Expectant

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  Philippians 4:4-6 NASB

This third Sunday of Advent, let us remember that the good news of Jesus’ birth has the power to bring us great joy this Christmas season. Our joy isn’t dependent on what is going on in our life, in our world, or the people that we are hanging out with. It doesn’t depend on the gifts we give or the gifts we find under the tree. No earthly thing can ever give us complete joy. 

Our joy comes from the Lord. That joy that flooded the hearts of the shepherds, the angels, the wise men, the hosts of heaven and Mary and Joseph is the joy that still has the power to overwhelm our hearts with rejoicing.  

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13 NASB

The feeling our hearts crave is a person, and He is ever-present as long as we call on Him. If Christmas spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… then there’s hope for Christmas after all.

If we desire for the candle of peace to burn brighter, the igniting of the flame starts with you and me. By the help of Holy Spirit, we carry Jesus’ light to the workplace, nations and our households .

As we celebrate His birth, let us remember that God’s peace is not just given to us, but it is a gift that we get to give to everyone we encounter. Let us spend this season doing more than just offering words of joy, peace, and love along with gift cards and presents; let us use this season to actively seek peace with those who, for whatever reason, have been isolated from our lives.

Romans 15:13 NASB Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of Holy Spirit.

May we promote the peace that surpasses passes all understanding through our words and actions.

Psalms 40:2 NASB He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. 

My friends, I pray your heart has been encouraged to dig your heels in where God has you, to be the salt of the earth, and the light of the world. I pray that you’ve been reminded, enlightened, and stirred up to sit with God’s Word and to write it into the depths of your heart.

Remember the great commission (Matthew 28:16-20) each day as you head out into the world. 

Remember the armor that the Lord has given us (Ephesians 6:10-18).  

Cling to the leading and wisdom of Holy Spirit and discern where there is error.

Hold all things up to scripture and take all your thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). 

Seek to hold fast to God’s standard of love and never sidestep truth because of fear of man (1 John 4:6).

Know that it was not by accident that you’re living in this generation. God is not surprised by the deception taking place, and He has prepared His people for this. It was by God’s perfect provision, grace, and mercy that we are here to know Him and make Him known.

Be bold, be steadfast, and stand firm in Him. Sing. Read the Bible daily. 

Pray - The beauty of prayer is that Holy Spirit promises to intercede for us even when we can’t find the words to say. Prayer is the posture that God invites us to when we feel that our world is closing in on us. When we feel burdened by the broken realities that we sit with.  

Jesus invites us to take our heavy loads and lay them at His feet. It might be hard for us to do, or we may still feel the anxiety of unworthiness when we hand over our cares to Him, but He promises to take on our load regardless of how big or little it is. 

Jesus invites us to find rest in His love. That is the beauty of the gift of the child in the manger.

He is Emmanuel -God with us.