Isiah 9:6
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Christmas day was not just another day. It was the day. This day is the day to celebrate Mary giving birth to Jesus. It is the day that gives you unconditional love and restores. No matter how ugly, wounded, or hopeless you get, this day gives you beauty, healing and hope. You are blessed with a Savior who understands humanity. He understands fear. He understands rejection. Jesus is a gift to you from a Father who understood exactly what you needed.
When everything seems a mess and you can’t understand how you got to this spot, how you will manage to take another step forward, and how you can have hope in the future, know Christ is your next step and your future. Know what ever spot you are in He is right there with you holding out a hand to show you another view of your mess. He wants to show you His presence within your mess. What is He working through you?
Life gets hard. Agree no matter how messy and ugly it gets to always seek and see Christ. Agree to be committed to knowing He loves you and not questioning that love. Do not blame Him instead embrace Him. Within the mess there is goodness. See that. Be patient. Notice what you are putting your mind on. What are you focusing on? Is it lack, loss and fear? Or is it abundance, restoration and hope? Is it the enemies lies or God’s word?
The enemy doesn’t want you to celebrate Jesus. He does his best work at the holidays. He divides families, he does some special work to raise expectations of each other. He refocuses happiness on to what you get and not what you give. He does everything He can to ensure this day is not about Christ. He makes it about past holidays that didn’t go well, past ones when you didn’t get what you wanted. He glories in seeing adult temper tantrums. He gets a lot of successful tantrums at the holidays. He builds resentment up to sprinkle throughout the year. All the things that Christ came to free you from, the enemy works extra hard to shackle you to during the holidays.
He mixes up a special kind of misery. It is easy for him to do. In the season of Christmas you are focused on gifts, making others happy and making sure they make you happy the way you expect. You forget to put on your armor. Just because the season is about Christ doesn’t mean that is enough. You must armor yourself. You must protect Christ within you. Christ doesn’t need protection from the enemy. You do. You carry Christ. He is with you always. Your awareness of that puts you in the enemy’s direct fire. You are always under attack. He is trying to wear you down. This is a battle. It is a battle in your mind, heart and home.
Give Jesus the credit He deserves. He is mighty. He is your Counselor. Recognize His power and call on His name. Jesus wants you to celebrate this day with Him. He calls you to recognize the gift His birth continually gives you. Every day is a new beginning. You can start over with a new attitude, new understanding, and a new focus. Jesus gives you the ability to refocus, redo and restart. This day is about Him. It is about love, patience and forgiveness. It is about redemption. This day was built for you!
You don’t have all the answers. You will be part of the mess, make the mess and be drawn into the mess but you can always make it right. You may be in the mess but within you is Christ. He is the compass out of the mess. He is your north. He is your sun. He is the only direction you need to travel toward. Travel toward Him and let Him worry about the rest. Communicate your needs, fears, hopes and He will take care of them. Place your loved ones in His care and He will do what is best for them. All you need to do is keep your focus on Him and remember to not try to do His job. You carry Christ, you are not Christ!
Hear the angels sing and behold your King! Praise your Messiah! Celebrate His birth with peace.
Prayer
O come Emmanuel! Thank You for being the light of the world. Thank you giving me a different view of my mess. You work through all things for good. Forgive me for when I fail to see You at work. Forgive me for when I neglect to recognize You as the Messiah. You bring healing. You bring hope. Help me to have a new attitude, a new focus. Help me to move forward, following You, and knowing that all will be well as long as my eyes remain on You. Help me to remember to put my armor on at all times, even in times of celebration. You are my Counselor. May I turn to You always, especially when I am stuck in the midst of a mess.
In Jesus' name,
Amen
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