{"id":996,"date":"2025-12-01T00:08:55","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T08:08:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/?p=996"},"modified":"2025-11-30T14:28:15","modified_gmt":"2025-11-30T22:28:15","slug":"dec-1-christmas-countdown-day-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/dec-1-christmas-countdown-day-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Dec.1-Christmas Countdown\u2014Day 1"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><u>ABIDE<br \/>\n<\/u><\/strong><em>He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit<\/em>. The words of Jesus&#8211;John 15:5<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Today&#8217;s Thought:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Abide means to Remain<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Remain in Him today. Spend time talking to Him in prayer today.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Abide means to Await<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Await Him today. Spend time listening for Him to speak to you today.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Abide means to Reside<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Reside with Him. Spend time reading His word today.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In John chapter 15 Jesus said He was the True Vine and those who believe in Him are branches on Him.\u00a0 As long as we are connected to Him, we will receive all we need to grow and flourish, and we will produce abundant fruit for Him to share with all we meet.\u00a0 \u00a0That is what abide means.\u00a0 Read John chapter 15 today.\u00a0 It will bless you.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Today&#8217;s Action:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Think about giving someone a Fruit Basket as a Christmas Gift this year.<br \/>\nThen remind yourself as you share the fruit of the earth, to share also the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. \u00a0(Galatians 5:22-23)<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-997\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/shine.jpg?resize=75%2C78&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"CC-shine-star\" width=\"75\" height=\"78\" \/>Only 24 days left until Christmas!\u00a0 Make each one count!<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-998\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/advent-wreath.png?resize=100%2C100&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"advent-wreath\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/advent-wreath.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/advent-wreath.png?w=200&amp;ssl=1 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><strong>Advent has begun!<\/strong><br \/>\nVisit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smilegodlovesyou.org\/advent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Advent Blog <\/strong><\/a>daily to celebrate it with a daily scripture reading and thought this Christmas season.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a9SGLY Ministry www.smilegodlovesyou.org<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ABIDE He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit. The words of Jesus&#8211;John 15:5 Today&#8217;s Thought: Abide means to Remain Remain in Him today. Spend time talking to Him in prayer today. Abide means to Await Await Him today. Spend time listening for Him to speak to you today. Abide means&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1860,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1652],"tags":[1663,1665,1668,1671,1666,1669,1661,3,3311,79,1667,1203,579,585,375,1664,325,584,98,583,429,1670,1672,586,30,32],"class_list":["post-996","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-christmas-countdown","tag-abide","tag-abide-in-jesus","tag-advent","tag-await","tag-bear-much-fruit","tag-christmas","tag-christmas-countdown","tag-daily-devotionals","tag-december-2025","tag-faithfulness","tag-fruit-basket","tag-fruit-of-the-spirit","tag-galatians-522-23","tag-gentleness","tag-goodness","tag-john-155","tag-joy","tag-kindness","tag-love","tag-patience","tag-peace","tag-remain","tag-reside","tag-self-control","tag-sgly-ministry","tag-smile-god-loves-you"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Abide-John-15.5.jpg?fit=575%2C500&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1045,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/dec-15-christmas-countdown-day-15\/","url_meta":{"origin":996,"position":0},"title":"Dec.15-Christmas Countdown\u2014Day 15","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"December 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"DWELL Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.\u00a0 Colossians 3:16 Today's Thought: Dwell means to live or stay as a permanent resident;\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Christmas Countdown&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christmas Countdown","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/christmas-countdown\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"CC-Dwell-Colossians-3.16","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Dwell-Colossians-3.16.jpg?fit=375%2C326&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":746,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/september-19-ask-seek-knock-pray-that-your-joy-might-be-full-in-christ\/","url_meta":{"origin":996,"position":1},"title":"SEPTEMBER 19\u2014ASK-SEEK-KNOCK\u2014Pray That Your Joy Might Be Full in Christ","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"September 19, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cThese things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be\u00a0full\u201d John\u00a015:11 Jesus was speaking to His disciples in the above verse about who He was\u2026. the True Vine. He was saying that they needed to abide in Him, just as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Ask-Seek-Knock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Ask-Seek-Knock","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/ask-seek-knock\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ASK-SEEK-KNOCK-John-1511.png?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1016,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/dec-6-christmas-countdown-day-6\/","url_meta":{"origin":996,"position":2},"title":"Dec.6-Christmas Countdown\u2014Day 6","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"December 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"BEHOLD! Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God!\u00a0 \u00a01 John 3:1 Today's Thought: If you are a believer in Christ, remind yourself today that you are a child of God! For God's word says: But as many\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Christmas Countdown&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christmas Countdown","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/christmas-countdown\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Behold--1John-3.1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Behold-1John-3.1.jpg?fit=375%2C326&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1027,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/dec-9-christmas-countdown-day-9\/","url_meta":{"origin":996,"position":3},"title":"Dec.9-Christmas Countdown\u2014Day 9","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"December 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"COME TO HIM Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,and I will give you rest. --Jesus\u00a0 Matthew 11:28 Today's Thought: Jesus says: \"Come\" so,...stop all the shopping and baking and come...spend some time with Him. Unburden your heart. Rest in His arms. Enjoy His peace. For,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Christmas Countdown&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christmas Countdown","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/christmas-countdown\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"CC-ComeToHim--Matthew-11.28","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ComeToHim-Matthew-11.28.jpg?fit=375%2C326&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1008,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/dec-4-christmas-countdown-day-4\/","url_meta":{"origin":996,"position":4},"title":"Dec.4-Christmas Countdown\u2014Day 4","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"December 4, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"ARISE! Arise, shine; for your light has come!\u00a0 Isaiah 60:1 Today's Thought: Jesus is the Light of the world.\u00a0 John the Baptist said that Jesus was the True Light that gives everyone who believes in Him light. The one who is the true Light, who gives light to everyone, was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Christmas Countdown&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christmas Countdown","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/christmas-countdown\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"CC-Arise-Isaiah-60.1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Arise-Isaiah-60.1.jpg?fit=375%2C326&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1023,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/dec-8-christmas-countdown-day-8\/","url_meta":{"origin":996,"position":5},"title":"Dec.8-Christmas Countdown\u2014Day 8","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"December 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"BLESSED Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!\u00a0 Matthew 21:9 Today's Thought: \"Glory to God in the highest!\" Multitudes of heavenly host sang at His birth. \"Hosanna in the highest!\" Multitudes on earth cried out before His death. He who testifies to these things says, \"Surely\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Christmas Countdown&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christmas Countdown","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/christmas-countdown\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"CC-Blessed-Rev-16.15","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Blessed-Rev-16.15.jpg?fit=375%2C326&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/996","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=996"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/996\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2320,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/996\/revisions\/2320"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1860"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=996"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=996"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=996"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}