The Wonder of God's Plan

The Spirit had told Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. (LUKE 2:26) 
 

Do you see and understand when God is working in your life? The story of Simeon, a godly man who saw the baby Jesus in the Jerusalem temple, is told in Luke 2:25–35. God had told Simeon that he wouldn’t die until he saw the Lord’s Christ. Simeon was focused on that promise. He waited and watched for Israel’s Savior. 
 

Then one day, God told Simeon to go into the temple courtyard. Here’s the amazing thing: Simeon recognized that the baby Jesus was the promised Savior! 
 

Jesus was just a baby, not an adult warrior or a politician. Jesus wasn’t doing miracles or preaching. And yet Simeon recognized that this baby was God’s answer to many prayers. 
 

How often do you recognize what God is doing in your life? It’s hard to see things with God’s eyes. Perhaps you’ve been sick. Or maybe a loved one has died. Is that God’s plan? 
 

During the hard times, it’s difficult to have faith that God is still in control. Simeon stands out as a man of faith. Hebrews 11:1 says it this way, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being sure of what we do not see.” The rest of Hebrews chapter 11 talks about people having faith in God during good times and hard times. 
 

We need eyes to see what God has already done for us. And then we should join Simeon in praising God because “my eyes have seen your salvation” (Luke 2:30). 
 

Prayer: 

Father, give me eyes to see how You move through my life. I want to praise You for __________.  (Fill in the blank with a specific thing He’s done in your life!) 
 

This is an excerpt from The Wonder of Christmas by Shanna Noel - a devotional book now available on DaySpring.com. Learn more about this book, or shop other books & devotionals from DaySpring.