DECEMBER 15 GOD’S PLANS THROUGH LIFE’S DETOURS By Chip Nightingale Vice President of Ministry Advancement, Word of Life Fellowship
Today’s Passage: Luke 2:1–5
In Luke’s account, Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem was not a vacation. It was the result of a decree from Caesar Augustus – a government mandate that disrupted their lives at the most inconvenient time. For Caesar, it was about control, taxes, and record-keeping. For God, it was about prophecy and promise. I cannot help but think about moments in my own life when I felt “rerouted” by circumstances outside my control. Years ago, I had my life all mapped out. A circumstance beyond my control shifted the direction of my life completely. At first I felt frustrated and wondered why I had to change direction when things were going well. But looking back, that unexpected turn opened the door to opportunities I never would have chosen – yet God had clearly prepared. Mary and Joseph probably did not want to travel 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem while she was pregnant. But that journey placed them right where God said the Messiah would be born. Their “inconvenience” was God’s perfect plan unfolding. It is a reminder to me, and to you, that interruptions are not always obstacles. They might be invitations to trust God’s bigger story. When life sends you somewhere you did not plan to go, He’s still guiding the steps. The very thing you think is a disruption may be the divine delivery of His promise. Prayer: Lord, help me to see Your hand when my plans are interrupted. Give me faith to walk the road You set before me – even when it feels inconvenient – knowing You are leading me toward Your perfect will.
What feels like a detour may be the direct route to God’s promise.
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