The Promise of Presence

Make the season bright by reflecting on the Promises of God. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the season, make time to quiet your heart and hear from His. DaySpring and (in)courage will be walking through Scripture over the next twenty-five days - join us on an Advent journey!

Each day, read the Scripture, then consider:

Observe – Who is God? What are you learning about God’s character from His promises?

Reflect – Where is God? How is He moving during this busy season?

Respond – Pray, confess, and give thanks. How will today’s promise from God make your Christmas richer?

Several selections in this reading plan have a corresponding devotion found in the (in)courage Devotional Bible. To deepen your Bible reading experience, we encourage you to read these devotions, as well. Simply click on the link below the day’s passage of Scripture to read or download each one.

The Nativity of Christ
The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.

But after he had considered these things, and angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel,

Which is translated “God with us.”

When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.
(Matthew 1:18-25 CSB)

For more, read “What God Can Do with the Unlikely” by Sara Mae.