Listen:
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10).
Reflect:
By mid November, a friend told me she had already decorated for Christmas. When I expressed surprise, she said, “Christmas just makes me happy.” Can we blame people for wanting “happy” to come early?
And we’d like everything that Christmas symbolizes to stay around too! David Archuleta’s song, “Christmas Every Day,” ends with these lines:
Sometimes I just wish that
I could always feel this way
Like it’s Christmas every day . . .
I hear such longing in these lyrics. There’s a reason why this holiday resonates with people. Christmas symbolizes peace—nations at peace, families at peace, every heart at peace. Peace for a divisive and polarized world. Oh, how we need hope for peace!
Hope is exactly what the angel brought to the shepherds quaking in their sandals when he said, “Do not be afraid . . . Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
The joy of this message quickly dispelled all fear.
Good news! the angel said.
No need to fear! the angel said.
Rejoice!
You have a Savior!
It’s been two thousand years since Jesus’ birth, and people today still long for good news. They yearn for joy. They want the love, joy, and peace of Christmas to be with them always. They need to hear that the Savior, the Messiah has come. For them.
They need to know that with Jesus in their hearts, they really can have Christmas every day.
Prayer of Response:
Lord, help us share this joyous news with as many as we can. Amen.
Questions to Ponder:
- If the commercialization of Christmas leaves you jaded, which activities or traditions might you drop this year, and what can you substitute in their place in order to focus on Jesus?
- How is joy as the fruit of the Spirit expressed?
- With whom might you share the good news of Christmas this season?
Breath Prayers:
As we enter the third week of advent, join us in praying breath prayers of JOY each day. Here is one based on: Psalm 51:12 NIV, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” We invite you to write your own as well.
Inhale(Breathe in): Restore to me
Exhale(Breathe out): the joy of your salvation
—Submitted by: Ruth Wood
Ruth is a US/Swiss citizen and lives with her husband in Oregon. They have two grown sons, two great daughters-in-law and one very spoiled grandcat. She works as a Licensed Professional Counselor and loves blogging at EspressoForTheHeart.org.