😊☀️👋🏻 Good morning, friend!

Merry Christmas Eve, friends! I’m Pastor Blake, excited to celebrate this special day with you. There’s an anticipation in the air, isn’t there? Tonight, many of us gather around candlelit services, remembering the night Christ was born. Yet the beauty of Christmas is more than nostalgia; it’s the wonder of God’s light piercing our darkness—forever changing our stories.

Let’s open our hearts to the life-changing message in Isaiah’s prophecy, the psalmist’s praise, Paul’s reminder of grace, and Luke’s beloved nativity account.

🙏 HUMBLE

Begin this time pondering the following questions:

1. What are you thankful for today?

2. What burdens, fears, or areas of sin do you need to release to God today?

Now, let’s ask God to help us find HOPE in Him today:

“Lord, open my heart and mind to Your Word today. Help me to see the hope You have for me in these pages. Shine Your light on every truth, and guide me to understand, trust, and apply what You reveal. May Your presence transform my heart and fill me with the hope only You can give. Amen.”

📖 OBSERVE

Now, let’s observe what God has to say in His Word:

Today's Readings:
READ: Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14,15-20
(Click Here)

Today's Devotional:
In Isaiah 9, God promises a coming Light—a child bearing the names Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Psalm 96 then calls us to sing a new song to the Lord who rules with majesty. These passages together paint a picture of promised hope and our joyful response.

Titus 2:11-14 underscores the grace that appeared—Jesus, teaching us to live upright and godly lives. Finally, Luke 2 recounts the humble birth of Christ: a manger, yet heralded by angels. Heaven and earth converge in divine simplicity.

• God breaks into our reality with hope, fulfilling ancient promises in the most tangible way—through a baby in Bethlehem.

• We, often bogged down by routines or darkness, are invited into joy, awe, and transformation.

• The practical step is to welcome Christ’s appearing afresh, letting His grace shape our daily attitudes and worship, so Christmas becomes not just a tradition but an ongoing transformation.

As you prepare for Christmas Eve, remember that the Child born tonight is the Light who guides us beyond every shadow.

Reflection Questions:

1. What stood out to you from these passages?

2. What does this teach us about God, His character, and what He does?

3. What does this teach us about people, including yourself?

💡 PERSONALIZE

Now to make this personal in your life, consider this question:

What is one area where God is encouraging you to grow or change?

📢 MY #HOPEDECLARATION

Create your own declaration of hope today!

“Today I will _______________________ because of Jesus Christ!”

Snap a pic of your #HopeDeclaration and share it on Social Media!

❤️ ENGAGE

1. Who in your life would benefit from hearing what you’ve learned today?

2. What practical way can you use what you’ve learned today to bless or serve someone?

🙏 STOP AND PRAY: 

Take a moment to pray through everything God has revealed and done in your heart today:

1. Thank God for His blessings.

   • Praise Him for what you were thankful for earlier. Reflect on His faithfulness, provision, and the ways He’s been present in your life.

2. Surrender your burdens, fears, and sins to Him.

   • Lay down the stresses or struggles weighing on your heart today. Trust Him to carry what you cannot.

   • Confess any sins, and receive His forgiveness and grace to walk in His ways.

3. Thank Him for what He has revealed today.

   • Praise Him for what you’ve learned about His character and work.

   • Acknowledge what He has shown you about yourself—whether it’s encouragement, conviction, or an area where He’s calling you to grow.

4. Ask for strength and guidance to obey.

   • Pray for His power to live out what He’s taught you today.

   • Surrender your #HopeDeclaration, asking for His Spirit to enable you to live it out in a way that brings Him glory.

5. Pray for boldness to share God’s Word.

   • Ask God to open doors for you to share today’s passage or truth with someone.

   • Pray for courage to engage someone in conversation about God, asking if they are interested in the things of God.

   • If they are, pray for boldness to invite them to study the Bible with you.

   • Ask God for a vision to multiply disciples and for His Spirit to guide you in this mission.

Take your time, and let this be a moment of deep connection with God. Trust Him to fill you with His peace, empower you to obey, and give you boldness to share His truth with others today.

✨ READY TO GO DEEPER?

Take a few moments to reflect on today’s insights and how they apply to your journey. Use your Daily HOPE Journal to capture your thoughts, prayers, and commitments, and watch your relationship with God grow deeper each day.

Don’t have a journal yet? Grab yours here and start your journey.

❤️ SPREAD THE HOPE, GET A DIGITAL JOURNAL!

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💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION: 

We’d love to hear from you! To stay committed, reply to this email or head over to the comments section on today’s post to share your #HopeDeclaration. Let’s encourage each other in this journey!

🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: 

Want to go deeper? Listen to this week’s Hope for the Mountainside podcast episode.

⛪️ WHY NOT VISIT US IN PERSON?

We’d love to see you at Mountainside Community Bible Church! Join us for worship and a welcoming community every Sunday at 10 AM. Plan your visit below—we can’t wait to meet you!