Day 17: by Juno Smalley
Christmas pulls on our heartstrings in so many ways. Maybe it’s all the Hallmark movies, the music, the decorations, and the food :)? I lean towards the idea that there is something in us that makes us want to create the best Christmas ever or make Christmas ‘just perfect’. Maybe the bottom line is God has created us to naturally live for and grow in Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love, often those are the missing elements in our life as we are striving for something, or someone, or anything to fill the voids in our life.
The tradition of Advent is to focus on those themes as we prepare for Christmas Day. For all of us, Advent really does put the puzzle together about Jesus. Maybe we are drawn to Christmas, wanting it to be ‘so good’ and ‘the best’ because, at the core of our being, we all need to experience Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love in Jesus. Undoubtedly, understanding Christmas is to understand how much we don’t need more things or decorations; rather, it’s how much we need the present of Jesus’s presence.
What’s ironic is that when we fully embrace Jesus and his place in our life, the less often we are drawn into the Madison Avenues or the Hallmark ideas about their perfect Christmas. Having Jesus in our hearts, and giving Jesus the freedom to change us, dissolves the urge to have more or be the best, rather as we embrace Jesus, we are reminded that we are uniquely created in the image of Jesus, to be his light to the world. To accept this Jesus, we feel less and less that we need to be perfect to earn the Love of Jesus, rather, we realize Jesus loves my weaknesses, all of my shortcomings, and my failures. Jesus loves me just as I am, but Jesus isn’t finished with me yet.
As we are reminded more and more about Jesus this week, remember to allow Jesus complete access to your heart, your fears, and your dreams. No matter your situation or circumstances may those who know you see the hope, joy, peace, and love of our creator God.
The tradition of Advent is to focus on those themes as we prepare for Christmas Day. For all of us, Advent really does put the puzzle together about Jesus. Maybe we are drawn to Christmas, wanting it to be ‘so good’ and ‘the best’ because, at the core of our being, we all need to experience Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love in Jesus. Undoubtedly, understanding Christmas is to understand how much we don’t need more things or decorations; rather, it’s how much we need the present of Jesus’s presence.
What’s ironic is that when we fully embrace Jesus and his place in our life, the less often we are drawn into the Madison Avenues or the Hallmark ideas about their perfect Christmas. Having Jesus in our hearts, and giving Jesus the freedom to change us, dissolves the urge to have more or be the best, rather as we embrace Jesus, we are reminded that we are uniquely created in the image of Jesus, to be his light to the world. To accept this Jesus, we feel less and less that we need to be perfect to earn the Love of Jesus, rather, we realize Jesus loves my weaknesses, all of my shortcomings, and my failures. Jesus loves me just as I am, but Jesus isn’t finished with me yet.
As we are reminded more and more about Jesus this week, remember to allow Jesus complete access to your heart, your fears, and your dreams. No matter your situation or circumstances may those who know you see the hope, joy, peace, and love of our creator God.
Tuesday's Song
As Christmas is fast approaching, let’s be intentional about what is going on in our hearts. Aligning expectations is critical in how we celebrate Christmas. As we move towards this incredible day, let’s change our paradigm from what’s missing and from what we want to giving praise to Jesus for all he is and what he does within our hearts. Let’s find a Reason to Praise.
Tuesday's Prayer
Lord, help me in my humanness, to find time to focus on prayer with you and your movement in the hearts of my friends and in my life. Help me to listen to the words, feelings, fears, and brokenness that are so often behind the initial comments that people make in life.
Keep me open to being a blessing to others. Keep our schedules open so that I, as part of the body of Christ, may hear the heart of my friends, neighbors, or co-workers. May I be willing to invite others to join me on Christmas Eve so they may hear that the perfect peace is found in You.
Thanks for your love and your un-selfness to leave the glory of heaven to walk around with us so that we might find our way back home to you for eternity.
Give us hearts of gratitude,
AMEN
Keep me open to being a blessing to others. Keep our schedules open so that I, as part of the body of Christ, may hear the heart of my friends, neighbors, or co-workers. May I be willing to invite others to join me on Christmas Eve so they may hear that the perfect peace is found in You.
Thanks for your love and your un-selfness to leave the glory of heaven to walk around with us so that we might find our way back home to you for eternity.
Give us hearts of gratitude,
AMEN
Posted in Advent Devotional 2022