The Weary World Rejoices!

Day 1
During this blessed week, we must take care not to worship Christmas, but to worship Jesus, God incarnate, who came that we might know and be reconciled to God through Jesus’ atoning sacrifice. When you look in the manger, remember the cross. Read 1 Peter 1:18-20. Pause and pray. Now read Luke 1:1-25. Luke is precise and shares many details about the miraculous coming of the one who will herald the Messiah. What does he reveal about John the Baptist, even before John’s conception? Did you notice that John was to be filled with the Spirit even before his birth, and that he would be a Nazarite (Luke 1:14-15; Numbers 6:1-8)? Spend time in prayer.

Day 2
Be Still...God says, “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10a). We sing, “Silent Night, Holy Night,” words which speak of the awesome and holy movement of God breaking into temporal history clothed in human flesh. Yet many are caught in the tyranny of the urgent and are in danger of missing the true blessing of Christmas: Emmanuel, God with us. Be still! Pray the Spirit will awaken your heart to the love and mystery of God as you read Luke 1:26-56. Notice how Mary moves from confusion and fear to faith, trust, submission, and praise. Tell God you want to trust God like Mary did; ask the Spirit to enable you to step into the mystery of God’s story.

Day 3
If possible, read the lyrics or listen to the song, “Mary, Did You Know?” by Greene and Lowry. Now read Luke 1:26- 56. Meditate on Isaiah 40:8; 55:11; Luke 1:37; and 2 Corinthians 1:20. How do these truths affect your faith walk? Ponder Mary’s response to the angel (Luke 1:38) and Elizabeth’s blessing for Mary (1:45). How did God confirm the angel’s message to Mary when she came into Elizabeth’s presence (1:41-45)? Notice that this happened before Mary shared her story. Read Mary’s song of praise again (1:45-55), and worship the Lord.

Day 4
As we approach a new year, it’s easy to pack up the decorations and forget about Christmas, but the wonder of God’s love and truth that God became human and walked this earth is too precious to dismiss with the season. Is the best Christmas gift you can give, perhaps, still waiting to be given? Have you loved someone in Jesus’ name and for God’s glory? Have you told anyone about God’s amazing grace? Have you been quiet long enough to hear someone’s heart cry and offer the greatest gift of all, Jesus? Slowly and prayer- fully, read John 1:1-14. Pray you will live the words of the old spiritual, “Go tell it on the mountain...and ev’rywhere...that Jesus Christ is born!”

Day 5
Be surprised by Joy...Meditate on John 16: 20. You will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. Learn the discipline of being surprised not by suffering but by joy. Be surprised by the immense healing power that keeps bursting forth like springs of fresh water from the depth of our pain. With a heart trusting that we will get what we need, and a spirit always surprised by joy, we will walk through this weary world participating in and witnessing miracles.