Christmas Devotionals (6 of 25) by Jason Major

Matthew 1:24 -25 NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE

“Come, let us go the Father’s house, and to the second floor.  Come with Me and turn into the study room. This is the room where we study, reflect and listen to worship. Let Me speak to you.”

“The room is decorated with Christmas lights about and a table showcasing a small Charles Dickens like model village, with a toy train.  In another corner, is a wooden representation of the Nativity Scene of Baby Jesus. Let us continue to reflect on the baby Jesus story.  On the bookshelf are all the different translations of the Bible. We are continuing our study in the Message Translation of the Nativity story.”

“Matthew 1:24-25.  Joseph woke up from his dream, then he acted in faith upon the instructions that God had given him in the dream. Through a supernatural dream, understanding was given, faith was given. Then, acting on this, he chose Mary as his bride, overcoming the difficulties that set them apart.”

“There is a time of wrestling in your heart to know the will of God; then when My will is known, there is the time of acting out upon the promises given.  Joseph married Mary and he saw the fulfillment of the prophecy given of the birth of Jesus.”

“What dreams are in your life that you are waiting to be born? What are the steps of faith that God is calling you into; actions that lead into the fulfillment of dreams and desires. Are there dreams that I have given you; that you know already are real.  Desires in your heart that you’ve waited long for- are you going to give those dreams up just because the natural mind tells you that it doesn’t make sense, and reject the very dreams and desires in your heart because of fear?”

Joseph had a choice. Mary was his dream, his delight and beloved desire. His sweet white rose. If Joseph had not heard the voice of God through the angel in a dream, he would have lost his true love.”

“He instead made a choice to press through the problem, to act upon the revelation God had given him, so that his dream could come to pass.”

“Don’t you see? Joseph saw fulfillment of a dream given to him. There are dreams and desires that are in your heart that you have lost hope in. You look at the circumstances and are considering walking away from them because of your fears. No, don’t do that! I want those dreams and desires to come to pass.  Look for the Word- the now Word that resolves the difficult situations and finds you hope again.”

“What am I saying? It’s Christmas time, again and I am praying for you for hope and faith to be restored in your soul so that the dreams and desires in your life may come to pass.”

“Both Joseph and Mary kept themselves sexually pure before marriage.  It was not just Mary, but Joseph who showed sexual purity.  Joseph did not use the pain he was in as an opportunity to sin. He chose love.”

“Joseph allowed his love story to be written by God.  By acting in faith, God wrote the love story that brought both Mary and Joseph out of impossible circumstances and into each other’s arms.”

“Come, come and share with Me.  I am a trusted friend.  What are your hurts, broken desires and questions.  I will give you guidance.  Dreams will come to pass. Let Me heal the circumstances of the past. Don’t look at the circumstances of the past.  Seize the moment and opportunity given.”

“Let the lights- the Christmas lights- go on in your heart.  You will receive the gifts that you have been waiting for.”

“Joseph learned to lay down his own desires and dreams; to lay down his will to God, and in doing so, found love with Mary. Scripture shows he put Mary’s needs for a loving husband and God’s dreams for salvation over his own dreams and over his own understanding. This is love, this is sacrifice.”

Journal Entry: Father, what dreams are in my life that you are waiting to give birth to?