We can be a selfish people. We often care about things that aren't priority to God. On the other hand, Jesus chose the cross when people expected Him to conquer. We must choose to surrender our desires and follow Jesus.

When life hits us hard, it can get so heavy that we cannot seem to even pray another prayer. When that happens, it's important for all of us to lift each other up in prayer...to intercede with God for one another.

Pain takes many forms, but shame, bitterness, heaviness, and grief are the most common. These weights were not meant to stay on our hearts, and it's important to allow God to take on those weights...all through the process of lamenting.

There are pains that simply don't stop. We just want relief, and long for the absence of that pain. When it becomes intolerable, may God teach us to say "This hurts. Nevertheless...". There is hope in being comforted by God even when the source of that pain endures. God gives us comfort so that we can comfort those who are going through the same things.

All of us have sinned. It's our response to that sin that draws us closer to God or pushes us further away. The enemy would have us crying out in shame and regret, but Jesus paid the price so that our regret lets us lament our sin and draw near to the one who sets us free.

Grief, loss, pain, and doubt come to everyone. Can we get comfortable with the raw unfiltered struggle within ourselves and others as we truly lament the painful things in our lives while looking to God for hope?

As we enter the new year, we should take the time to reflect on ourselves and God. God has many big plans for us, and while we may have a lot of personal dreams and aspirations for ourselves and our personal lives, we need to take time to be mindful of what God has in store for us. As we reflect, we should try and focus on how we can align our own personal goals with God's goals for when these two things are aligned is when we are at our strongest. 

The final day of Advent, we take a look of the greatest of the things that God has given us through Jesus: Love. The great act of love that God committed by not just giving us Jesus, but being willing for Jesus to die for our sake is an act of love that none can imagine. So as we go out into the world, we should go out showing love to all around us just as God and Jesus showed us even though we did not deserve it.

With it being the week before Christmas, it is time to look at what the birth of the savior truly brings. While having faith within our lord Jesus brings us hope and peace through his everlasting promises, it sparks joy within us as we hear the good news given to us by God. Our savior is born, and with him comes salvation!

Today, we join Steven Adcock talking about the peace that can come only from our faith in Jesus Christ. Whenever we face hardships, whenever our troubles get too heavy, we will always find peace within our lord.