Welcome back for the third in our series of Advent devotionals on the theme of God’s ‘I WILL’ promises.
The other evening a young woman visited our apartment, and as she and I talked, we each shared how we had just completed our Christmas shopping. It wasn’t even December, but our gifts were bought, wrapped and even shipped! We patted ourselves on the back for being so on top of things! And yes, there was a measure of pride that we had completed this daunting task well ahead of most of our friends.
I don’t think the Lord worries too much about when we complete our holiday shopping, but God has no pleasure in human pride. In 2 Chronicles 7:14,15, we find another of his I WILL promises:
If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves
and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,
I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.
I will listen to every prayer made in this place.
The antidote to pride is humility. And the reward of humility is the promise that God will hear our cry and the assurance that he will forgive us.
What better gift at Christmas can we receive than to know that the Lord of all the Universe is waiting to listen to our humble prayers and is ready to lift any burden of guilt from our shoulders! Have you sent him a thank-you note?
