Wednesday's Verse of the Day Devotional

Good morning! It's Christmas Eve! As a kid, I remember the anticipation of what was to come Christmas morning. There was a scramble for those last minute tasks, baking and wrapping to get done. I was glad when Dad would finish work and was finally home.

As a kid, I didn't have the level of stress my parents did. I didn't understand it until I became a parent and my kids were old enough to know what Christmas was. But, none of the stress I felt could compare to what happened on the first Christmas Eve.

The government of the day made a decree for a census to be taken, so everyone had to go to where they were from to register for it. Caesar Augustus didn't know that God was using him to put things in order to fulfill all that would be spoken prophetically about Jesus and where He was to be born.

Joseph may have felt like he wasn't the right guy for this or understand why he was chosen for the task, but he was the perfect man for the job. He was from the right lineage, the right area and the right town to bring everything into order. Mary must have wondered, of all times for a census, why now? But it was the perfect timing to make all things come to pass.

Mary was in the final stages of pregnancy. It was hard, not ideal for travel, especially on a donkey, and not in a familiar place to go for the birth of Jesus. She didn't quit or give up on what was entrusted to her. Maybe you feel like giving up on something right now, but I tell you that you are closer than you think.

It may not be ideal, it may not be familiar but God will make what was spoken come to pass just as He did in those days. Hold fast to what is promised, stay faithful to the process and carry the dream to full term. God has a miracle in store for you, so don't give up! Let His plan come to pass as you make it a great day!