Latest / Jessi Morgan Devotions for the Christian Heart Podcast / You Are Not Alone Day 14

Transcript

You Are Not Alone Day 14 · Jessi Morgan Devotions for the Christian Heart Podcast

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Hello, hello.
• 0:01
  SPEAKER_00: This is Jesse Morgan Devotions for the Christian Heart Podcast.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome, welcome.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_00: This year I'm bringing my 25-day Christmas devotional to life in a new way.
• 0:10
  SPEAKER_00: Beginning on day 11 through day 25, each devotional entry now has a matching mini podcast episode, a simple 8 to 10 minute reflection designed to help you slow down and truly sit with the story of Jesus' birth.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: Each episode clearly follows the same day as the written devotional, so day 11 in the book is day 11 on the podcast and so forth.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: My hope is that these daily audio reflections make the journey to Christmas feel even more personal, peaceful, and meaningful.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for being here.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: Let's go.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_00: You are not alone.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_00: Key passage Luke 1, 39 through 45.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: And it says, At this at that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_00: When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_00: In a loud voice she exclaimed, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_00: But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_00: As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_00: Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord will fulfill his promises to her.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_00: So I got a question for you to kick off this devotional for the day.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_00: Ever felt like you were going through something completely alone, and then suddenly someone else opens up and says they're walking through the exact same thing?
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: Doesn't it feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders a bit?
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_00: And when that happens, do you think it's intentional or just luck?
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_00: I don't think it's luck anymore.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe when I was younger I did, but I don't know.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_00: So let's look at Mary and Elizabeth in Luke 1, these passages we just read, this passage we just read.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_00: So as soon as Mary hears about Elizabeth's pregnancy, she rushes to see her.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: And when she arrives, Scripture says Elizabeth's baby leaped for joy.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_00: And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: That moment wasn't random.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_00: That was God.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_00: As I get older, I'm realizing how important Christian companionship really is.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_00: Having someone journeying through the same season brings such comfort, you know?
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: It might be two people starting new jobs at the same time, two moms entering the same chapter, two people dating or navigating school or travel at the same time.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: There's something so reassuring about not walking alone.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_00: It gives you a little more confidence, a little more peace, and I truly believe God knows that.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_00: I think he aligns people, seasons, and timing on purpose so we can experience his love more clearly along the path he's leading us on.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: I remember a time when I was in sixth grade, and my mom decided that she wanted me to try out for the track team because she knew I had speed, I could run.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_00: I was terrified.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_00: I was throwing like almost a tantrum.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: I did not want to go out there.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_00: I was terrified to go.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_00: I didn't know anyone.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_00: And I knew that we would have to work out with high schoolers.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm that was just so intimidating to me.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_00: But she forced me to go out there.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_00: She walked me out there.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_00: And then when I got out there, I noticed that there was like five or six other sixth graders that I knew.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_00: And I wasn't alone.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, oh my gosh, I have people out here I knew.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_00: And I and I still was intimidating dealing with high schoolers, but it was so comforting that I had six other like sixth graders with me out there to go through this, you know, with me.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: And I didn't feel alone anymore.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_00: And that was just the best thing.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_00: And I loved track and field after that.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_00: Now picture Mary going to see Elizabeth.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_00: Elizabeth, who had been hiding her pregnancy because she didn't think anyone would understand.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_00: And suddenly her young cousin shows up, pregnant by the Holy Spirit, carrying the savior of the world, and also needing someone who would understand her completely unbelievable situation.
• 4:25
  SPEAKER_00: And when Mary walks in, Elizabeth's womb jumps, she's filled with the Holy Spirit.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_00: That's a boost.
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_00: You know, that's the boost you get when you find someone going through something similar.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: It's comforting, it's confirming.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_00: God encourages and companionship because he knows we need it as human beings.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_00: He knew the news of a virgin birth would probably feel very overwhelming and isolating for Mary.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_00: So he made sure Elizabeth was experiencing her own miraculous pregnancy at the very same time.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_00: What timing, what intentionality.
• 5:14
  SPEAKER_00: So think about your own life.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_00: Do you have someone walking through a similar season right now?
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_00: That may not be a coincidence.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_00: That may be God placing comfort in your path through companionship.
• 5:28
  SPEAKER_00: How are you embracing it?
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_00: How are you, you know, looking for it?
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_00: How are you thanking God for it?
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_00: It's just such a blessing when we have people in our lives that are on the same spiritual pl path and they understand what you're going through, or you have somebody who just has great sympathy and really prays for you and is really there for you when you're going through something.
• 5:57
  SPEAKER_00: And they're going through some something somewhat similar as well.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that's such a blessing to have, even if the situation is hard.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_00: How amazing is it when you have someone who's right there with you who's going through something too, and you guys can bond over it.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_00: That's what God wants us to do.
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_00: That's why God wants us to continue to go to church to fellowship with others.
• 6:20
  SPEAKER_00: It's so important.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_00: And look how important that turned out to be for Mary and Elizabeth.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_00: Let's pray.
• 6:28
  SPEAKER_00: Lord, thank you for your blessings and your love.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for your companionship and friendship.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for the comfort you bring when we feel alone at first.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_00: As we continue the study of Jesus' birth, let us see your intentional timing in every part of our lives.
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_00: Father, we love you and we praise you.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_00: In Jesus' name.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_00: Amen.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_00: Till next time.
• 6:54
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for listening.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_00: This episode is part of my Christmas devotional series inspired by my written devotional, 25 Days Till Christmas, a scriptured-filled journey preparing our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_00: I invite you to read along and reflect on his story in a deeper way.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_00: Details in the show notes for the written devotional.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_00: And it also says in Scripture, glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill towards men.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_00: Luke 2, 14.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_00: And don't miss the next reflection in this Christmas series by subscribing to the podcast to continue walking through God's word this season.
• 7:28
  SPEAKER_00: And a little bit about me.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Jesse Morgan, wife, mom, and devotional writer and podcaster who loves sharing biblical encouragement and the hope we find in Jesus.
• 7:37
  SPEAKER_00: Till next time, Jesse Morgan signing off.