Exodus 12:2 (NASB)
“This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you.”

Devotional Thought:
With the Passover, God marked a new beginning for His people. Israel’s calendar started with redemption. Gratitude remembers that all new beginnings are built on deliverance by the blood of the Lamb.

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude sees redemption as the true beginning of life.
2. The blood of the lamb foreshadows Christ’s sacrifice for us.
3. Gratitude starts the calendar with grace, not achievement.

Poem – “The Beginning of Months”
The night was covered in fear,
But the blood marked the door,
The Lamb gave His life,
Judgment passed over,
Redemption began.

The calendar turned new,
The people walked free,
Egypt was behind,
The promise ahead,
The Lord was with them.

Gratitude starts with redemption,
Faith walks in freedom,
Hope looks forward,
Peace follows the Lamb,
Joy sings of salvation.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You that Israel’s story began with redemption. Thank You that the blood of the Lamb was their covering, pointing to Christ.
Help me to live each day as a new beginning in Your grace. May gratitude remind me that my life is marked not by what I have done but by what Christ has finished.

Genesis 12:1 (NASB)
“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you.’”

Devotional Thought:
God called Abram to leave the familiar for the unknown, promising blessing. New beginnings often mean stepping away from comfort and stepping into faith. Gratitude sees God’s call as invitation, not interruption.

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude follows God’s call even when the way is unclear.
2. God’s call is always rooted in His promise.
3. Gratitude learns that every new beginning requires trust.

Poem – “The Call to Go”
The voice broke the silence,
Leave and follow Me,
The land was unseen,
The promise was sure,
Faith was required.

The step was hard,
The cost was real,
But the blessing was greater,
The covenant was near,
God was faithful.

Gratitude follows the call,
Faith trusts the promise,
Hope walks the path,
Peace rests in His plan,
Love obeys His voice.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You that You called Abram to a new beginning. Thank You that Your promises are greater than our fears.
Help me to walk in faith when You call me forward. May gratitude move me to trust Your voice and follow wherever You lead.

Genesis 9:13 (NASB)
“I have set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall serve as a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.”

Devotional Thought:
After the flood, God gave Noah a rainbow as a sign of His covenant mercy. New beginnings are not man’s doing but God’s promise. Gratitude clings to the God who makes covenants of grace.

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude rejoices that God gives mercy after judgment.
2. The rainbow reminds us that God’s promises paint the sky of our lives.
3. Gratitude rests in God’s covenant faithfulness, not our strength.

Poem – “The Rainbow Sign”
The flood had passed,
The waters receded,
But mercy remained,
The sky was painted,
The promise was sure.

A bow of colors stretched,
A covenant was sealed,
The world was new,
The mercy of God remained,
Grace covered the earth.

Gratitude sees the sky,
Faith trusts His word,
Hope rests in His covenant,
Peace flows from His promise,
Love remembers His sign.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You that the rainbow is Your sign of mercy, proof that judgment is not the final word. Thank You that You begin again in grace.
Teach me to live in gratitude for Your covenant faithfulness. May I rest in the assurance that Your promises hold even after life’s storms.

Genesis 1:1 (NASB)
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Devotional Thought:
Every new beginning starts with God. Creation itself was His act of speaking order out of chaos, light out of darkness, and life out of emptiness. Gratitude grows when we remember that the God who began creation is the same God who begins again in us.

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude acknowledges that God is the God of beginnings.
2. Creation reminds us that God alone brings something out of nothing.
3. Gratitude rejoices that the One who began creation is faithful to begin again in us.

Poem – “The First Beginning”
Darkness covered the deep,
But God spoke light,
Chaos bowed to His order,
The world was formed,
Life began in Him.

The heavens stretched wide,
The earth took shape,
Creation sang His glory,
The stars shone bright,
The seas roared His name.

Gratitude lifts its voice,
Faith sees His hand,
Hope trusts His power,
Love rests in His care,
New beginnings are His gift.

Prayer:
Father, thank You that You are the God of beginnings. Thank You that the same power that created the heavens and the earth is at work in me.
Teach me to trust You for new beginnings in my life. May gratitude fill me as I remember that the One who created all things is faithful to renew all things.

John 3:16 (NASB)
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”

Devotional Thought:
The birth of Jesus was the giving of God’s Son. Gratitude rejoices that belief in Him brings eternal life, the greatest gift of all.

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude marvels at the love of God in giving His Son.
2. Eternal life is the promise secured by His birth, death, and resurrection.
3. Gratitude receives the gift of eternal life through faith.

Poem – “The Gift of the Son”
The world was loved,
The Son was given,
The promise was made,
The hope was secured,
Eternal life was offered.

Belief opens the door,
Faith takes the gift,
The heart is saved,
The soul is free,
The life is forever.

Gratitude receives the love,
Joy sings the promise,
Hope lives eternal,
Peace rests secure,
Christ is mine.

Prayer:
Father, thank You that You so loved the world that You gave Your only Son. Thank You that belief in Him gives eternal life.
Help me to live each day in gratitude for this greatest gift. May my life proclaim the love that gave and the promise that saves.

1 Timothy 1:15 (NASB)
“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost.”

Devotional Thought:
The purpose of Christmas is clear: Christ Jesus came to save sinners. Gratitude bows low, for He came not to admire us but to rescue us.

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude acknowledges that Christ’s mission was to save.
2. His birth points forward to His cross.
3. Gratitude confesses that we are the sinners He came to save.

Poem – “He Came to Save”
The Child was born to die,
The Savior came to save,
The mission was mercy,
The plan was grace,
The gift was love.

The sinner was His focus,
The lost His pursuit,
The broken His healing,
The guilty His pardon,
The world His field.

Gratitude bows in thanks,
Faith clings to His cross,
Hope rests in His love,
Peace flows from His grace,
Joy sings His name.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You that You came into the world to save sinners. Thank You that I am among those You came for.
Teach me to live in daily gratitude for Your saving purpose. May my life reflect Your mercy and proclaim Your grace.

Isaiah 42:6 (NASB)
“I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, and I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations.”

Devotional Thought:
Christ is the light not only for Israel but for all nations. Gratitude rejoices that His birth brought hope to the world.

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude celebrates Christ as the light to the nations.
2. His coming fulfills God’s covenant promise.
3. Gratitude rejoices that hope is global, not local.

Poem – “Light to the Nations”
The covenant was kept,
The promise fulfilled,
The nations saw the light,
The world received hope,
Christ was born.

The hand of God held Him,
The righteousness was sure,
The covenant was sealed,
The nations rejoiced,
The promise was true.

Gratitude sees the light,
Faith follows the way,
Hope shines in the darkness,
Peace rests in His hand,
Joy lives in His name.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You that Christ is the light to the nations. Thank You that His birth fulfilled Your covenant promises.
Help me to live in gratitude for the hope He brings to all people. May my life reflect His light to others.

Philippians 2:6–7 (NASB)
“Who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men.”

Devotional Thought:
The birth of Jesus is humility beyond measure. The One who was equal with God took the form of a servant. Gratitude bows before His humility.

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude marvels that Christ emptied Himself for us.
2. His humility is the model for our lives.
3. Gratitude worships the Servant-King.

Poem – “The Servant Born”
The God of glory stooped,
The King became low,
The Lord took flesh,
The servant was born,
Love emptied Himself.

The manger was His throne,
The cloths His robe,
The cross His crown,
The grave His battle,
The resurrection His victory.

Gratitude bows in awe,
Faith follows His path,
Hope rests in His love,
Peace flows from His grace,
Joy worships His name.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You that You humbled Yourself and became a servant. Thank You for the humility of Your birth.
Teach me to follow Your example in humility. May gratitude move me to live as a servant of others in Your name.

1 John 4:9 (NASB)
“By this the love of God was revealed in us, that God has sent His only Son into the world so that we may live through Him.”

Devotional Thought:
The birth of Jesus is the revelation of God’s love. Gratitude rejoices that we live through Him, for His coming was life-giving love.

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude sees Christ’s birth as the clearest picture of God’s love.
2. Life through Him is the greatest gift.
3. Gratitude rejoices that love came down to save us.

Poem – “Love Revealed”
The love of God was shown,
A Son was given,
Life was offered,
Hope was restored,
Christ was born.

The world received the gift,
The heart found its home,
The soul found life,
The sinner found grace,
The lost were loved.

Gratitude lives in His love,
Faith rests in His gift,
Hope breathes in His life,
Joy sings of His mercy,
Love reigns in Christ.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You that Your love was revealed in sending Jesus. Thank You that through Him I live.
Teach me to live daily in the power of Your love. May gratitude overflow from my heart for the life found in Christ.

Galatians 4:4–5 (NASB)
“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons and daughters.”

Devotional Thought:
The birth of Christ was the fullness of time. He came to redeem and to adopt, to buy us back and to bring us home. Gratitude rejoices in redemption and adoption.

Three Comments:

1. Gratitude rejoices that Christ came in God’s perfect timing.
2. Redemption is the gift of freedom from the law’s curse.
3. Gratitude celebrates adoption into God’s family.

Poem – “The Fullness of Time”
The clock struck heaven’s hour,
The time was complete,
God sent His Son,
Born of a woman,
Born to redeem.

The law no longer binds,
The curse is broken,
Freedom is given,
Adoption is ours,
We are His children.

Gratitude rejoices in timing,
Faith receives the gift,
Hope rests in redemption,
Love celebrates adoption,
Christ is Savior.

Prayer:
Father, thank You that in the fullness of time You sent Jesus. Thank You that He redeemed me and adopted me into Your family.
Help me to live daily in the joy of redemption. May gratitude shape my life as Your child.