Dear Lord,
Matthew 1:22-23 shares great news, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
The miracle of life is to be pondered and treasured, which is what Mary, the mother of Jesus, did. May this be the starting place for us all – celebrating the virgin, supernatural birth of Jesus, God with us! Thank you for sending Your son to die for our sins, providing the only way for us to have the gift of eternal life and a personal relationship with you.
Lord, more than ever, the widow and fatherless need to know this good news. She has been left alone and feels this weight. Thank you for Immanuel; You are the God who is with us.
She feels the sorrow of grief as she walks through the valley of the shadow of death. Thank You for the promise that you are with us (Psalm 23:4).
It is tempting to fill the void of a husband and earthly father with people, places, and things. Thank You for the promise that You satisfy our deepest need and will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
Psalm 139 offers a promise of hope – Your presence is everywhere we go. Even in the darkest season, You are there, Immanuel, God with us.
“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night,’ even the darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.”
Lord, make your presence known to this hurting one in ways that only you can. Please hold her (and her kids) close and even carry her when she feels unable to put one foot in front of the other. Send people to encourage and comfort her. Let her know that the Holy Spirit will be her Helper reminding her of Immanuel, God with us (John 14:16-17).
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
