For Your Sake: Leaving a Legacy That Lasts

“Nevertheless, for David’s sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong.”

— 1 Kings 15:4 (NIV)

We spend a fair amount of time worrying about the future. We work hard to pay off the mortgage. We try to put a bit of money aside for our children. We want to make sure that when we are gone, we leave something behind that helps our family. That is a good instinct. But I want to suggest that the most valuable inheritance you can leave isn't financial. It is spiritual.

In his book Soulprint, Mark Batterson points us to a fascinating moment in the history of Israel. It involves a king named Asa. Now, Asa’s father was a man named Abijah, and the Bible tells us that Abijah was not a good king. He made plenty of mistakes. Yet, when Asa took the throne, God blessed him. God established him. God gave him a "lamp in Jerusalem."

Why would God do that?

The text tells us clearly. It wasn't for Asa’s sake. And it certainly wasn't for his father Abijah’s sake. It was "for David’s sake."

David had been dead for decades. He was a distant memory to the people living in Jerusalem at that time. But David had lived a life of such passion and integrity that he left behind a spiritual bank account. He had stored up so much blessing through his obedience that God was still paying out the interest to his great-grandchildren long after David was gone.

This challenges me deeply. It makes me ask a hard question: What kind of legacy am I leaving?

Batterson shares a beautiful story about his own grandfather. His grandfather was hard of hearing. At night, the old man would take out his hearing aid and kneel beside his bed to pray. He would pray for his children and his grandchildren. Because he couldn't hear himself, he prayed loudly. Everyone in the house could hear him calling out their names to God. Batterson says that today, years later, he is reaping the harvest of those prayers. He is living on the spiritual interest of his grandfather’s faithfulness.

Your prayers are not just for today. They are seeds. You are planting something that will produce a harvest for people you might never even meet.

I know some of you might be thinking that your family history is messy. You might not have a "David" or a praying grandfather in your family tree. That is okay. If you are in Christ, the chain is broken. Batterson reminds us that all curses, generational and spiritual, are broken at the Cross.

You can be the first link in a new chain. You can be the David of your family line.

Every time you choose integrity when no one is looking, you are making a deposit. Every time you pray for your children, you are making a deposit. Every time you serve the church or give generously, you are adding to a spiritual account that will bless your family long after you are gone.

We need to live with a long view. We need to stop thinking just about next week and start thinking about the next generation. Let’s live in such a way that fifty years from now, God will look at our grandchildren and bless them "for your sake."

Prayer of the Day:

Lord God, thank You for the godly men and women who went before me and prayed for me. I want to leave that same kind of legacy. Help me to look beyond my own life. Help me to build a "spiritual bank account" of prayer, integrity, and faithfulness. I pray that my obedience today would become a blessing for my children and grandchildren tomorrow. Let my life be a lamp that keeps burning for generations to come. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Freedom of Being Undignified: Be Real with God

“David said to Michal, ‘It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.’”

— 2 Samuel 6:21–22 (NIV)

We all have a tendency to pretend. We want people to think we have it all together, that our families are perfect, and that our faith never wavers. In his book Soulprint, Mark Batterson calls this living with an "Alter Ego." It is a fake persona we create to impress others or protect ourselves.

Batterson tells a funny but convicting story about a time a neighbour mistook him for someone named "David." Instead of correcting her, he just went along with it. She called him David for years. At first, it was a joke. But eventually, it became a burden. He had to hide his real identity just to keep up the charade. He realised that trying to be someone you are not is a trap. It is exhausting.

I think we do the same thing spiritually. We put on what Batterson calls "Royal Robes."

Think about King David. He was the most powerful man in Israel. On the day he brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, everyone expected a grand, dignified military parade. They expected the King to act like a King. They expected pomp and circumstance.

But David did something shocking. He took off his heavy royal robes. He stripped down to a simple linen ephod, which was basically his undergarment, and he danced before the Lord with all his might. He didn't care how he looked. He didn't care about protocol. He was desperate for God.

His wife, Michal, watched from a window and despised him. She thought he was embarrassing himself. She wanted him to be dignified. She wanted him to keep the "Royal Robes" on.

But David refused. He told her, "I will become even more undignified than this!"

David understood a profound truth: You cannot worship God and protect your ego at the same time.

What "Royal Robes" are you wearing today?

Maybe your robe is your job title. You feel you have to project success and power to be respected. Maybe your robe is your intellect. You are afraid to ask simple questions or admit you don't know the answer. Maybe your robe is a spiritual mask that says "I'm fine" when you are actually broken inside.

These robes might make us look impressive, but they keep us distant from God. They are heavy, and they are hot.

God is not interested in your Alter Ego. He is not interested in the polished version of you. He wants the real you. He wants the undignified you.

It takes courage to disrobe. It feels awkward to be vulnerable. It feels risky to admit our weaknesses or to worship with abandon. But Batterson reminds us that "True authority derives from authenticity." People are not looking for perfect leaders or perfect Christians. They are looking for real ones.

So, let’s take off the heavy robes of expectation and pride. Let’s stop worrying about what the "Michals" in our lives might say. Let’s be willing to look a bit foolish if it means getting closer to God. As David showed us, the only thing standing between you and your destiny might just be your dignity.

Prayer of the Day:

Father, I am tired of pretending. I am tired of carrying the heavy weight of my own reputation. Today, I choose to take off my "Royal Robes." I lay down my pride, my titles, and my need to look perfect. I want to worship You with a free heart. Help me to be authentic. Help me to care more about Your opinion than the opinions of others. I am willing to be undignified if it means being closer to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Unwrap the Mummy: Finding Freedom from Secret Sin

“When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’”

— John 11:43-44 (NIV)

When we think about the story of Lazarus, we usually focus on the miracle of the resurrection itself. It is the moment Jesus shouts into the darkness of the tomb, and life returns to a body that had been dead for four days. It is incredible. But have you ever paused to think about what Lazarus looked like the moment he shuffled out of that cave?

He was alive, yes. His heart was beating. Air was filling his lungs. But he wasn’t free.

Jewish burial customs at the time meant that Lazarus was wrapped tightly in strips of linen. His arms were bound to his body. His feet were tied. His face was covered. He was essentially a walking mummy. He had new life, but he was still dressed for death. That is why Jesus had to give a second command to the people standing nearby. He said, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go".

I believe this is a perfect picture of where many of us find ourselves in our spiritual journey.

We have accepted Jesus. We have been given new life. We come to church, we sing the songs, and we truly believe. But underneath our Sunday best, we are still walking around wrapped in old grave clothes. We are bound by secret sins, deep regrets, or shame that we just cannot seem to shake. We are alive, but we are restricted. We cannot move freely because we are holding onto things that belong in the grave.

The author Mark Batterson calls this "secret sin". He points out that nothing isolates us quite like a secret. We think that if we hide our struggles, we are safe. We think that if no one knows about that habit, or that thought, or that past mistake, then it doesn't have power over us. But the opposite is true. Secrets are like those linen strips. They bind us. They keep us from running the race God has set before us.

Batterson reminds us of a quote by Saint Irenaeus: "The glory of God is a person fully alive". You cannot be fully alive if you are partially bound.

So, how do we get free? We have to do the thing that feels most frightening. We have to let someone unwrap us.

This means confession. It means finding a safe friend, a mentor, or a pastor; someone who can act as a "Nathan" in your life and be honest about what you are carrying. It means bringing those dark things into the light. The enemy wants you to believe that if people knew the real you, they would reject you. But the truth is, vulnerability often leads to the deepest kind of connection and healing.

We need to stop hiding behind a facade. We need to realise that God does not heal what we do not confess.

Today, I want to encourage you to take a step toward freedom. Don't settle for just being alive while still wearing the clothes of death. Find someone you trust. Speak the truth. Let God and His community unwrap you. Step out of the grave clothes and into the glorious freedom of being fully alive.

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, thank You for giving me new life. I confess that sometimes I still carry the heavy weight of secrets and shame. I do not want to walk around bound by my past or my hidden struggles. Give me the courage to be honest. Help me to find a safe person to speak with, so that I can be unwrapped and set free. I want to be fully alive for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

What Are Your Royal Robes? Finding True Identity in Christ

“David said to Michal, ‘It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.’”

— 2 Samuel 6:21–22 (NIV)

We all wear costumes. I don't mean the kind you wear to a fancy dress party. I mean the invisible costumes we put on every morning to impress people or to protect ourselves. Mark Batterson, in his book Soulprint, calls these our "Royal Robes".

Think about King David for a moment. He was the ruler of Israel. He had defeated giants and armies. When the time came to bring the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, it was a massive national event. It was a ticker-tape parade. The protocol demanded that the King look like a King. He should have been wearing his heavy velvet robes, his crown, and his jewels. He should have been waving politely from a distance.

But David did something shocking. He took off his royal robes.

He stripped down to a linen ephod, which was essentially a simple undergarment, and he danced before the Lord with all his might. He didn't care about the protocol. He didn't care about his dignity. In that moment, he wasn't David the King; he was just David, a child of God.

His wife, Michal, was watching from a window, and she was furious. She despised him because he looked "undignified" and "vulgar". She wanted him to keep the robes on because those robes represented status, power, and security.

I wonder if you and I are more like Michal than we care to admit. We are terrified of looking undignified. We cling to our own "Royal Robes" because they make us feel safe and important.

What are your Royal Robes today?

For some of you, your robe is your job title. You have worked hard to become a manager or a director, and you feel that if you let your guard down, people won't respect you. For others, your robe is your intellect or your university degree. You are terrified of asking a simple question because you don't want to look foolish. Perhaps your robe is your reputation as a "perfect" parent or a "strong" Christian who never struggles.

Batterson reminds us that these robes are heavy. They are exhausting to wear. When we wrap ourselves in our status or our success, we are actually hiding our true selves. We are finding our identity in what we do rather than whose we are.

David understood a secret that we need to learn: You cannot find your soulprint—your true identity—until you have the courage to disrobe. You have to strip away the things you find your security in.

It feels risky. It feels awkward. When you admit you don't have it all together, or when you worship God with abandon, you might feel humiliated in your own eyes, just as David did. But that is exactly where freedom is found.

God isn't impressed by your title, your bank account, or your awards. He gave you those gifts, to be sure, but He doesn't want you to hide behind them. He wants the real you. He wants the naked humility of a heart that says, "God, I am nothing without You."

So today, I want to encourage you to take off the heavy robes. Stop trying to prove yourself to people. Stop trying to maintain a perfect image. It is a house of cards that will eventually fall. Instead, find your security in the only status symbol that matters: the Cross. When you are secure in Christ, you don't need to be dignified. You are free to be a child again.

Prayer of the Day:

Father God, I confess that I often hide behind my achievements and my reputation. I am afraid of being seen as weak or foolish. But today, I want to take off these heavy "Royal Robes." I want to find my identity solely in being Your child. Give me the courage to be humble and the freedom to worship You with all my heart, even if it looks undignified to the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Gift of the Sidelines: Why Waiting Is Not Wasting

“David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.”

— 1 Samuel 17:14–15 (NIV)

If we are honest, most of us hate waiting. We live in a world of instant downloads, next-day deliveries, and fast food. We are used to getting what we want immediately. So when it comes to our spiritual lives, we often want the promotion, the healing, or the answer to our prayer right now.

But God rarely works on our timeline.

In his book Soulprint, Mark Batterson writes about a concept that changed my perspective on patience. He reminds us that "Every divine appointment is preceded by a season of preparation".

Think about David. Before he fought Goliath in the valley, he spent years on the hillsides of Bethlehem. While his older brothers were off fighting wars and looking important, David was stuck on the sidelines. He was tending sheep. To the outside world, it looked like he was doing nothing of significance. It looked like he had been forgotten.

I wonder if you feel like that today. Maybe you are watching your friends get married while you are still single. Maybe you are watching colleagues get promoted while you feel stuck in the same role. It is easy to feel like you have been benched.

But here is the truth Batterson points out: The battle with Goliath wasn't won in the valley. It was won on the hillsides.

When David was alone with the sheep, he wasn't wasting time. He was fighting lions and bears. He was learning to use his slingshot. He was developing what Batterson calls "holy confidence." God was building muscles in David's spirit that he would need for the victory ahead. If David had rushed to the front lines before he was ready, he would have failed.

Even Jesus spent years in a carpenter’s shop before He began His public ministry. He spent thirty years preparing for three years of ministry.

If you feel stuck on the sidelines today, please hear this: You are not being punished. You are being prepared.

God is more interested in who you are becoming than where you are going. He knows that if He puts you in a position of leadership or influence before your character is ready, it could crush you. So He presses the pause button. He keeps you in the waiting room.

Use this time well. Don't spend your energy resenting the wait. Instead, ask God what He wants to teach you right now. Sharpen your skills. Deepen your prayer life. Trust that the Architect of your life knows exactly what He is doing. As Batterson says, "God wants you to get where God wants you to go more than you want to get where God wants you to go".

Your time is coming. Until then, trust the preparation.

Prayer of the Day:

Father God, I confess that I find it hard to wait. I want to see progress, and I want to see it now. But I trust that You are good and that Your timing is perfect. Thank You for the sidelines. Thank You for this season of preparation. Help me not to waste this time but to use it to grow closer to You. Build the character in me that I will need for the future You have planned. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 9: Cry for Mercy | 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting | 2026

Day 9: Cry for Mercy

Week 2: Intercession & Warfare

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

— 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

This is one of the most quoted verses on revival and national healing, yet it is easy to miss the depth of what God is saying. Notice that the focus is not first on "the world," but on "my people." The key to national healing does not start with parliament; it begins with the Church.

Four Movements of the Heart

There are four specific movements found in this verse:

1. Humble themselves: We recognise that we cannot fix ourselves, our churches, or our nation. We renounce pride and self-reliance.

2. Pray: We speak to God about our condition instead of just complaining to each other.

3. Seek my face: We pursue God Himself, not just His blessings. It is about the relationship rather than just the results.

4. Turn from their wicked ways: We repent of any sin and compromise, both personally and corporately.

The Promise of Healing

Then there is a threefold response from God: He will hear, forgive, and heal. Derek Prince often pointed out that this verse is a conditional promise. If we do our part in humility, prayer, seeking, and turning, God stands ready to do His part. Prince highlighted that God’s "healing" includes spiritual, moral, and even national restoration.

In his book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, Jim Cymbala shares how his church discovered that if they would truly seek God together, He would come and do more than they could ever organise. The key again and again was honesty, humility, and desperate prayer. Revival did not come through clever ideas, but through broken hearts crying for mercy.

Standing for the Nation

As ANCC, we love our nation. We also see its brokenness. There is confusion in identity, crisis in families, pressure on mental health, and deep spiritual emptiness. It is easy to feel overwhelmed or cynical.

But God is still the same. He still hears. He still forgives. He still heals. Our job is to humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from any wicked ways in our own lives and in the Church.

Let Us Pray

Father, we come before You as Your people, called by Your name. We humble ourselves. We admit that we cannot fix ourselves or this nation. We confess our pride, our prayerlessness, and our compromise.

We seek Your face, not just Your hand. We turn from our wicked ways. Have mercy on us. Hear from heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our land. Start in us at ANCC, then move across Britain and the nations. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Day 8: Watchmen on the Walls | 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting | 2026

Day 8: Watchmen on the Walls

Week 2: Intercession & Warfare

“I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.”

— Isaiah 62:6–7 (NIV)

God Himself says He has posted watchmen on the walls. Watchmen are people who stay spiritually awake. They are positioned to see what others do not see and to respond before danger arrives. In ancient cities, the watchman’s job was a matter of life and death. If they slept, the city suffered.

Giving God No Rest

In these verses, God speaks of watchmen who "never be silent day or night." He invites them to "give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest." This is a powerful picture of intercession. God is actually asking His people to bother Him, to keep coming, and to keep reminding Him of His promises until what He has said is fully established.

Books on intercessory prayer remind us that this is not nagging a reluctant God. Dutch Sheets writes that intercession is partnering with God, adding our "amen" to His heart for people and nations. Wesley Duewel speaks of "mighty prevailing prayer" as prayer that refuses to let go. This is not because God is hard, but because the battle is real and persistence matters.

A Call to Arise

At the "Battle for Britain" conference, we heard a call for watchmen to arise across this land. This was not just a call for famous intercessors, but for ordinary believers in local churches to watch over their towns, schools, families, and churches in prayer.

I believe ANCC is called to be such a watchman church. Our declaration says we are "committed to prayer and dependent upon the Holy Spirit." That must be more than a line. It must be a lifestyle.

Accepting Responsibility

To be a watchman is to accept responsibility in the Spirit. It is to say, "Lord, I will not be silent over my family. I will not be silent over my street. I will not be silent over Britain. I will keep lifting my voice until Your will is done."

This is not about praying 24 hours a day; it is about living with an ongoing readiness to pray and a consistent commitment to stand on the walls in the Spirit.

Let Us Pray

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the One who posts watchmen on the walls. I offer myself to You today. Make me a faithful watchman, not a sleepy one.

Wake me up to what You are doing and to what the enemy is trying to do. Teach me to stand my ground in prayer for my family, my church, my town, and this nation. Make ANCC a watchman church that will not be silent until Your purposes are established. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Day 6: The Fire Must Not Go Out | 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting | 2026

Day 6: The Fire Must Not Go Out

Week 1: Awakening & Consecration

“The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.”

— Leviticus 6:12–13 (NIV)

When God first lit the fire on the altar in Leviticus, it was supernatural. However, from that moment on, the priests were responsible for tending it. They had to add wood every morning, remove the ash, and stay alert. If they neglected their duty, the fire would die down. This was not because God had changed, but because they had stopped responding.

Tending the Flame

In the same way, many of us can point to times when God lit a fire in our hearts. It might have been a conference, a youth camp, a Sunday service, or a season of breakthrough. The real test is not whether the fire once burned, but whether we have learned to tend it.

In his book Why Revival Tarries, Leonard Ravenhill warns that much of the church has grown "content with a neat little blaze" rather than contending for a holy fire of God’s presence.

How Do We Keep the Fire Burning?

Leviticus hints at two specific requirements.

1. Fresh Wood For us, this looks like daily prayer, daily Word, daily obedience, and daily worship. This is not about legalism; it is about rhythm. Just as a fire needs constant fuel, our spirits need constant input from the Holy Spirit.

2. Sacrifice The burnt offering speaks of surrender. In his book The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer speaks of the "blessedness of possessing nothing," which means laying everything on the altar so that nothing competes with God in our hearts. Where there is ongoing surrender, there will be ongoing fire.

Rebuilding the Altars

At the "Battle for Britain" conference, there was a strong sense that God is rebuilding altars of prayer across the nation. ANCC is meant to be one of those altars. Our public gatherings, our prayer meetings, our Life Groups, and our personal lives are all fire points.

The enemy will always try to extinguish the fire through distraction, division, discouragement, and sin. Our job is to resist him and keep putting logs on the altar.

Let Us Pray

Heavenly Father, thank You that You lit the fire in my heart. I do not want it to go out. Forgive me where I have neglected the altar and where I have let ashes build up and logs run out.

Teach me, by Your Spirit, how to build a daily rhythm of seeking You. Help me to offer myself afresh as a living sacrifice. Let ANCC be a house where Your fire burns day and night, a refuge for the weary, and a sending place for the called. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Day 25: God With Us, God in Us

The Best Gift of All: From the Manger to the Heart

Pastor Rasol Manouchehri Ardakani - 25 December 2025

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

— Colossians 1:27 (NIV)

Merry Christmas!

We have finally arrived. The waiting is over. The candles are all lit, the carols are being sung, and hopefully, you are surrounded by the warmth of the season. Whether you are reading this amidst a pile of wrapping paper, in a quiet moment before the turkey goes in the oven, or perhaps feeling a bit lonely on this big day, I want to wish you a truly blessed Christmas.

For the last twenty-four days, we have been tracing a single thread through history. We started in the garden with a promise. We walked with Abraham, waited with the prophets, and stood in the stable with the shepherds. The theme has been constant: God is with us.

But today, on Christmas Day, I want to take you one step further.

The Apostle Paul talks about a "mystery" that was hidden for ages but is now revealed. This mystery is the climax of the entire Christmas story. It isn't just "God with us." It is "Christ in you."

This is a breathtaking shift.

"God with us" is amazing. It is the comfort of a friend walking beside us. It is the security of a Shepherd leading us. But "God in us" is transformational. It means that the baby born in Bethlehem didn't just come to live among us; He came to live within us.

When you put your trust in Jesus, the Spirit of the Living God takes up residence in your heart. You become the stable. You become the place where His glory dwells.

This changes how we face tomorrow. The decorations will come down. The tree will be packed away. January will arrive with its grey skies and routine. But you will not be facing it alone, or even just with a helper standing nearby. You will be facing it with the power of the Risen Christ living inside you.

Paul calls this "the hope of glory."

Hope in the Bible isn't wishful thinking. It isn't crossing your fingers and hoping for the best. It is a solid, concrete assurance. Because Christ is in you, you have the guarantee of a future that is glorious. It means that no matter what this next year throws at you, you have an inner resource that can never be depleted. You have His peace, His strength, and His love woven into your very DNA.

So, as you celebrate today, enjoy the gifts. Enjoy the food. Enjoy the company. But remember that the greatest gift isn't under the tree. The greatest gift is the One who has made His home in your heart.

The distance is gone. The separation is over. God is with us. God is for us. And, most miraculously of all, God is in us.

Have a wonderful Christmas.

Prayer of the Day:

Lord Jesus, we praise You today as our Saviour, our King, and our Friend. Thank You for the journey we have been on this Advent. We are blown away by the truth that You chose to live in us. May this reality change us from the inside out. As we celebrate today, fill us with Your deep joy and help us to carry the light of Christmas into the coming year. We love You, Lord. Amen.

Day 24: God With Us Forever

The Promise That Never Expires: A Christmas Eve Assurance

Pastor Rasol Manouchehri Ardakani - 24 December 2025

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”

— Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

Happy Christmas Eve!

We have made it. The chocolates in the calendar are almost gone. The presents are (hopefully) wrapped and under the tree. The fridge is stocked, and there is a hum of excitement in the air that you can almost touch. For children, tonight is the longest night of the year as they wait for morning. For adults, it is often a moment to finally sit down, breathe, and look at the lights.

On this holy night, as we stand on the edge of Christmas, I want to leave you with a promise that will last long after the decorations come down.

Throughout this series, we have looked at how God was with His people in the garden, in the desert, and in the manger. But the question that often haunts us is: "Will He stay?"

We live in a world where "forever" is a rare thing. People leave. Sometimes they move away for work. Sometimes relationships break down. Sometimes, tragically, death separates us from the ones we love. We are used to things ending. We are used to saying goodbye.

Because of this, many of us carry a deep, often unspoken fear of abandonment. We worry that if we mess up, or if we aren't interesting enough, or if life gets too hard, we will be left on our own.

But the writer of Hebrews gives us a promise from God that acts like an anchor for our souls: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

In the original Greek language, this sentence is packed with double negatives. It is emphatic. It is like God is saying, "No, I will not leave you; no, never, ever." He wants to remove every single shred of doubt from our minds.

It is interesting that this promise is linked to contentment. The verse starts by telling us not to love money. Why? Because money offers a false sense of security. We think that if we have enough in the bank, we will be safe. But money can disappear. Markets can crash. Wallets can be stolen.

God offers a better security. He offers His permanent presence.

This means that the "God With Us" we celebrate at Christmas is not a seasonal visitor. He doesn't just turn up for the festivities and then disappear when January hits and the credit card bills arrive. He is committed to you. He is with you for the highs, the lows, and the boring bits in between.

As you go to bed tonight, perhaps with the excitement of tomorrow bubbling away, let this truth settle deep in your heart. You have a Friend who sticks closer than a brother. You have a Father who will never pack His bags and walk out on you.

Tomorrow we celebrate His arrival, but tonight we celebrate His staying power. He is here, and He is not going anywhere.

Prayer of the Day:

Father God, on this Christmas Eve, we are so grateful for the gift of Your presence. Thank You that You are not a temporary guest in our lives but a permanent resident. We praise You for the promise that You will never, ever leave us. As we sleep tonight, quiet our hearts with the knowledge that we are safe in Your hands, now and forever. Amen.

Day 22: God With Us in Salvation

Lost and Found: The Mission of the Messiah

Pastor Rasol Manouchehri Ardakani - 22 December 2025

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

— Luke 19:10 (NIV)

Welcome to Day 22.

We are getting very close to Christmas now. As we look at the nativity scenes in our churches and homes, it is easy to get distracted by the "how" of Christmas. We marvel at how the star moved, how the angels sang, and how the virgin conceived. But today, Jesus tells us the "why."

Why did He come? Why did He leave the comfort of heaven for the dust of earth?

He gives us His mission statement in one short sentence: He came to seek and to save the lost.

He speaks these words in the house of a man named Zacchaeus. If you went to Sunday School, you probably remember Zacchaeus as the "wee little man" who climbed a sycamore tree. But to the people of Jericho, he wasn't a character in a children's song. He was a traitor. He was a chief tax collector who grew rich by cooperating with the Roman occupiers and ripping off his own neighbours. He was likely the most hated man in the city.

When Jesus walked through Jericho, He could have chosen to stay with the mayor, or the local rabbi, or a respected business leader. Instead, He stopped at the tree, looked up, and invited Himself to Zacchaeus’s house for tea. The crowd was horrified. They muttered, "He has gone to be the guest of a sinner."

They didn't get it. They thought the Messiah came to congratulate the righteous. Jesus had to explain that He came to rescue the unrighteous.

Think about the feeling of losing something valuable. Maybe you have lost your keys, your wallet, or—God forbid—you have momentarily lost sight of your child in a busy supermarket. In that moment, your heart stops. You don't casually look around; you search frantically. You retrace your steps. You ignore everything else because the mission to find what is lost becomes the only thing that matters.

That is how God feels about you.

The Bible doesn't describe us as "rebels" who need to be crushed, but as "lost" things that need to be found. Being lost is a terrible feeling. It means you are disconnected from where you belong. You are vulnerable, confused, and unable to find your way home.

The beauty of the phrase "God With Us" is that He didn't wait for us to find our way back to Him. We couldn't. We were too lost. So, He came on a search and rescue mission. He entered the enemy territory of sin and death to track us down.

Salvation is not about us climbing a mountain to find God. It is about God coming down the mountain to find us.

So, if you feel far from God today, or if you feel like you have made too many mistakes to be welcome at His table, please read Luke 19:10 again. You are exactly the kind of person Jesus came for. He didn't come for the people who think they have it all together. He came for the lost. And if you let Him, He will find you, just like He found Zacchaeus.

Prayer of the Day:

Lord Jesus, thank You that You are the great Seeker. Thank You that You didn't come for the perfect, but for the lost. We admit that we have wandered away from You and tried to live life on our own terms. We are so grateful that You came to find us. Please come into our hearts today and bring Your salvation, just as You did for Zacchaeus. Amen.

Day 21: God With Us in Peace

The Gift You Can't Buy: Finding Peace in the Chaos

Pastor Rasol Manouchehri Ardakani - 20 December 2025

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

— John 14:27 (NIV)

Welcome to Day 21.

We are now in the final few days before Christmas. By this stage, "peace" might feel like a distant dream. The shops are frantic. The traffic is terrible. Our to-do lists are longer than our arms. We often sing carols about "Silent Night" and "heavenly peace," but our reality is usually noisy, rushing, and slightly stressed.

In our modern world, we tend to define peace as the absence of something. We think we will be at peace when the noise stops, or when the arguments end, or when the bank balance is healthy. We view peace as a fragile vase that sits on a shelf; it looks beautiful, but the slightest knock will shatter it into a thousand pieces.

But in today’s verse, Jesus offers us a very different kind of peace.

He calls it "my peace." This is not a generic sense of calm. It is the specific, robust peace that Jesus Himself experienced. Think about His life. He was constantly surrounded by demands. Crowds pressed in on Him. Religious leaders plotted to kill Him. Even the weather threw storms at Him. Yet, through it all, He remained completely unruffled. He even slept in the back of a boat during a hurricane.

That is the peace He offers to give us. It is not the absence of trouble; it is the presence of God in the middle of the trouble.

Jesus makes a clear distinction: "I do not give to you as the world gives." The world gives peace conditionally. It says, "If everything goes your way, then you can relax." The world’s peace is temporary and external. It depends on everything outside of you being perfect.

Jesus gives peace unconditionally. It is internal. It is a deep, settling anchor for the soul that holds firm regardless of what the weather is doing on the surface.

This is why He commands us, "Do not let your hearts be troubled." That sounds almost impossible, doesn't it? But He isn't telling us to ignore reality or pretend that bad things aren't happening. He is telling us that we have a choice. We can choose to focus on the trouble, or we can choose to focus on the One who is with us.

If you are feeling anxious today, or if your heart is racing with all the things you need to do, stop for a moment. You don't need to escape to a desert island to find peace. You just need to receive the gift Jesus has left for you.

God is with us in peace. He offers a calm that doesn't make logical sense to the people around us. It is a peace that allows us to breathe deeply even when the deadline is looming. It allows us to smile even when the plans fall apart.

So today, stop chasing the world's version of peace. It will always slip through your fingers. Instead, open your hands and accept the peace of Christ. It is yours for the taking.

Prayer of the Day:

Lord Jesus, we are so desperate for Your peace. The world around us is loud and chaotic, and our hearts often feel troubled. Thank You that You offer us a peace that is different from anything the world can give. Please anchor our souls in You today. When the storms come, help us to sleep in the boat like You did, trusting completely in the Father’s care. We receive Your peace now. Amen.

Day 20: God With Us in His Presence

The God Who Moved In Next Door: Glory in the Ordinary

Pastor Rasol Manouchehri Ardakani - 20 December 2025

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

— John 1:14 (NIV)

Welcome to Day 20.

We are now into the final stretch of our Advent journey.

If you have been reading through the Gospels during this season, you might have noticed that John is very different from Luke or Matthew. He doesn't mention shepherds, he doesn't mention wise men, and he doesn't even mention a manger. Instead, he starts with a cosmic poem. He zooms right out to the beginning of time and then zooms in on one earth-shattering fact: The Word became flesh.

This is the central mystery of Christmas. God, who is spirit, infinite, and invisible, took on skin and bone. He became fragile. He became touchable.

But I want to focus on the phrase "made his dwelling among us."

In the original Greek, this phrase literally translates to "he pitched his tent among us." To a Jewish reader, this would immediately bring to mind the Old Testament, when God’s presence dwelt in the Tabernacle—a literal tent that travelled with the people through the desert. Where the tent went, God went.

John is telling us that in Jesus, God has done it again. But this time, He hasn't moved into a tent made of fabric; He has moved into a body made of flesh. And He hasn't just visited us; He has moved into the neighbourhood.

Imagine if the King or the Prime Minister decided to move into the house next door to you. Not a palace down the road, but the semi-detached house right next to yours. Imagine seeing them taking the bins out or walking to the local shop. It would change everything about how you viewed them. They would no longer be a distant figure on the news; they would be a neighbour.

That is what Jesus did. He didn't stay in the "palace" of heaven. He came down and lived right in the middle of our messy, noisy, complicated humanity. He ate our food, walked our dusty roads, and laughed at our jokes. He made Himself completely accessible.

Verse 14 tells us that He came "full of grace and truth."

We often find it hard to balance these two things. We tend to be either all "truth," which can be harsh and unyielding, or all "grace," which can be soft and permissive. But Jesus is the perfect blend of both. He speaks the truth about our sin and our brokenness, yet He offers the grace to forgive and heal us. He is the only one who sees us exactly as we are (truth) and loves us completely anyway (grace).

So today, as you prepare for the final few days before Christmas, take comfort in this reality. God is not hiding from you. He is not locked away in a distant heaven where you cannot reach Him. He has pitched His tent right here. He is "With Us" in the most physical, tangible way possible.

You don't have to shout across the universe to be heard. You just have to talk to the One who moved in next door.

Prayer of the Day:

Lord Jesus, thank You for becoming flesh. Thank You for pitching Your tent among us and moving into our neighbourhood. We are amazed that You chose to live in our broken world rather than staying distant in glory. Thank You for being full of grace and truth. Help us to see Your glory today, not in the spectacular, but in the nearness of Your presence. Amen.

Day 18: God With Us in Humility

The Throne of Straw: Meeting the Humble King

Pastor Rasol Manouchehri Ardakani - 18 December 2025

“and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”

— Luke 2:7 (NIV)

Welcome to Day 18.

If you have ever been to a children's nativity play, you will know that the manger is usually the centrepiece. It is often a nice, clean wooden box filled with bright yellow straw. It looks rustic and charming. We sing "Away in a Manger" and think about how sweet the scene is.

But if we strip away the Christmas card glamour, the reality of Luke 2:7 is actually quite shocking.

Mary placed the Son of God in a manger. A manger is not a cot. It is not a cradle. It is a feeding trough for farm animals. It is the place where donkeys and cattle slobber over their food. It is dirty, it smells, and it is full of germs.

This is where God chose to enter the world.

If we were writing the script, we surely would have done it differently. We would have booked the finest room in the finest hotel. We would have ensured there were silk sheets, a team of doctors, and a press conference ready to announce the arrival. Kings are supposed to be born in palaces, surrounded by luxury and power.

But God is a different kind of King. He didn't come to dominate us with His power; He came to woo us with His humility.

Theologians call this the "condescension" of God. That sounds like a negative word to us, but it actually means "to come down to the same level." God descended from the highest heights of heaven to the lowest depths of a stable. He went to the bottom of the ladder.

Why? I think it is so that no one would ever feel excluded.

If Jesus had been born in a palace, the shepherds would never have been allowed in to visit. The poor and the outcast would have been kept away by security guards. But because He was born in a stable, the doors were wide open. The lowest of the low were welcome at His bedside.

This manger scene shows us that God is "With Us" in our humility. He is not impressed by our status, our bank accounts, or our job titles. He is comfortable in the grit and grime of real life.

This challenges our own pride. We spend so much of our lives trying to climb up. We want to be important, respected, and comfortable. We want the best seat at the table. But Jesus, who deserved the very best seat in the universe, willingly took the lowest place.

St. Paul later wrote that Jesus "made himself nothing" for our sake. The manger is the first step on a journey that would lead all the way to the cross. It is a visual reminder that true greatness in the Kingdom of God is not found in how many servants you have, but in how many people you serve.

So today, as you look at your Christmas decorations, take a moment to really look at the manger. Let it remind you that we serve a humble King. And let it challenge you to look for ways to be humble today, perhaps by serving someone else when no one is watching.

Prayer of the Day:

Lord Jesus, we are humbled by Your humility. It is hard for us to grasp that You, the King of Glory, would choose to sleep in a feeding trough. Thank You for coming all the way down to reach us. Please strip away our pride today. Help us to stop trying to be important and instead follow Your example of serving others with a humble heart. Amen.

Day 17: God With Us in Our Worship

Bending the Knee: What True Worship Looks Like

Pastor Rasol Manouchehri Ardakani - 17 December 2025

“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

— Matthew 2:11 (NIV)

Welcome to Day 17.

When we hear the word "worship," most of us immediately think of music. We think of a church band, a pipe organ, or perhaps our favourite carol playing on the radio. We tend to associate worship with the things we do with our voices.

But in today’s reading, the very first act of worship in the New Testament doesn't involve a single note of music. It involves a posture.

We are looking at the arrival of the Magi, often called the Wise Men. We don't know exactly how many there were, but we know they were significant figures. They were scholars, astronomers, and likely men of great wealth and status in their own country. They were used to people bowing to them. They were used to being the most important people in the room.

Yet, when they find Jesus, they do something shocking. They do not stand tall and shake His hand. They do not offer Him some advice. The text says they "bowed down."

In the original language, this implies falling prostrate on the ground. Imagine that scene for a moment. These dignified, wealthy, grown men are face-down in the dust before a toddler. They completely abandoned their own dignity to acknowledge His.

This is the heart of worship. It is a "bending of the knee." It is the decision to make ourselves small so that God can be big.

Sometimes we struggle with worship because we are holding onto our pride. We are worried about what we look like or what others might think. But the Magi teach us that you cannot truly worship Jesus while standing on your own pedestal. You have to step down.

The second thing they did was open their treasures. They didn't just give Jesus a polite token; they gave Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These were gifts fit for royalty. They were incredibly expensive.

This challenges me. So often, I give God the leftovers of my life. I give Him the spare change of my time or the last dregs of my energy after a long day at work. I fit Him in when it is convenient.

But true worship always costs us something. It might cost us our time, our money, or our reputation. As King David once said in the Old Testament, "I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing."

God is with us in our worship. When we bow our hearts and offer Him our best, we are connecting with the very purpose we were created for. We are acknowledging that He is the King and we are not.

So today, think about what you are bringing to Him. You probably don't have a chest of gold, and that is fine. He doesn't need your money. He wants your heart. He wants your attention. He wants you to bow your will to His. That is the most precious gift you can lay before the King.

Prayer of the Day:

Lord Jesus, we bow before You today. We acknowledge that You are the King of Kings and that You are worthy of all our praise. Forgive us for the times we have given You our leftovers. Like the Wise Men, we want to open the treasures of our hearts and give You our very best. We surrender our pride and our plans to You today. Amen.

Day 16: God With Us in Joy

More Than Just Happiness: A Joy That Lasts

Pastor Rasol Manouchehri Ardakani - 16 December 2025

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’”

— Luke 2:10 (NIV)

Welcome to Day 16.

We have passed the halfway point of December. By now, the Christmas season is in full swing. The radio is playing upbeat songs, the shops are bustling, and we are constantly being told that this is the "most wonderful time of the year." We are under a lot of pressure to be happy.

But if we are honest, happiness can be quite fragile.

Happiness usually depends on "happenings." If the sun is shining, if the traffic is light, and if our team wins the football match, we feel happy. But if the car breaks down, or if the turkey burns, or if a family member makes a snide comment, that happiness can evaporate in seconds. Happiness is like a thermometer; it goes up and down depending on the atmosphere.

The angel in Luke 2 does not offer the shepherds happiness. He offers them joy.

There is a massive difference. While happiness is a feeling based on circumstances, joy is a state of being based on truth. Joy is like a thermostat; it sets the temperature regardless of the weather outside.

Look at who received this message first. It was the shepherds. They were not living easy lives. They were out in the cold, working the night shift, likely tired and smelling of sheep. They were on the bottom rung of society's ladder. Yet, the angel tells them that this good news will cause "great joy."

This tells us that joy is not just for those who have their lives together. It is not just for the wealthy or the comfortable. It is for "all the people."

The reason this news brings joy is because of what it solves. The angel wasn't announcing a tax break or a holiday. He was announcing a Saviour. The deep ache in the human heart, the separation between us and God, was finally being fixed.

This means we can have joy even when we are not necessarily happy. You can be grieving a loss this Christmas and still have deep joy because you know that death is not the end. You can be worried about your finances and still have joy because you know God is your provider.

God is with us in joy because He is the source of it. C.S. Lewis once said that joy is the serious business of heaven. When Jesus was born, heaven touched earth, and that joy spilled over into our world.

So today, do not feel guilty if you don't feel "happy" every second of the day. You don't need to force a smile for the sake of the season. Instead, try to tap into the deep well of joy that comes from knowing Jesus. The circumstances of life change like the wind, but the "good news" the angel announced is a solid rock.

You are loved. You are rescued. God is with you. That is a reason for joy that no bad day can ever take away.

Prayer of the Day:

Lord God, thank You for the good news of great joy. We confess that we often chase after fleeting happiness instead of Your lasting joy. Please help us to tell the difference. When life is hard and our smiles feel forced, help us to find our strength in the deep knowledge that You are with us. Fill us with the joy of the Lord today. Amen.

Day 15: God With Us in the Supernatural

Day 15 Advent Reflection: God With Us in the Supernatural

Pastor Rasol Manouchehri Ardakani - 15 December 2025

“For no word from God will ever fail.”

— Luke 1:37 (NIV)

Welcome to Day 15.

We are now deep into the story of the nativity. Yesterday we looked at Mary’s brave surrender. Today, we are looking at the reason why she could be so brave. It wasn't because she was naive or because she didn't understand how babies are made. She knew perfectly well that what the angel was describing was biologically impossible.

She asks the angel, "How will this be since I am a virgin?" It is a fair question. It is the question of logic. It is the question of science.

The angel Gabriel doesn't give her a lesson in biology. Instead, he points her to the supernatural character of God. He tells her about her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant in her old age, and then he drops this incredible truth: "For no word from God will ever fail."

You might know this verse from older translations as, "For nothing is impossible with God." Both phrases get to the same heart-stopping reality. God is not bound by the laws of physics. He wrote them, so He can edit them whenever He pleases.

We often live our lives within the boundaries of the "possible." We look at our bank accounts, our medical reports, or our broken relationships, and we calculate the odds. We are very good at spotting dead ends. We say things like, "That person will never change," or "This situation is beyond repair."

But the message of Advent is that God loves to work in the supernatural.

The entire Christmas story is a catalogue of impossibilities. A virgin conceiving. A star moving across the sky. God becoming a baby. None of this makes sense on a spreadsheet. If you take God out of the equation, the Christmas story falls apart. But once you factor Him in, the impossible becomes possible.

When the angel says that "no word from God will ever fail," he is reminding us that God’s power is linked to His promise. If God has said it, reality has to rearrange itself to make it happen.

Perhaps you are facing a brick wall today. Maybe you are looking at a situation in your life that seems completely hopeless. The doctors have shaken their heads. The bank has said no. The relationship seems dead.

In those moments, logic tells us to give up. But faith invites us to look up.

God is with us in the supernatural. He is not just a comforting presence for the easy days; He is a miracle-working God for the impossible days. He can make a way where there is no way. He can bring life to a womb that was closed, and He can bring light to a life that feels dark.

This doesn't mean we treat God like a vending machine for miracles. But it does mean we stop putting a full stop where God has put a comma. We can bring our "impossibles" to Him with confidence, knowing that He is the God of the breakthrough.

Prayer of the Day:

Lord God, we confess that we often limit You with our limited thinking. We look at our problems and think they are too big for You. Please forgive our lack of faith. Thank You that You are the God of the supernatural. Thank You that no word from You will ever fail. We bring our impossible situations to You today and ask for Your miracle-working power to break through. We choose to believe that with You, all things are possible. Amen.

Day 14: God With Us in Our Surrender

Day 14 Advent Reflection: God With Us in Our Surrender

Pastor Rasol Manouchehri Ardakani - 14 December 2025

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.”

— Luke 1:38 (NIV)

Welcome to Day 14.

Today we are looking at one of the most pivotal moments in the entire Bible. It is the moment the door was unlocked from the inside.

We often see paintings of the Annunciation that make Mary look very passive. She is usually depicted sitting quietly, looking down, perhaps with a halo and a gentle smile. It all looks very serene and safe. But if we strip away the artistic gloss, we see that this was actually a moment of terrifying courage.

Mary was a young girl, likely a teenager. She lived in a culture where a pregnancy outside of marriage was not just a scandal; it was a crime punishable by death. When the angel Gabriel told her she was going to conceive a son, she knew exactly what that could cost her. She risked losing her reputation. She risked losing her fiancé, Joseph. She even risked losing her life.

Yet, in the face of all that fear, she spoke words of total surrender: "May your word to me be fulfilled."

In our modern world, "surrender" is not a very popular word. It usually implies losing a battle. It means waving a white flag, giving up territory, or admitting defeat. We are taught to be strong, to be in control, and to make things happen for ourselves.

But Mary teaches us that spiritual surrender is different. It is not about giving up; it is about opening up.

God had a plan to save the world, but He chose not to force it upon humanity. He waited for a partner. He waited for someone to say "yes." Mary’s surrender was not an act of weakness; it was an act of incredible strength. She was willing to let go of her own plans for her life to make room for God’s plans. She was willing to trust Him with her reputation and her future.

This is often the hardest part of our walk with God. We want Him to be "With Us," but we often want Him to be with us on our terms. We want Him to bless the plans we have already made. We want Him to fix our problems without changing our hearts.

True surrender means handing over the pen and letting God write the next chapter. It means saying, "Lord, I don't know where this is going, but I trust You enough to follow."

Perhaps God is asking for your surrender in a specific area today. Maybe it is a relationship you are holding on to too tightly. Maybe it is a career path that has become an idol. Or maybe it is just the need to be right in an argument.

It is scary to let go. It feels like falling. But remember who you are surrendering to. You are not surrendering to a tyrant; you are surrendering to a loving Father who knows you better than you know yourself.

Mary’s "yes" brought Jesus into the world. I wonder what beautiful things God could birth in our lives if we were brave enough to pray that same prayer today?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord God, we are amazed by Mary’s courage. We confess that we like to be in control and that surrender frightens us. Please give us the faith to trust You with our whole lives. We echo Mary’s prayer today: "I am the Lord’s servant." May Your will be done in my life, in my family, and in my future. We open our hands and our hearts to You. Amen.

Day 13: God With Us in the Unexpected

Small Town, Big Promise: Finding God in the Ordinary

Pastor Rasol Manouchehri Ardakani - 13 December 2025

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

— Micah 5:2 (NIV)

Welcome to Day 13.

We have officially tipped past the halfway mark of our Advent calendar. By now, the Christmas lights are up on the high street and the shops are full of people buying big, impressive gifts. We are culturally conditioned to think that "bigger is better." We are drawn to the blockbuster movies, the celebrity headlines, and the loudest voices in the room.

But today’s verse from Micah stops us in our tracks. It invites us to look away from the bright lights of the capital city and focus on a tiny, dusty village in the hills.

Micah is writing about where the Messiah will be born. If we were planning the arrival of a King, we would probably choose Rome, the centre of power. Or perhaps Athens, the centre of wisdom. At the very least, we would choose Jerusalem, the religious heart of the nation. We would want a location with prestige, infrastructure, and a bit of glory.

God, however, chooses Bethlehem.

To give you some context, Bethlehem was not a holiday destination. It was a "blink and you'll miss it" kind of place. It was small. It was insignificant. It was the sort of town that people left to go and find their fortune somewhere else. Yet, Micah predicts that this tiny village will be the launching pad for the Saviour of the World.

This tells us something profound about how God works. He loves to work in the unexpected.

He seems to delight in bypassing the proud and the powerful to set up camp among the humble and the ordinary. He doesn't need a palace to change history; He just needs a stable. He doesn't need an army; He just needs a teenage girl and a carpenter.

This is such good news for us. Most of us live lives that feel very "Bethlehem." We are not famous. We don't have massive platforms or endless resources. We go to work, we look after our families, we do the washing up, and we pay the bills. Sometimes we can feel like our lives are too small or too ordinary for God to do anything significant with them.

But the story of Advent is that God is with us in the mundane.

He is with you in the school run. He is with you in the quiet office. He is with you when you are making a cup of tea for a friend. He doesn't wait for you to become a "Jerusalem" before He uses you. He comes to you right where you are, in your own little Bethlehem.

So, if you are waiting for a big, dramatic sign from God, you might be looking in the wrong place. Try looking down. Try looking at the small things. God is often found in the places we least expect Him, turning the ordinary into something holy.

Prayer of the Day:

Lord God, thank You that Your ways are not our ways. Thank You that You chose humble Bethlehem as the birthplace of our King. We confess that we often overlook the small and the ordinary because we are looking for the spectacular. Please open our eyes to see You in the unexpected places of our lives today. Remind us that no place and no person is too small for You to use. Amen.

Day 12: God With Us in the Waiting Room of Life

The Perfect Moment: Why God Is Never Late

Pastor Rasol Manouchehri Ardakani - 12 December 2025

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law.”

— Galatians 4:4 (NIV)

Welcome to Day 12.

We are now halfway through our Advent journey.

If I were to ask you to name your least favourite place, I wonder if a "waiting room" would make the list. Whether it is at the dentist, the doctor's surgery, or the departure gate at an airport, there is something uniquely draining about a waiting room. The chairs are usually uncomfortable. The magazines are three years old. The clock on the wall seems to tick slower than anywhere else on earth.

In those moments, we feel stuck. We are powerless to make things move faster. We just have to sit there until our name is called.

For many of us, life can feel like one big waiting room. We wait for the right partner. We wait for a promotion. We wait for healing. We wait for a child to come back to faith. It is easy to sit in that space and wonder if God has forgotten to check His watch.

But today’s verse from Galatians tells us something vital about God. He is the Master of perfect timing.

Paul writes that Jesus came "when the set time had fully come." Other translations say "in the fullness of time."

This means that the first Christmas wasn't a random event. God didn't just spin a wheel and decide to drop Jesus into history on a whim. He waited until the exact, precise second that He had planned from the beginning of time. He waited until the world was ready. He waited until the stage was perfectly set.

To the people living back then, it must have felt like God was dragging His feet. It had been centuries since the last prophet spoke. The Roman Empire was crushing them. Hope felt very thin. But behind the scenes, God was lining everything up for the greatest moment in history.

He wasn't late. He was right on time.

This is such a hard lesson for us to learn because we live in a rush. We want things to happen yesterday. When God hits the "pause" button, we often interpret it as a "stop" button. We assume He doesn't care, or that He has missed His window of opportunity.

But God is never in a rush, and He is never late. If you are in a waiting room today, please know that it is not an accident. God is not ignoring you. He is preparing things that you cannot see yet. He is working on the details to ensure that when the answer comes, it comes at the "set time."

So, if you are tired of waiting, take heart. The same God who orchestrated the perfect timing of the Incarnation is the same God who is writing the timeline of your life. You can trust Him with the clock.

Prayer of the Day:

Lord God, we admit that we struggle with patience. We hate waiting, and we often worry that time is running out. Thank You for reminding us today that Your timing is perfect. Thank You that Jesus came at the exact right moment. Please give us peace in our own waiting rooms today. Help us to trust that You are working, even when we cannot see the hands of the clock moving. Amen.