharing life with Jesus?  

God loves you. He wants to have a relationship with you. If you haven’t already, open the door and invite Him in. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, to save me. Help me to let my guard down, open my heart, and invite You in. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
***If you would like to talk with someone about inviting Christ into your life, you may contact us through WordPress, Facebook, Instagram, or email. waterwalkers29@gmail.com