I love the advent season for all the joy and longing it stirs in me. But the frenetic pace with this time of year can drown out the beauty and awe. There are Christmas concerts to do, church activities to help plan, gifts to purchase, and little time to contemplate what we’re celebrating. The things that remind me of the truth and beauty of the season might surprise you. It’s the Christmas card arriving in the mail that someone had transcribed into Braille or the home-baked cookies I’m given because they’re my favorite. These small tokens of affection shout, “I love you and want to show you just how much.”
If cards and home-baked cookies demonstrate the love of friends and family, today’s Scriptures shout about God’s gift of love to us. I cannot read these words without tears: “But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds” (Isaiah 53:5).
Isaiah spoke to God’s people of the gift of love that would change the course of history and their lives, but His description is unnerving. God would come in humility, in an unimpressive form (v.2). He would be pierced, punished, judged, and oppressed, though he had done no wrong thing (vv.3–9). And all this would come upon Him solely because of us—our sin and rebellion, the reason for all His suffering.
As heart-wrenching as these verses are, the next is astoundingly joyful. Jesus would be crushed to save us—for our justification, freedom, our joy (vv.9–12). Not only that, but you and I are given as gifts to Him. We are the Father’s gift to Jesus Christ. He earned us, and now we belong to Him! Forever!
Paul and Peter write about Christ’s work with joy, explaining that our old selves were crushed with Him so sin may no longer hold power over us (Romans 6:1–14)—we are free to live in righteousness (1Peter 2:24–25). In their letters, I hear the call to let Jesus’s gift of life be central to our lives. This gift needs daily unwrapping.
These verses remind us that we are free, forgiven, and healed in Christ. Unwrapping this gospel gift brings affirmation when we feel overlooked or misunderstood. It is hope when life feels unfair. And the more we unwrap, the bigger our view of Christ grows, until one day His love will be fully realized when we look into His eyes and see the hands and feet that bear the physical evidence of our rescue. My prayer for all of us is that this gift will pierce through our busyness, self-doubt, and fear. And that we would unwrap each day the forgiveness, freedom, and healing we’ve been given until it pours out of us in delight, hope, and love toward others.
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84 thoughts on "From Our Fears and Sins Release Us Day 11"
Oh what love he gave to me!
I can do all things but fail my God got me covered I shall not be moved I shall not falter I shall not give up cause he covers me in Jesus name no weapon formed against me shall not prosper! I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me! Hallelujah! I’m a winner. I’m a conqueror the blood still works thank you Jesus! Glory!
“And the more we unwrap, the bigger our view of Christ grows” – I love how infinite Jesus is, how He reveals more of Himself as we spend time with Him, as we dig deeper and deeper into the Scriptures that reveal Him, and as the Holy Spirit glorifies Him in our hearts. He is worthy of all our worship, to receive honor and power and blessing and praise.
And the more we unwrap, the bigger
Well said!
I love how Ginny writes, “unwrap each day with the forgiveness, freedom, and healing we’ve been given until it pours out of us in delight, hope, and love towards others”
May we never forget the sacrifice He made for all of our sins!
I love how Ginny writes, “unwrap each day with the forgiveness, freedom, and healing we’ve been given until it pours out of us in delight, hope, and love towards others”
Such a wonderful reminder!
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Amen!
yes!
I’m seeking the quiet to celebrate the true gift. I needed this reminder to unwrap daily.
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Perfectly said❤️
Ginny Owens reflection is thought-provoking and inspiring: “….Jesus’s gift of life (needs to) be central to our lives ….and needs daily unwrapping…..(so that this gospel gift) pours out of us in delight, hope, and love towards others.” Amen!!
@susanlincks- but wasn’t it man fulfilling God’s purpose?
I found it difficult to truly understand why punishment and crushed was used. I feel Jesus sacrificed Himself for everyone and God took Him as the ultimate offering. It was man who punished and crushed Jesus.
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@Kassie, love what you wrote and what struck you! God bless! @Don, Amen! This is only by His Spirit. We would never turn or seek Holiness without Him! Godly repentance should be preached and is necessary.
Paragraph 3– it says how we were the reason for His suffering. It shook me. The perfect Son of God suffered for me, to have me, to have relationship with me. He forgave me, so I can forgive others. Everything else seems so minuscule now. He endured the pain—bc of me and for me. Thank you Jesus! We were the joy set before him, wow!
Trying to take in His grace while also acknowledging the sin and brokenness in the world and trying not to be angry at it. ❤️
Amen! By the power of the HOLY SPIRIT we are alive to righteousness and seek holiness as HE is holy.
BUT, GODLY repentance is no longer preached or taught in many churches and small groups. Without it, we demean CHRIST’S sacrifice and preach a partial, weak Gospel
Thank You for the blood Lord. Is because of Jesus we are righteous in God’s eyes
I pray that all the ways I celebrate Christmas this year would point back to Christ.
Hey Alexis, if you feel comfortable, shoot me an email ([email protected]). Was reading through the comments and feels like the Holy Spirit is giving me a nudge to help in a small way
WOW!!! There’s a lot to take in today in the devotional. I receive emails from Bible Gateway and I received one with a free download for a Christmas Anxiety Kit — file:///C:/Users/dsall/Downloads/ChristmasAnxietyToolkit-from-Jennifer-Tucker-author-of-Breath-as-Prayer.pdf — it’s based on a book by Jennifer Tucker. Some of it uses Scripture as prayer, sound familiar, if you can either download or find it on their website I would recommend it.
Love the prayer at the end of todays devotional also. Still trying to wrap my head around the concept of being a gift to Christ — new, different and fantastic concept!!!
Be blessed and be a gift to someone else by doing something special for them.
@Taylor love your comment today. I agree I have been dealing with the same struggles. Waking up with a constant pit in my stomach for anxiety and fear. I pray this battle will get easier. But you’re right why fear whenGod has your back? It is HARD to let go and I pray I can release that struggle.
Since Christ died on our behalf and since we are now in Christ, we have died to sin and been raised to walk in newness of life. We should live in a way that shows that sin is no longer our master; Christ is. We should no longer fear death, because Christ has conquered death and it no longer rules over us. We are to live entirely for God and offer ourselves to Him and all the parts of ourselves as weapons for righteousness. We should display the righteousness and goodness of God. Our lives are to look new and different from our old life when we tried to keep the law and were ruled by the tyranny of sin and death. We no longer go astray, but follow our Shepherd and the Overseer of our souls.
At the end of the Isaiah passage- v.12 – “He interceded for the rebels.”
That’s a concept God has been working around in my brain and opening my heart about for the past 3-4 years now- The concept in fact that while I was a sinner is when he died. I was his enemy. He died knowing that millions will never respond to him. The people we view on this planet as our enemies, be them political or religious or cultural, the list goes on- are the very ones we should be dying to ourselves for. We spend so much time trying to argue them or convince them or even return their enemy-fire, but if we are to live out love as Christ did, it absolutely has to start with the sacrifice of ourselves for the sake of his calling. And not “just” for our enemies but ESPECIALLY for our enemies. I am speaking to myself now as well, but at some point, in comparison to his calling, we have to come to absolutely detest the distractions and temporary comforts of this temporary space that we live in. I am praying that for all of us -that the compassionate, empathetic, powerful love of Jesus will SO rule in our hearts that we can no longer view anyone as an enemy but as someone who is in chains and brainwashed under the lies of darkness, with a soul screaming for help and salvation.
Thank you for all of your prayers!
Steve’s scan was clear! NED
And the autoimmune issues he’s having, according to his neuro oncologist, and not related to his glioblastoma. So we see a rheumatologist next week we pray he has some answers and treatments for the pain and inflammation in Steve’s joints.
God is good.
And this journey with Steve is just showing me more of God’s character and love. Because we will never be told that Steve is cured. That is the nature of this disease. But we will also never be told that God has abandoned us. He will never leave us!
So thankful
Hugs to all ❤️
I love the picture of unwrapping his grace in our lives. How we can then have hope and joy.
Romans 6:14 -“ Sin is no longer your master…..Instead you are free by God’s grace.” (NLT)
Something I started doing years ago was using this verse and replacing sin with the specific thing I was wrestling with. Food, idolatry, worry, money.
When my husband and I went through a separation “Fear is not my master” became a regular reminder. But it is only as good as the reminder of who my master is – Jesus.
Jesus – ‘Guardian of my soul’ (1Peter2:5) is the one I strive to serve faithfully. He is so much bigger than my sin and fears! I still stumble and get it wrong. I still worry and fear and try to find solutions in my own way, leading to or from my sin. But He already knows that I will and He has it covered already! Amen!
What a blessing, it felt like this was a message to me. I am graduating from grad school on Friday and have been feeling the pull of the season having to say no and try and not feel bad. My family is struggling financially because my husband had been off I’ll for 8 weeks. I know God will carry us through these difficult times but I have been feeling the weight of all going on. Focusing on God and the reason for the season! Amen!
I resonate with this! Exactly how I was thinking/feeling. Praying for you now. I pray these Truths sink in deep to our hearts in a fresh way today!
May our presence at every holiday gathering be a gift. May our countenance reflect the joy we have as Christians. May our conversations reflect the hope we have because of Jesus. Let us shine His Light wherever we go. Let us bless others by sharing the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. He is the best Gift to give.
This is such a good reminder to continue to be renewed daily to live out well what God has for us on the earth.
A heart stopping moment early this morning has emphasized God’s goodness and protection. At the same moment as I crested a small hill, a single pair of headlights appeared racing towards me in my lane. A bad outcome seemed inevitable. No place for the other diver to slip back into line.. no place for me to avoid him. (We live in a rural area where there are no shoulders on the roads, only deep ditches and mostly narrow driveway openings on the sides.) Without thinking I swerved to avoid the oncoming car while braking hard. I came to a stop in a rare wider driveway and the offending car screamed past within inches. This whole event took place in seconds. I have much to be thankful for!
Something about Isaiah 53 today. I read it 2 or 3 times. It was in reading verse 12 for the last time and for some reason it struck me to my core! “….Yet He bore the sin of many, AND [then] interceded for the transgressors (ME!).”
*paraphrasing and emphasis mine.
It just felt like I just read a whole chapter of such goodness, all he had done, the work that was accomplished, and the, and now, He is interceding for me. Such a Passionate, Focused, Active, Vulnerable LOVE!!!
It hit me in such a beautiful, physical, overwhelming way this morning. It felt like the Spirt in me literally leapt up and yelled, “YESSSS!!!!”
I just bawled. It was such a gift this side of heaven. I can only compare it to that euphoric moment after my long labors, when I am finally holding what I worked so hard for. The work was done and what was left was such a gift, and I, in my lowly sinful earthly body got to be a part of it. It’s like touching heaven, if only for a moment. And I was also reminded by the Spirit that this is such a small taste of what heaven will be. I have never wanted so badly to hold on to Jesus physically like I would my newborn babies. I have a newly birthed longing for my heavenly home, and to hold the only scars in heaven!
I came across a quote once (I can’t find it now!) that said something like “If you actually knew how much God loved you, you would break down and weep.” I feel like I read and hear so often about Jesus dying for us, that it doesn’t really sink in what that means or how significant that is. I am longing for more of a realization of how beautiful that is to sink into my heart today. I don’t think we can even feel the fullness of the beauty and love of Jesus’ death until we get to heaven, but I’d love just a small realization of it here. Could y’all please pray that the beauty and significance of Jesus’ death sinks into my soul today?
Good MORING sweet sisters! Happy midweek! Loving, loving, this BEAUTIFUL study! This morning some a few things stood out to me and just-on time! I’m paraphrasing what Ginny Owens wrote and made it personal: I am free, forgiven and healed in Christ! Unwrapping this gospel gift brings me AFFIRMATION when I feel overlooked and misunderstood. And that I would unwrap each day the forgiveness, freedom, and healing I’ve been given until it pours out of me in delight, hope and love TOWARD others! I really NEED this at work! And for someone close to me.
We are the FATHER’s GIFTS to JESUS! Wow! Powerful!
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I have a hard time fathoming the kind of love God has for us. To sacrifice something so special, for me. A gift freely given that I often take for granted. A little bit of conviction this morning, but so full of love and hope in grace!
Such an awesome devotional!❤️
“His punishment was for my peace”
Thank you Jesus
…”We should no longer be slaves to sin — because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” Romans (6:6,7) I’m no longer a slave to sin — I am a child of God, hallelujah! Praising God for the power and presence of His Holy Spirit, living within me so that when tempted, I can say “no!” to sin!
@grammiesue – prayers being lifted for Steve, and for you.
@Rhonda J. — praise to God for relieving you of your back pain!
A blessed Wednesday to all my SRT sisters!
i have been living a life of fear for the past almost year… from getting married to getting pregnant to not have any money and constantly being negative hundreds of dollars… but God gives me hope, God gives me strength to endure in these hard times! I want to proclaim that i will not allow the worldly measures take over my Godly soul anymore. God bless all this season. ❤️
During Advent I also read Ann Voscamp’s advent book “The Greatest Gift”. Today one thing she wrote that goes along with our reading today says, “God gives God. That is the gift God always ultimately gives. Because nothing is greater and we have no greater need, God gives God. God gives God , and we need only to slow long enough to unwrap the greatest Gift with our time: time in His Word, time in His presence, time at His feet.” So today I will remember He is my gift and I am His! A true gift exchange.
Prayers for requests today dear sisters. Y’all are a gift to me as well! ❤️❤️
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Thank you Ginny Owens. Beautiful ❤️
Wow, the scripture and today’s devotional!! What a gift! Let it be central to my life Lord. To remember too unwrap it daily. To hold it close, yet share it with others that we are free, forgiven, and healed in Christ.
The song “Scars in Heaven” by Casting Crowns would come on the radio as I would drive to Tanner’s house. I knew that I would want that song in his service. Here’s the chorus.
The only scars in Heaven, they won’t belong to me and you
There’ll be no such thing as broken, and all the old will be made new
And the thought that makes me smile now, even as the tears fall down
Is that the only scars in Heaven are on the hands that hold you now.
This verse helped me so much with the thought of losing Tanner. I knew it was time for God to take him home. To imagine Tanner being held by our Father has brought me so much comfort.
God has been speaking to me so much through this study and all of your words I feel like my head is spinning. Today all I could think about is how sad I must make God when he died to give me peace and I don’t accept it. Like a bird in a cage with an open door. Like my husband carrying in the Christmas tree bearing all the weight and me trying to help but honestly just getting in the way because he’s got it all by himself. I loved the imagery of gift being unwrapped each day. Each day my heart gets a little softer, and I lay down a little more worry.
Love this insight. Thank you for posting.
I love the verse in 1 Peter that says Jesus is the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. It makes me ask, what does it mean that he is the Shepherd and Overseer of my soul? A shepherd takes care of his sheep. He protects them. So that means, Jesus cares for and protects my soul. Nothing can snatch me out of his hand. An overseer watches over us. A footnote in my Bible says Overseer or Guardian. He guards me. He protects me from the lies of the evil one. That shows me that no matter what anyone says or does, He is constant. My soul is safe in Jesus. My identity and value come from him. My salvation is in him. My hope is in heaven. And nothing can separate me from his love. That anchors me when I am so prone to let what other people say or think get to me and affect my mood. My my hope is in Christ. I know who I am because of who He is. Praying I would remember that!
@Taylor, so good to see you too in the comments!! :)
Good morning She’s!
I felt much better yesterday, thank you so much for the prayers!! We actually got to go see The Chosen in the theaters yesterday which I had been pushing off because of the pain in my back although I really couldn’t wait to see it! It was So good, and there was an overwhelming scene where Little James, which is played by an actor that has scoliosis in real life, which is what I have and all my pain comes from!) where James finally gets the nerve to ask Jesus why he hasn’t healed him. It is very touching, and even though I KNOW the answer it brought tears to my eyes and made my heart twist! Not all of us are gonna be healed from our ailments on this side of heaven, and God uses our pain in many ways. I always said that my back pain helps me tremendously in my job as a restorative fitness trainer all those years of helping other people deal with chronic disease and pain. It doesn’t all go away. That’s a fact. But with Jesus, we can conquer in a different way. I will never forget my client/friend that I was with through her journey with ALS. She had the peace of God, and that is always there with me, of HOW she painted a picture of serving and loving God through it.
Hoping you all have a good day. Prayers were sent up for you and Steve gramisiesue, for a good outcome, and strength through all of this!
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The last two sentences quickened my soul, God bless you Ginny for authoring such well written and timely words ♥️
God is sovereign over all things. Isaiah’s words were 400 years before Jesus walked the earth! I work hard to slow down and walk w Jesus every day but especially during this busy season. He is the reason I am free and He is our gift.
I love Advent! A time to focus on the greatest gift ever given. I’m often asked why we don’t have a tree. My home is filled with nativity scenes. One large and MANY small ones. Many of them gifted me by a sweet friend. My answer to the why question is the native ties help us keep our focus on the gift of Jesus. I’m loving the focus of this advent study! Praying for each request. I have a request. My husband has Parkinson’s dementia. Sometimes it seems as if his memory is worse by th hour. I’m thankful I know the One in control! I had a peripheral nerve stimulator implant in my neck last week and will have another next Friday. All this has given my hubby much stress which makes his mental state much worse. Pray for peace and a calm spirit for him. Sorry for this very long post.
“We are the Father’s gift to Jesus Christ, he earned us…” what a beautiful way to celebrate how our God is different than every other message we hear today! We earn nothing with even our best efforts, but we have been earned and won!
I have been living as a slave to fear these last few days. The Lord and my therapist have helped me see clearly that I’m living in bondage to my fear, anxiety, and need to control/have it all figured out. Today I want to claim the truths that sin (and fear) no longer have power over me; that I am free, forgiven, and HEALED; that I am a child of a God who loves me more than I can imagine, who is a Provider, Protector, and Redeemer. Lord I pray for the right mindset today and in the days moving forward to live out this truth and hold fast to You above anything else. I wrote in my journal the lyrics “I’m no longer a slave to fear, for I am a child of God.” I need to take this reminder with me today when fear starts to creep up that it has no power over me.
Praying for all the requests! It was good to see you @Sarah D in the comments :)
His free gift makes me a costly gift! I have more worth because of His incomparable worth! Thank you Ginny for helping me see more clearly “I am the Father’s gift to Jesus Christ. He earned me, and now I belong to Him! Forever!” What a glorious gift exchange! ❤️
Romans 6:14 hit me today. “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 6:14 ESV I speak Grace to a lot of people but not often to myself. I’ve been working on letting go of my perfectionism for a long time. I need to daily unwrap the forgiveness and freedom of grace because I was not made to be perfect. Lord thank you for this gift.
Oh Father, thank you for Jesus on the cross and resurrected to save us all. Amen
I have tried to fix my focus away from the bustle of Christmas and the internal instinct to decorate early and go beyond necessary in the first few days of the season. I am praying for God’s peace and wisdom to guide me on a slower journey, embracing the One True Gift. It’s hard, but these readings, the podcasts and the community of She’s reading here have been a encouragement to me to stay the course. Christmas will come, with it with the pretty bows and wrapping paper, twinkling lights, and crowded stores. Christmas will come wrapped as a humble baby wrapped in swaddling clothes sleeping peacefully in a manger with His blessed mother Mary watching over Him. We know His story. We know that His life as fully human will be filled with joy,sorrow, pain and death. But in the end, He will conquer over all of it. He will bring us peacefully into the family of God. I pray for that gift to take over my soul today & everyday.
Thank you, Father, for sending us your Son. What a give You gave us so that Jesus could receive us from You, the Father, out of love.
“This gift needs daily unwrapping”
This struck me this morning – every day, all day, – for me to remember God has a plan for me, Christ sacrificed his life for me. Wake up daily and remember.
GRAMSIESUE – praying ❤️
RHONDA J – praying for healing, relief from the pain
MELANIE – praying for your pain relief & healing
The word “pierce” causes my eyes to swell but knowing this means forgiveness of our sins. Without His forgiveness, life would be empty. Instead, life is full with so much love and compassion for others and myself. I am so grateful ❤️
1st Peter 2:25—for you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and OVERSEER OF YOUR SOULS. I never caught the word Overseer before…I have trusted in the Shepherd to guide and protect but an overseer…one who is in charge…making sure things go as planned…making certain that things are done right…that adds another layer of peace! Jesus guides and protects AND he makes sure things go as planned. In this busy time of anticipation added to the “plain ol’ “ worries in life, what a thing to read this and relax under the Lord’s blanket of joy and peace. Thank you She’s for all your encouragement. Although I rarely post, I read all the comments and prayer requests and ask the Father to provide the things you need.
As a companion to the readings each week. Sorry for the double post.
Amen. I don’t know if any of you listen to the SRT podcast but I have been listening to it last week and this week as they walk through the readings we do each day and the lyrics to the hymn that inspired the study. It’s a great listen as a co
Amen. I don’t know if any of you listen to the SRT podcast but I have been listening to it t
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Yes! From our Fears and Sins Release Us! ❤️❤️❤️
So humbling to think that, “you and I are given as gifts to Him. We are the Father’s gift to Jesus Christ. He earned us, and now we belong to Him! Forever!”
GRAMSIESUE – may the peace of God fill your mind today.
TINA – needed that ❤ this morning. Thank you ❤❤
Romans 6 feels like a punch to the future. I’ve been behaving like I’m a victim to sin. Like I’m not responsible or the one who wants to sin. As if it’s a separate part of me that doesn’t want to follow God, so it’s not me who’s thinking that. How sad for me. And then reading that because of Christ I’m dead to sin. It has no power over me, I’m free from it. Honestly, it doesn’t feel true. But that’s probably my fault and not God’s. Lots to wrestle with for today.
I had a mindset like that when I was younger. It took someone to wake me in the middle of the night whom God used to awaken me and set me free. Praying for you, Arina!
Amen
Pam Philpott, ITS ALL ABOUT JESUS! I love it!!!❤
RHONDA J..Praying sister, praying for pain to GO in the Mighty name of JESUS.. Sending love wrapped in hugs and prayers..❤
DOROTHY.. No rambling, just a testimony of God’s love and provision..
That seriously was a brave move on your part.. BUT GOD
BUT GOD..❤
CHURCHMOUSE.. Yours words yesterday, reminded me of an old song I loved that had the words, ‘this world is not my home, I’m just a passing through, my treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue…
I love you my friend..❤
MARI.. ❤. God is good. Always.❤
HEIDI..interestingly enough, my wake up prayer, first prayer after rubbing eyes, is, The Lord’s prayer. Hugs to you.❤
TRACI GENDRON..I always believe that when the opportunity comes, the words come too. I am a scardy cat too when it comes to talking about Jesus, BUT GOD..
It is often through my testimony, that I believe I shine for Jesus..❤
GRAMSISUE..I am sorry for your troubles as your worries. Praying for today’s visit dear sister.. It is a scary journey you are both on.. BUT GOD.. He is with you in this.. This your ‘Emmaus walk’.
Sending hugs wrapped in love and prayers..❤
JENNIFER LOVES JESUS..❤
ANGIE MILLS..❤
SUSAN LINCKS..❤ What a beautiful perspective! ❤
PURSUED BY HIM..Praying your prayer with you..❤
KELLY(NEO)..❤
And to all, Happy Wednesday absolutely and lovingly wrapped in warming hugs, totally covered in love and prayers..❤❤
So spot on for today. I was feeling very overwhelmed with the Christmas season. It’s good to stop and remember why we celebrate it. Strip back the presents, the events and the food, it’s all about Jesus! ❤️