The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.
TO PONDER:
The joy of Christmases past, the remembered childhood expectations of the gifts under the tree on Christmas morning and the imaginings of what those wrapped boxes could contain can still fill one with joy (even if, for the “one” those memories were a long time ago).
Isaiah 35 was written around 700 years before the first Christmas and was written as a messianic promise in a poetic Hebrew style using parallelism and the “prophetic perfect tense”, as if they had already occurred. The beauty of the prophetic perfect tense literary style is the way it plays with time, writing of the future as a completed action, a certainty, a guaranteed real event.
Today’s verses speak of promises from the past, promises of the first Christmas fulfilled in a manger some 700 years later but also promises for today and promises for all tomorrows, into eternity. Promises that have happened, that will happen today and surely will happen tomorrow.
They speak poetically, in the prophetic perfect tense, of the joy of God’s people as they look forward to the promised gift of the first Christmas, the promise of the longed for Messiah, they speak of the joy of the shepherds whose night was interrupted by a choir of angels announcing the fulfilment of the promise, they speak of the joy we experience in the ongoing bloom of the first Christmas, and the joy of the future.
This language used in Isaiah 53 is now our “mother-tongue”, the prophetic perfect tense is where we inhabit the other-side of the first Christmas, on the other-side of grace as we live in the “now and not yet”, the ongoing joyous bloom of Christmas.
PRAYER: Faithful God, I thank you for your promises of the joy of Christmas, the now and not yet joy I live on the other side of grace as I look forward to what your future holds for me as I live trusting in your promises. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
To Ponder:
Isaiah's prophecy captures the stunning mystery of Christmas: a child is born, yet he is the Mighty God. A son is given, yet he is the Everlasting Father. An infant arrives, yet the government rests on his shoulders. And among his many names, one shines with particular hope for our weary world—Prince of Peace.
This title isn't just poetic; it's a promise.
A prince brings the authority and character of his kingdom wherever he goes. When the Prince of Peace was born in Bethlehem, heaven's peace invaded earth's brokenness. He didn't come merely to teach us about peace or to model peaceful living. He came to be our peace—reconciling us to God, breaking down the walls that divide us, and establishing a kingdom where peace reigns forever.
The world has seen countless leaders promise peace, yet conflict and turmoil persist. We search for peace in relationships, success, comfort, or control, but it eludes us. Our own hearts are battlegrounds of worry, regret, and fear.
But the child born in Bethlehem is different. He is the Prince whose peace isn't negotiated or earned—it's given as a gift. His peace flows from who he is: God Himself, stepping into our chaos to make all things right.
This Christmas, we celebrate that our Prince has come, and one day he will return to establish his peaceable kingdom in fullness. Until then, he offers us his peace—real, lasting, and unshakable.
Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for entering our broken world to bring us lasting peace. Reign in our hearts this Christmas and fill us with the peace only you can give. We worship you as our Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, and the Prince of Peace. In your holy name, Amen.
Today’s Devotion is written by Pr Nich Kitchen, LifeWay Epping
"The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace."
To Ponder:
Psalm 29 is a powerful portrait of God's majesty. It describes his voice thundering over the waters, breaking mighty cedars, shaking the wilderness, and stripping forests bare. The psalm pulses with divine power and glory. Yet remarkably, it ends with this tender promise: God gives strength to his people and blesses them with peace.
This is the beauty of Christmas.
The God whose voice commands the universe chose to enter our world as a baby's cry. The One who thunders over the waters lay helpless in a manger. The King of glory arrived in humility. Infinite power wrapped in infant weakness.
Why? To give us what we desperately need: strength for our weakness and peace for our turmoil.
The same God who displayed His might in creation displays His love in the incarnation. He doesn't give us peace by removing life's storms; He gives us peace by entering into them with us. He doesn't offer strength from a distance; He became Emmanuel—God with us—walking through our struggles, bearing our sorrows, and ultimately conquering sin and death on our behalf.
This Christmas, we celebrate that the mighty God who spoke the world into existence speaks peace over his people. The Lord who needs nothing chose to give us everything—his presence, his strength, and his perfect peace.
Prayer:
Mighty God, thank you for blessing us with your peace through the gift of Your Son. Give us strength for every challenge we face this Christmas and help us rest in the peace only you can provide. We praise you for coming near to us. In Jesus' name, Amen
Today's Devotion is written by Pr Nich Kitchen, LIfeWay Epping
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
To Ponder:
There is a striking image in this reading: it tells us to let Christ's peace rule in our hearts. The word suggests a referee making the final call, a king sitting on a throne, a governor directing affairs. Christ's peace isn't meant to be an occasional visitor to our hearts—it's meant to reign there.
This is the peace that Christmas ushered into the world.
When Christ was born in Bethlehem, heaven's peace broke into earth's chaos. The Prince of Peace arrived to reconcile us to God and to one another. He came to establish a kingdom where peace doesn't just exist—it governs. It directs our decisions, settles our disputes, calms our anxieties, and shapes how we relate to others.
Notice the connection between Christ's peace to our life together. We were called to peace as members of one body. The peace of Christmas isn't just personal tranquillity; it's the harmony and unity Christ creates among his people. When his peace rules in our hearts, it transforms our relationships, our churches, our families, and our communities.
And there is one more thing: "be thankful." Gratitude and peace are inseparable. When we recognize all that Christ has done for us—coming as a baby, living a perfect life, dying for our sins, rising in victory—thanksgiving naturally flows, and his peace settles deeper in our hearts.
This Christmas, let Christ's peace take its rightful place on the throne of your heart.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for bringing your peace into our world and into our hearts. Help your peace to rule in us this Christmas—guiding our thoughts, calming our worries, and shaping how we love others. Fill us with gratitude for all you've done. In Your name, Amen.
Today’s Devotion is written by Pr Nich Kitchen, LifeWay Epping
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
To Ponder:
The Christmas season can be paradoxical. We celebrate the Prince of Peace while often feeling anything but peaceful. Our minds race with to-do lists, our wallets strain with expenses, our calendars overflow with obligations. Anxiety creeps in where peace should dwell.
Our reading today offer us a different way—a way that leads directly back to the heart of Christmas.
"Do not be anxious about anything." Instead, bring everything to God in prayer. Not just the big things, but everything. Our worries about family gatherings. Our concerns about finances. Our fears about the future. Our loneliness. Our grief. Our joy. All of it.
And here's the promise: when we bring our anxious hearts to God with thanksgiving, His peace—a peace that defies logic and transcends our circumstances—will stand guard over our hearts and minds.
This is the peace the angels announced on that first Christmas night. When the shepherds heard "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace," it wasn't a promise of easy lives or perfect circumstances. It was the announcement that God Himself had come near in Christ Jesus. The baby in the manger was Emmanuel—God with us—and his presence changes everything.
This Christmas, we can exchange our anxiety for His peace, not by ignoring our troubles, but by bringing them to the One who was born to carry them for us.
Prayer:
Father, we bring you all our anxieties this Christmas—everything that weighs heavy on our hearts. Thank you for the gift of your Son and the peace he brings. Guard our hearts and minds with your peace that surpasses understanding. Help us rest in your presence today. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Today’s Devotion written by Pr Nich Kitchen, LifeWay Epping
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
To Ponder:
These words were spoken by Jesus to his disciples on the night before is death on the cross. In just hours, their world would be shattered by his arrest and death. Yet in this moment of approaching darkness, Jesus offered them something the world could never take away: his peace.
The peace Jesus gives is radically different from what the world offers. The world's peace depends on circumstances—good health, financial security, comfortable relationships, favorable outcomes. It's fragile and fleeting, disappearing the moment our circumstances shift.
But Christ's peace? It stands firm in the storm. It remains when everything else falls apart.
This is the peace that Christmas celebrates. The baby born in Bethlehem came to give us something far greater than temporary comfort or earthly solutions. He came to reconcile us to God, to defeat sin and death, and to offer us a peace that transcends all understanding—a peace rooted not in our circumstances but in his unchanging presence with us.
Jesus spoke these words knowing what lay ahead: the cross, the resurrection, and his return to the Father. He knew his disciples would face trials, persecution, and uncertainty. Yet he promised them his peace—the same peace he offers us today.
This Christmas, we celebrate the gift of Emmanuel, God with us. And because he is with us, our hearts need not be troubled or afraid.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of your peace—a peace the world cannot give and cannot take away. This Christmas, quiet our troubled hearts and replace our fears with trust in you. Help us rest in your presence, knowing that you are with us always. In your name, Amen.
Today’s Devotion is written by Pr Nich Kitchen, LifeWay Epping
To Ponder:
"Do not be afraid." These were the angel's first words to Mary after announcing she would bear the Christ child. It's remarkable that the announcement of the world's greatest gift began with a command to release fear.
Fear is the opposite of peace. It grips our hearts, steals our joy, and blinds us to God's presence. But when Gabriel appeared to Mary, he didn't just tell her not to be afraid—he gave her a reason: "You have found favour with God."
This is the peace that Christmas offers us.
God's favour isn't something we earn or achieve; it's grace freely given. Through Christ, God extends His favour to all who receive Him. The baby in the manger grew to become our Savior, removing the barrier of sin that separated us from God. Because of Jesus, we no longer need to fear God's judgment, our uncertain future, or even death itself.
Mary's "yes" to God's plan, despite her fears and questions, brought the Prince of Peace into the world. This Christmas, we can follow her example—releasing our fears and anxieties into God's hands, trusting in his favour and goodness toward us.
When we embrace the truth that we are loved and favoured by God through Christ, fear loses its grip, and His peace fills our hearts.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of your Son and the favour you've shown us through him. Help us release our fears this Christmas and rest in your perfect peace. May we trust you as Mary did, knowing we are loved and held by You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Todays Devotion is written by Pr Nich Kitchen, LifeWay Epping
"The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them."
To Ponder:
When Isaiah painted this breathtaking picture of God's coming kingdom, he showed us something remarkable: peace isn't just the absence of conflict—it's the presence of radical reconciliation. Natural enemies resting together. The fierce and the fragile sharing the same space. And at the centre of it all? A little child.
This is the peace that Christmas announces.
On that first Christmas night, heaven broke into earth not with armies or fanfare, but with a baby. The Prince of Peace arrived as the most vulnerable thing imaginable—an infant wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough. Yet this child would grow to reconcile all things to God, making peace through His blood shed on the cross.
Isaiah's vision reminds us that true peace transforms relationships that seem impossible to mend. Through Christ, God reconciles us—his enemies—to himself. He takes our anxious hearts and replaces them with his perfect peace. He takes broken relationships and offers the possibility of healing. He takes a world torn by division and plants seeds of his kingdom where wolves and lambs can finally rest together.
This Christmas, we celebrate that the little child Isaiah prophesied has come. And one day, He will return to fully establish the peaceable kingdom—where every tear is wiped away, every wrong is made right, and perfect peace reigns forever.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, thank you for coming as a child to bring us into your kingdom. Quiet our anxious hearts this Christmas and help us to be peacemakers in our world. Fill us with hope as we celebrate your birth and await your return, when Your perfect peace will reign forever. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Today's Devotion is written by Pr Nich Kitchen, LifeWay Epping
For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.
TO PONDER
Any of us born into and raised in a Christian family can very likely relate easily to this verse from Psalm 71.
We were most probably all baptised at an early age, not a decision we were able to consider or consciously make for ourselves, but clearly becoming one of God’s children was of paramount importance to our parents which laid the first strong foundational bricks in our faith. I distinctly recall our daily family evening devotions from a young age where me and my five siblings would sit with Dad and Mum, while Dad read us a story from our family Children’s Bible and we would then pray.
These family Bible stories and teachings strengthened my foundations further together with our regular attendance at Sunday School whilst Mum and Dad worshiped each week. You possibly also attended some form of Youth group on a regular basis and then undertook a confirmation course studying God’s word and learning more about the Lutheran faith and beliefs through Luther's Small Catechism. This course culminated in our public acknowledgement to our local congregation, family and friends as we were confirmed and attended the Lord’s table for the very first time.
I, and I’m sure any of you who share a similar story can consider ourselves extremely fortunate. This upbringing cultivated a deep sense of trust and reliance on God from early on as we embarked on our life journey here on earth. Just as the psalmist found hope and confidence in God from their youth, we too can reflect on our own experiences with God. How God has been our source of hope and confidence in times of uncertainty. How placing our trust in God and growing in our faith provides us with comfort and strength, knowing that God is our steadfast support, offering hope and confidence in every situation.
And whether this picture above resonates for you or not, the same confidence in God (irrespective of when you became His child) exists for all believers. God is our rock, our salvation and as we grow in our faith He becomes even more so our refuge in older years. Just like the psalmist found hope and confidence in Him, we too can share in these same gifts today, tomorrow and always.
PRAYER:God of hope. Teach me to understand the importance of nurturing a relationship with You so I too can share in the hope and confidence that You provide to me and all my fellow believers today, tomorrow and always. In your precious name I pray. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Shane Burdack, LifeWay Epping