avatar
Jeanne Takenaka
avatarJeanne Takenaka2 min read  

Christmas: Having a Heart that Honors God - Jeanne Takenaka

    By Jeanne Takenaka

    Have you ever considered how Mary had a heart that honors God? 

    Merry Christmas week, my friends. 

    This week’s blog post will be brief. I know, for those even posting blogs this week, we all have things we are preparing to celebrate Jesus’ birth. 

    A short devotion: 

    I love this verse. Mary accepted God’s plan for her in faith, not questioning. She humbled herself calling herself the maidservant of the Lord. This young woman saw herself as a servant to her heavenly Father. She chose to yield her plans to His. She had plans to marry a good man in her small town. Maybe have children someday. And live a quiet life as a wife and a mom, devoted to God.

    Image of nativity Mary adoring her Son; she had a heart that honors God
    Christmas: Having a Heart that Honors God 5

    But God . . . 

    God saw beyond Mary’s expectations and straight to her heart. He knew her heart was devoted to Him and that she was the perfect woman to bear His Son . . . chosen before she ever drew a breath of earthly air. His plans for her were much bigger than her own.

    Having a Heart that Honors God—God saw beyond Mary's expectations and straight to her heart #Christmas #nativity #humility Click To Tweet

    When Mary heard the angel’s words: 

    “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35).”

    Mary probably grasped some of the heartaches that would come with her yes. Rejection by her town. A tarnished reputation. Names muttered behind her back. But she still accepted God’s plan for her. Mary’s heart was humble before her Father. She possessed a heart that honors God, and He honored her obedience. 

    Image of lit trees in a dark night
    Christmas: Having a Heart that Honors God 6

    As we near Christmas Day, let’s seek to have humble hearts before Jesus, hearts that honor God. May we each see God’s fingerprints in our days and choose to trust Him, no matter what He allows into our lives.

    *****

    Tell His Story will take a blogging break until January 4th, 2022 (I can’t believe I even wrote that!!). Lisa Jordan will host on January 4th, and I will be back here on January 11th. After that, we will return to our normal schedule. 

    Have a beautiful, special Christmas, everyone. Please, PLEASE know what a gift you are to me! 

    See you next year!

      Give

      Subscribe to the Daybreak Devotions for Women

      Be inspired by God's Word every day! Delivered to your inbox.

      More from Jeanne Takenaka

      • avatarJeanne Takenaka
        featureImage

        1 Essential Truth to Hold Onto When God Changes Our Plans - Jeanne Takenaka

        How many times have you entered into a Christmas season with a plan in mind, and by the time Christmas morning arrived, that plan had been thrown to the wind? Whether because of life circumstances—something you’re grieving, a job loss, broken relationships, heartbreak, weariness—or something else, there is a purpose when plans get changed. When God changes our plans, we always get to choose how we respond. On the blog this week, I share some thoughts on Joseph, of Mary and Joseph fame. His life plans were absolutely rocked when God showed up in his and Mary’s life. And his response is beautiful and hope-filled. Click to read one essential truth to help you when God changes your plans. I’d love to know, friend, how do you respond when God changes your plans?

        4 min read
      • avatarJeanne Takenaka
        featureImage

        11 Great Ways to Care for Yourself During the Holidays - Jeanne Takenaka

        Should you take time to care for yourself during the holidays? I know, seems like a rather ridiculous question. Of course, you should. But how many of us push ourselves so hard during the Christmas season to do all the things, buy all the gifts, keep all the traditions, that we land on Christmas morning exhausted? Yes, you may see me raising my hand here. Click to read 11 ways you can care for yourself during this potentially stressful season.

        5 min read
      • avatarJeanne Takenaka
        featureImage

        7 Helpful Ways to Reflect on Our Present Blessings - Jeanne Takenaka

        What is the best time of year to reflect on our present blessings? Sound like a trick question? Maybe it is. This is what I know. When we choose to thank God for our present blessings, especially when we’re walking through a hard season in life, we can know His nearness. Have you, in the middle of a hard time, stopped and looked for the ways God’s showing up in the midst of the pain, the struggle? What’s happened? For me, I find getting my eyes off of the circumstance and onto my Father changes my outlook. In this week’s blog post, I share seven helpful ways to help you reflect on present blessings. I’d love to know, friend, What helps you reflect on present blessings, especially in the midst of hard seasons?

        4 min read
      See all from Jeanne Takenaka

      Editor's Picks

      avatar

      Jeanne Takenaka

      More from Jeanne Takenaka

      • avatarJeanne Takenaka
        featureImage

        1 Essential Truth to Hold Onto When God Changes Our Plans - Jeanne Takenaka

        How many times have you entered into a Christmas season with a plan in mind, and by the time Christmas morning arrived, that plan had been thrown to the wind? Whether because of life circumstances—something you’re grieving, a job loss, broken relationships, heartbreak, weariness—or something else, there is a purpose when plans get changed. When God changes our plans, we always get to choose how we respond. On the blog this week, I share some thoughts on Joseph, of Mary and Joseph fame. His life plans were absolutely rocked when God showed up in his and Mary’s life. And his response is beautiful and hope-filled. Click to read one essential truth to help you when God changes your plans. I’d love to know, friend, how do you respond when God changes your plans?

        4 min read
      • avatarJeanne Takenaka
        featureImage

        11 Great Ways to Care for Yourself During the Holidays - Jeanne Takenaka

        Should you take time to care for yourself during the holidays? I know, seems like a rather ridiculous question. Of course, you should. But how many of us push ourselves so hard during the Christmas season to do all the things, buy all the gifts, keep all the traditions, that we land on Christmas morning exhausted? Yes, you may see me raising my hand here. Click to read 11 ways you can care for yourself during this potentially stressful season.

        5 min read
      • avatarJeanne Takenaka
        featureImage

        7 Helpful Ways to Reflect on Our Present Blessings - Jeanne Takenaka

        What is the best time of year to reflect on our present blessings? Sound like a trick question? Maybe it is. This is what I know. When we choose to thank God for our present blessings, especially when we’re walking through a hard season in life, we can know His nearness. Have you, in the middle of a hard time, stopped and looked for the ways God’s showing up in the midst of the pain, the struggle? What’s happened? For me, I find getting my eyes off of the circumstance and onto my Father changes my outlook. In this week’s blog post, I share seven helpful ways to help you reflect on present blessings. I’d love to know, friend, What helps you reflect on present blessings, especially in the midst of hard seasons?

        4 min read
      See all from Jeanne Takenaka