The wisdom of God will guide you.

​12-21-21
As we prepare for celebrating our Lord's birth, today's devotion is based on Matthew 1:19-20, "And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream."
Can you imagine what it was like when an angel spoke to Joseph in a dream?  He obviously believed what the angel said, for he did not divorce Mary. There have been times when I wished God would send me a message through an angel when I needed some guidance. 
But of course, God usually doesn't do that. Angels are few and far between in my life and (I'm guessing) in yours as well. Instead, we're left to do what Joseph did—lie awake, "considering these things" with the best wisdom we have available to us.
But the good news is that we do not have to "consider these things" on our own! James says this to us as well: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:5). He listens to us when we are in trouble and cry out. God gives us the Holy Spirit's help to make decisions, even the terribly tough ones. After all, He knows what our lives are like, for he became a human being like us, to suffer, die, and rise for our sakes.
Please join me in praying; Lord, when I am in trouble, help me to cry out to You for help, for you have promised to hear me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.