Affirm Truth

AffirmTruth.org is a Christian, evangelical, theologically conservative, and non-denominational ministry, based out of Chennai, India.

Category: Devotional

Jesus was born in…?

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Ofcourse Bethlehem! That should be the silliest question this season. But how does Jesus being born in Bethlehem benefit you and me?

“The truth is, even if Christ were born in Bethlehem a thousand times but not within you, you would be eternally lost. The Christ who was born into the world must be born in your heart. Religious sentiment, even at Christmastime, without the living Christ is a yellow brick road to darkness.”

– Angeles Silesius

Can we pause to think how meaningful our Christmas is? Christmas is more than knowledge, celebration, or religious sentiment. True salvation comes when we receive Jesus into our hearts as our Lord and Savior and choose to obey Him.

No matter how bright the Christmas season lights up our homes and streets on the outside, if it doesn’t illuminate our hearts with the truth of the gospel, then we really didn’t get hold of the true message of Christmas. If Christ is not born within us, the purpose of Christmas season fails.

In fact, we need not wait for December to receive Jesus into our hearts as our Lord and Savior. He is always available.

And the moment one receives Him in his heart and confesses that Jesus is Lord and believes that God the Father raised Him from the dead, and that He lives forever more and interceedes for us to the Father, that day is truly Christmas because Christ has been born in Him.

Let’s pray:

Dear Father, may the true gift of Christmas reach me and my house today which is the salvation we have by grace through faith in Jesus Christ Your only Son. May Christ be born in our hearts. May the light and hope of Christmas found in Christ, light up our hearts and lives.

Amen.

O Come All Ye Unfaithful

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A Prelude to Christmas

We are at the end of the penultimate month. And this ushers in the beginning of the end — the end of 2025! For many around the world, this is a time of planning and preparation for the holiday season that lies ahead. Still for many, the believers particularly, this is the season of wonderful anticipation of Christmas.

I want us to pause for a moment, to reflect on our present standing with God. For some, this may be an uncomfortable question, which means there is no better time than “now” to ponder over our spiritual status. Our fast-paced world has succeeded in keeping us busy. Being busy and productive may not be in itself wrong; however, can we face God in good conscience at any given moment? If not, we need to step back a bit and introspect. As we go about this, let us learn to approach God by understanding His tender heart towards us.

“Come to me…”
When Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” He is not extending a seasonal greeting. He is issuing a standing invitation. One that doesn’t require qualifications. One that doesn’t demand you clean yourself up first. One that echoes through every Advent season, down every century, into every trembling heart. The Lord who spoke these words isn’t repelled by sinners—He is drawn to them.
Not because He overlooks sin, but because He heals it. Moreover, Jesus explains the purpose of his coming — “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32)

In Him, shame meets compassion; guilt meets mercy and sinners become sons and daughters!

The Invitation Today

This season of Advent is not just about celebrating that Jesus once came. It’s about returning to Him again today.
It’s about remembering that He invites sinners—not theoretical sinners, but real ones. People like us.

Maybe you are battling a secret sin. Maybe you are numbed by routine faith. Maybe you are found carrying regrets and you think God is tired of hearing about.

Wait and listen to His voice.
Not because you have earned the right to come. Not because you promise to never fail again. But because He still welcomes sinners. Because His grace is deeper than your guilt and His rest is stronger than your weariness.

A Season for Returning
Advent is for sinners. It is for the weary, the guilty, the unfaithful, the ones who have run too far or failed too often. It is for people who desperately need a Savior—and for people who don’t yet realize they do.

So if you feel unworthy, take heart: You are exactly the kind of person Jesus came for —
Wide open.
Nail-scarred.
Full of mercy.

The Open Door
Furthermore, Jesus’ gracious invitation continues into the future: “See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). This gives us a compelling picture of Christ’s eagerness to reach us and his willingness to fellowship with us. What a glorious privilege it is to sit and fellowship with the King of kings and Lord of lords! And so, may we lay aside our doubts, our hesitation, and come before him with child-like awe.

Let us seize God’s open offer, now!

“…whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37).

The Light Of The World

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“When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”
— John 8:12 (NIV)


💡 Reflection

Diwali is celebrated as the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and truth over falsehood. As followers of Christ, we find this theme fulfilled perfectly in Jesus, who didn’t just bring light — He is the Light.

Darkness represents confusion, fear, sin, and separation from God. The world often tries to overcome this darkness with temporary lights — success, comfort, or relationships. But these fade.

Jesus, however, offers a light that never goes out — a light that leads us to eternal life and gives clarity, peace, and purpose.

When we invite Jesus into our hearts, His light shines through our words, our actions, and our love. We become lamps in His hands, reflecting His brilliance in a dark world.

So, as diyas (lamps) and candles glow around you today, pause and thank God for the true Light — the One who dispels every shadow within and around us.


🙏 Prayer

Lord Jesus,
On this day when so many lights shine across our cities and homes,
Help me remember that You are the true Light of the world.
Chase away the darkness in my heart — fear, doubt, pride, and sin.
Let Your light shine through me so that others may see Your love and truth.
May my life reflect Your glory today and always.
Amen.

The God of our journey

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Oftentimes, we are quick to start something new. Yet it is even easier to stop midway or give up altogether. As the saying goes, “Winners never quit, and quitters never win.” What truly sets a winner apart from a quitter is not just the beginning or the end—it’s the faithfulness shown throughout the journey.

In our Christian walk, success is not simply about the result—it is about the process of walking with God. It is not enough to focus only on the outcome; what matters most is how we live, how we walk with Him, and how we remain faithful along the way.

Many times, after a Sunday sermon, we are stirred to make fresh commitments—whether to let go of sinful habits or to obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Yet, because of the weakness of our flesh, we often struggle to follow through. On our own, it is impossible to remain consistent. That is why we so desperately need the grace and strength of God.

The Lord reminds us in Isaiah 40:29–31:

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Consistency is key. Think of what a good day looks like—when you pray, worship, give thanks, live with discipline, and walk in joy. Now imagine if that same consistency carried into every single day. Our lives would be transformed.

While many short-term reasons can motivate us, only one reason remains eternal—God Himself. Seasons change, circumstances shift, but God never changes. His Word is unshakable. As Numbers 23:19 declares:

“God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?”

Our true source of strength and encouragement must always be found in Him. Life may feel lonely, and facts may discourage us—but above those feelings and facts stands this eternal truth: God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good. Even on our worst days, He remains faithful and unchanging.

That is why Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, “Do not worry about tomorrow.” Tomorrow is already safe in His hands.

So let us not only focus on the start or the finish, but embrace the journey—walking daily with the God who never fails. Let’s not drag ourselves in despair until we reach heaven oneday, but everyday walk joyfully hand in hand with Jesus, fully assured that the One who holds our hand also holds our tomorrow.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being the God of my journey. So often I grow weary, lose focus, or feel tempted to give up—but You remain faithful and unchanging. Teach me to find my strength in You each day and to walk consistently in Your Word. Help me to live one day at a time, trusting not just in the destination You have prepared for me but in each step You guide me through. May my life reflect Your goodness along the way.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

✨ Takeaway:
Consistency in the Christian walk is not about our willpower, but about depending daily on God’s strength.

❓ Reflection Question:
What small step can I take today to walk more consistently with God—whether in prayer, gratitude, or obedience?

Yet will I rejoice in the Lord

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Habakkuk 3:17-19 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

To begin with, I am no fan of the above situation. I wish the fig tree would bud, the vines would be full of grapes, and everything would be merry.

But think about it: How can we ever know if we are good at something unless it’s put to the test? How can I ever know I have true joy in the Lord unless I face a situation where I don’t have people or things around to make me happy?

God does not test us to destroy us but to lift us up and lead us toward His plans and purposes.


God surely takes us through tough situations in life. People come and people go. We gain some, we lose some. And often, we find ourselves questioning God: Why does this need to happen in my life? God could have made everything perfect, right?

But that’s exactly how we learn to live by faith in an invisible God. The Scripture tells us that what is visible is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. God is with us, and we must learn to live by that truth.


We need to learn to base our happiness and joy in the Lord and not on the people and things that He has blessed us with. For everything will change but God will not. Know this: He is still with us- in the prison, the pit, the lion’s den, and even before the Red Sea. Through it all, we see a loving Father who protects and provides for His children who trust in Him.

Psalms 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

It is truly His hand that sustains us, because if it weren’t for Him, I for one wouldn’t be here telling you this and surely a million others would second me. God strengthens us beyond our weaknesses into the masterpiece He has always planned for us to be.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

He is the Alpha and the Omega. We may not know what will happen even a minute from now, but God already knows the ending of our story. So, trust in Him.

Remember this: even when you can’t see anything with your eyes or hold onto anyone with your hands, by faith know for sure that God is still near you through it all. He has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Nehemiah 8:10 Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

We were all once without hope, but when we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He gave us His joy and peace. This cannot be taken away by the world, unless we willingly let it go.

Hold fast to the joy of the Lord. It was purchased at a great cost-the precious blood of Christ. Jesus died for our sins and rose again so that we could be redeemed from the bondage of sin and hopelessness and receive an eternal hope. Let this be the reason that we rejoice every day.

Let’s pray,

Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for You are with us through every season of our lives. We thank You for Jesus who lives forever and intercedes on our behalf. Thank You for the joy that we have gained through Jesus and His finished work on the cross. May we always be assured of this truth and live by faith in You and not be blinded by the tests and troubles of life, rather come out of it stronger and always find joy in You. Be with us and guide us. In Jesus matchless name we pray, Amen.

Rebound – one more time, but with God! ⬇️⬆️

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When you put your heart and soul into something and yet fail, it can lead to a deep seated sense of sorrow and depression.

You almost want to be there and left alone. Isolating yourself feels like the best thing to do. It takes courage to get up again and try. But where do you get that courage to try once more, when there is no strength remaining inside of you? Well, that comes from God and not from yourself.

‭‭Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Being in God’s presence and meditating on His word is the ultimate remedy to life and its cares. No matter what, we should be able to maintain a relationship with God and converse with Him through life’s ups and downs. As long as we are speaking, He is listening.

Remember to pray and then act, not the reverse. You might be surprised at how differently you handle things for your own good. Because this much we know – that God knows best and we know less! He knows the end before the beginning.

‭Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

So the next time you feel like giving up on something remember the Lord! Always go to Him first and ask Him to guide you through it all.

Let’s pray:

Loving Heavenly Father,  we thank You, for You are always available to us in prayer through Jesus our Lord. However, oftentimes the devil makes us feel hopeless. We feel we cannot go on and that we are hurt beyond healing. Sorry for not acknowledging Your love in all our ways. Help us to be dependent on You and grow in faith, knowing that there is nothing impossible with You by our side. Help us to bounce back from all our failures. Be with us and strengthen us to do the work to which You have called us. We give You all the glory and honor and praise.

In Jesus’s name. Amen.

Strength Within The Sorrow

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Life’s journey often leads us through valleys of sorrow and despair, where the weight of our burdens can seem unbearable. In these moments, it’s easy to feel as though God has abandoned us.

Yet, it is precisely in these depths, that we can discover a profound source of strength from God.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

When we go through heartbreaking situations in life, we often feel dejected, lonely, betrayed, hopeless, helpless, humiliated and so on. But that’s exactly when God comes into the picture. Jesus went through all of these and beyond. He was spat on, beaten, pierced, stripped, betrayed by His own disciple and crucified by His own people.

So, He is able to empathize with us in our sorrows. He is able to understand what we go through, because, He Himself endured such pain and suffering. Not only did He go through all of it, but, He overcame. And that is the Christian hope. In Him, we too will overcome!

Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Remember, dear friend, that God hears your prayers, even when His answer isn’t what you expected. His plans are beyond our comprehension, and His timing is perfect. As you journey through the valleys of life, hold on to the hope that you have in Him. Your waiting is not in vain; it’s a season of preparation, a time when God is making you stronger and mature for His plans and purposes in your life.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose

In God’s appointed time, you will see His hand at work in your life, transforming your trials into triumphs and your sorrows into strength. You are never alone in your struggles; God is with you and for you. His intentions for your life are far greater than you can fathom. So, find your strength in Him alone, for He is the Rock on which you can firmly stand.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

True strength appears when you are helpless in yourself, yet undoubtedly hopeful in God.

Let’s pray

Loving heavenly Father, we thank and praise You for bringing us through victoriously, of all brokenness and pain. We are here today because You lead us through it all. It was not our strength but Yours that kept us going.

We pray that Your strength will always be made complete in our weakness and You will show Yourself powerful before us. May You always be glorified in our lives.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Be Consistent in Doing God’s will

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“I came down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him Who sent Me” ( John.6:38 ). 

Jesus tells us here in His own words what He came on earth to do. And in this one sentence we have a description of how Jesus lived every single day of His entire life on earth. The thirty years of Jesus’ life in Nazareth are referred to as hidden years. But here Jesus reveals what He did during every day of those 30 years. He denied His own will and He did His Father’s will.

Jesus was tempted in different situations for 30 years in Nazareth. It is written about those hidden years that “He never pleased Himself” at any time ( Rom. 15:3 ). He always denied Himself. Thus He pleased the Father at all times. Pleasing oneself can be done in many areas of one’s life – for example, in the area of eating. Consider a situation where, even when you are not hungry, you decide to spend some money to buy some tasty snacks to eat. There is certainly nothing sinful or wrong in that. But it speaks of a certain way of life. Because you have money, you buy what you like, whether you need it or not. You do what pleases yourself. If you feel like buying something you buy it. If you feel like going somewhere, you go. If you feel like sleeping late, you just sleep late. What is the end result of living like that, even if you go regularly to the meetings and read your Bible every day? You may not lose your salvation, but you will certainly waste the one life that God gave you to live for Him.

When Jesus was with the Father in heaven from eternity past, He never had to deny His own will, for His own will was the same as His Father’s. But when He came to earth in our flesh, that flesh had a self-will that was diametrically opposed to the Father’s will at every single point. The only way in which Jesus could do His Father’s will then was by denying His own self-will all the time. This was the cross that Jesus bore throughout His earthly life – the crucifixion of His own will – and which He now asks us to bear every day, if we are to follow Him. It was the consistent denial of His own will that made Jesus a spiritual Man. And it is the denial of our self-will that will make us spiritual too.

Consider a situation where you are visiting your home after a tough day at work and you are tempted to say something negative about a certain person in your family. What do you do? Will you yield to that temptation and backbite, or will you deny yourself and keep your mouth shut? Many imagine that such a sin will not destroy their lives. But, it is only in eternity that many brothers and sisters will realize how every time they pleased themselves, they destroyed themselves a little. Then they will regret the way they wasted their lives on earth.

Spirituality is not something that comes through one encounter with God. It is the result of choosing the way of self-denial and of doing God’s will CONSISTENTLY day after day, week after week, and year after year. 

Mature Christians are those who “because of practice (in exercising their will in the right direction through many years), have their senses trained to discern good and evil” ( Heb.5:14 ). Determine that you will become a true man/woman of God.

Prayer:

Loving heavenly Father,

Help me to yield to your will at all times in my life.
Help me to deny my self and walk in your will always.
Show me the ways in which I should walk. Help me to make the right decisions.
Give me the strength to overcome every temptation that makes me please myself.
And Lord, give me the wisdom and courage to walk consistently in your will.
May only your will prevail in my life.

Amen.

God of Second Chances

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If anyone told you life was easy, they lied so badly. As long as we live on this side of glory, life will be hard in this fallen world filled with evil and suffering. And if you are a Christian, it definitely doesn’t get any easier. How many times have we wished to just go back and fix things in life?

 

I’m sure we all have a whole movie playing in our heads now. So much could have been undone or redone in a better way. We would have thought, spoken, and reacted in a better way. Some of these mistakes can be overlooked and have not caused us serious damage, but some of them might just leave a scar in our hearts for a long time.

A heart that is not healed can cost us our peace and joy.

We all yearn for that second chance. If ever life gave us a second chance, we would grab it. But surely enough, that’s not the case. And now, what if I told you that you could put down that whole baggage of burdens and walk off freely? Sometimes, we don’t even want to hear the gospel because it’s too easy and too good to be true, so it almost sounds unbelievable. But that’s exactly what it is.

 

God is good and true at all times. He never changes, which means He will continue to be good and truthful. The Bible says that if you have sinned, then you must repent and confess your sins to God, and He is faithful to forgive you.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

How is God being faithful in forgiving my sins? Shouldn’t I receive the due penalty for what I did? Well, the penalty is paid, and it was paid in full. But it was not me. Someone else took it all on Himself. Jesus died on the cross for my sins and paid the price to set me free.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
1 Peter 3:18

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8‭-‬9

And the moment I believe this, I am free. Now, I am covered not in the robe of my sins but in His robe of righteousness. I am saved on account of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus.

 

Any one of you who believes in Jesus can say the same because He died not only for me but for everyone who believes in Him. There is no exclusion. Everyone is offered this forgiveness. It’s about who receives it with faith. The Bible says that in Christ, we are all the same. There is no discrimination based on place, language, colour, or anything else.

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

Today, God, through His word, offers you that second chance in life. Turn back from the path of despair and look to Him for eternal hope.

His arms are open wide towards you if your heart is towards Him.

Repent today and embrace His love. God is ready to give you a second chance, and He will also give you the grace and strength to make things right in your life like you could never imagine.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, You are simply beyond us. Your ways we cannot fathom. How blessed are we who have experienced this second chance time and again, as we fail and falter through this journey of life and come back to you, Father, asking for help! Thank You for never rejecting us or turning us down. Thank You for being close to the brokenhearted. Help us to return and make use of this chance that has been made available to us through the finished work of Jesus on the cross. May we live our lives free from any guilt or sorrows of the past, just as You would want us to. Help us to trust in You and receive Your peace.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.


The Priestly Privilege of Prayer, Praise and Worship

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In our previous devotional we shared about the importance of pausing in prayer before making any decision. Today, we are going to look into how we even got the right to step into God’s presence anytime and pray, praise & worship Him. Is this something that people had access to at all times and can be taken for granted or was it any different?

Do we even have to be thankful that we can pray? Or are we thinking that we are doing God a favour?

In the old testament times, the priestly duties were vested only on a special group of people called the priests. They were the mediators between God and man.Only the priests had access into the tabernable and to carry out different services that happened inside the temple of God. There were many duties that the priests carried out like offering sacrifices and atonements, ceremonial cleansings and also praying to God, praising and worshipping Him on behalf of the people.

The ordinary people were not allowed into the inner places of the tabernacle. They stayed in the outer courts and depended on the priests to speak to God and hear from God. They themselves could not have any direct encounter with God’s presence. Even so among the priests, only the High priest had access into the most holy place of the tabernacle which symbolised the presence of God. He could only go there once in a year and that with a lot of preparation.

However, things changed when The Great High Priest, Jesus Christ came into the picture. Through His death on the cross, the veil that separated ordinary man from the most holy place was torn. By His perfect sacrifice, the barrier between God’s presence and man was removed. Now, to all who believe in Him and in His finished work on the cross, He has opened a way through which we can have direct access into the presence of God. He is Emmanuel God with us. The presence of God is not in a man made tabernacle anymore but within us through the Holy Spirit.

So, we can now boldly open our hearts and lips in prayer, praise & worship anytime, anywhere. Isn’t it wonderful how every one who believes in Jesus has been made a priest of God and can have the privileges of prayer, praise & worship?

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

Let’s pray

Dear Lord, today we choose to thank You for the priestly privileges of prayer, praise and worship that You have so graciously and freely given that many before us didn’t have. May we make use of it knowing that we have access into Your presence at anytime, anywhere and that we don’t have to depend on someone else to come before You. Help us to offer sacrifices of praise to You unendingly and with a heart full of gratitude. Thank You Jesus for making this possible by Your supreme sacrifice. Thank You Holy Spirit for now we are the temple of God because You live in us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen