Daily
Devotional

The stockings, hung by the chimney with care, were slowly taken down and packed away for another year. The tree looked sad and empty, as the ornaments, too, had been put gently to rest in their colorful storage boxes. Christmas had come and gone. It was time to reorganize the house for winter and look forward to the beginning of another year.

As I sat among the tinsel and lights, trying to sort them, I pondered over the past few weeks. I remembered the heart-touching moments spent with friends, the beautiful Christmas cards sent across the miles to bring joy to relatives far away, and being a part of numerous Christmas programs portraying God’s love. It had been a blessed Christmas.

Forgetting for a moment the holiday decorations accumulating in front of me, I reached back farther into the year, groping for a time when something I said or did for someone had made a difference. I searched my heart as I continued to ponder this thought. Was there something I did for the Lord’s glory that had brought comfort, hope, love, or peace to a heart in need? I knew I had done all I felt I could. Yet, I wondered if I could have done more. Often, no signs come back that our offering was a blessing to someone. As I began to put the boxes of Christmas “joy” away, I felt a peace cover me. I had done what I could. I knew deep inside that somehow I had touched at least one life with the Lord’s help.

As a new year approaches, let us purpose in our hearts to give someone encouragement in the Lord. Maybe we will never know until we get to Heaven what the impact our words or deeds made, but if God is in what we do, fruits of righteousness will result and His name will be glorified. May we pray for God’s direction, then watch and be alert for any chance to work for Him and do what we can for the glory of God.