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We are going to look at certain words for Christmas, and our word for today is COMFORT.

When you consider our ideas of what Christmas should be, they often revolve around comfort. We have dreams of sitting by a comfortable fire eating comfort foods with the comfort of our family surrounding us. Let’s go back to those comfort foods for a moment. When you were growing up, what was the food that shouted Christmas to you? Maybe it was pies baking in the oven, a treat like peppermint or fudge or toffee, or a Christmas turkey or ham. We don’t crave comfort foods because they are the best for us — they often aren’t. We crave these foods because they somehow remind us of home. 

God understands this craving for comfort at a deeper level than we think because He also craves comfort. Not for Himself — He always has all He needs in the perfection of who He is. He craves this comfort for you.

It is the cry of God in Isaiah 40:1, “ ‘Comfort, comfort my people,’ says your God” (NLT). Jesus echoes this cry when he weeps for the crowds of people He sees in Jerusalem in Luke 13:34, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let Me" (NLT). Notice that even though they had done wrong, Jesus still wanted to gather and comfort them — if only they were willing.

We weep when we need to be comforted. Often during the Christmas season, we long for things to be as they once were. As you weep, remember that God weeps with you when you need to be comforted. What John 3:16 is to the New Testament, Psalm 23 is to the Old Testament. Look at Psalm 23:4, 'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me" (NKJV). 

For some of you this Christmas, you do not feel like celebrating. Maybe you have gone through the death of someone you love, or you have gone through a divorce in a marriage you were commited to in life, or you have gone through some kind of other devastaintg experience that leaves you depressed. It says this in Psalm 23 YOU ARE NOT ALONE! David knew this all too well. Hew writes this in Psalm 145:18-19, "The Lord is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on Him in truth. (19) He grants the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cries for help and rescues them" (NLT).

Even if you are not weeping for comfort, the truth is all of us are craving the comfort that can come into our lives only by God’s presence. It is so easy for all of us to make our suffering about us rather than find a way to bring glory to Jesus Christ through it.  The Apostle Paul experienced all kinds of hardships, persecutions, imprisonments and personal attacks but he never let it steal "The Fruit of the Spirit" called joy. Look at 2 Corinthins 1:3-4, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, (4) who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" (ESV).

The Apostle Paul did not play the victim's card; he always played the victor's card no matter his circumstances. As he wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, he used his situation to comfort others as God has comforted him. This is why Jesus called the Holy Spirit “the Comforter.” David writes this in Psalm 119:50, "This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your promise gives me life" (NLT). When you are down, when you need comforting, go to God's Word and read all of His promises to you.  Do not lisent to the words of that old evil Lucifer; listen to the words of your Lord. 

Verse to Meditate On: Psalm 119:76, "Let Your steadfast love comfort me according to Your promise to your servant" (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: "Dear Jesus, I need You to comfort me right now. I need to trust Your Word Lord, not thje word of that liar Lucifer. Jesus I am not going to act like nothing bad has happened, but instead, I am going to live life as a witness to You. I have the victory and I am more than a conqueor through You. Use me Lord to comfort others this Christmas and Advent season. I thank You, that I have You. I love You, Jesus.  

Father, I am willing. I am willing to be comforted by Your love. I am willing to be comforted by Your grace. Forgive me for those times that I look to temporary things to give the kind of comfort that only You can give. I am willing to be comforted by You. Lord, open my eyes to see what You are doing. Help me not to miss the opportunities to welcome You into my world. May my heart be a manger — a humble place that you can call home. In Jesus' name, Amen!

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