The Day after Christmas - All Our Daily Bread Daily Devotionals for 2026

Our Daily Bread - Monday, December 26, 2023
by RBC Ministries

Details

The Day after Christmas

Bible in a Year: Haggai 1-2, Revelation 17

Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Luke 2:19

Today's Scripture & Insight: Luke 2:15-20

After all the joy of Christmas Day, the following day felt like a letdown. We'd stayed overnight with friends but hadn't slept well. Then our car broke down as we were driving home. Then it started to snow. We had abandoned the car and taxied home in the snow and sleet feeling blah.

We're not the only ones who've felt low after Christmas Day. Whether it's from excessive eating, the way carols suddenly disappear from the radio, or the fact that the gifts we bought last week are now on sale half price, the magic of Christmas Day can quickly dissipate!

The Bible never tells us about the day after Jesus' birth. But we can imagine that after walking to Bethlehem, scrambling for accommodation, Mary's pain in giving birth, and having shepherds drop by unannounced (Luke 2:4-18), Mary and Joseph were exhausted. Yet as Mary cradled her newborn, I can imagine her reflecting on her angelic visitation (1:30-33), Elizabeth's blessing (vv. 42-45), and her own realization of her baby's destiny (vv. 46-55). Mary "pondered" such things in her heart (2:19), which must've lightened the tiredness and physical pain of that day.

We'll all have "blah" days, perhaps even the day after Christmas. Like Mary, let's face them by pondering the One who came into our world, forever brightening it with His presence.

By: Sheridan Voysey

Reflect & Pray
When are you prone to feeling a "low" after a "high"? How can you ponder today all that Jesus has brought into the world?

Dear Jesus, I praise You for entering our dark world, forever brightening my days with Your presence.
The Day after Christmas

More From Our Daily Devotional Archives

Open Heavens
for Tuesday, December 3, 2013
by Pastor E.A Adeboye

OFFENDED IN CHRIST?

The Christian race must be run with lots of patience or else it will be bungled midway. If you are inpatient with Gods timing, you will not only get into trouble but may not be able to finish the race. A good number of backsliders derailed from their heavenly track because of impatience. In Matthew 11:6 Jesus...More

The LORD is near
for Monday, December 9, 2013
by Jacob Redekop, Brian Reynolds, John van Dijk, Eugene P. Vedder Jr

Jehovah appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre. And...

Jehovah appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre. And he sat at the tent-door in the heat of the day. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, three men standing near him.
(Genesis 18:1)

The spiritual elevation of Abraham in Genesis 18 and 19 is something very peculiar. He seems...More

Open Heavens
for Thursday, December 19, 2013
by Pastor E.A Adeboye

THE HOLY SPIRIT

It is one thing to receive the anointing and another to keep growing on it. There are people who had the anointing, but today, everything has virtually ebbed out. It is possible to connect with the Holy Spirit and to continue to flow in the power of the anointing even at increasing levels. If this is your desire,...More

Open Heavens
for Friday, February 28, 2014
by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BEFORE YOU GET ANGRY

Yesterday we learnt it is not right for us to get angry with God or to take offence against Him, even if we experience the deferment of our hopes. The example of John the Baptist who earlier acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, but later doubted Him because of his painful experience of incarceration is a warning...More