December 19th. Six days until Christmas. The goal of this countdown is to change our focus, making this a sacred journey toward this holy celebration. Focusing on Christ in the middle of Snowmen and Santa. Focusing on what is real, rather than what is perishing. Entering into the sacred movement of this holy season, in our real holiday hectic lives.
Setting my mind on who He is, changes the view on everything. Like coming out of a media induced marketing fog, Christmas seems like something spiritual and holy rather than commercial and greedy. I have found my wish list to be smaller and my heart wish to be growing daily. My heart wants to experience this Jesus who came to be all things to me, more intimately. I want to know Him in a way that brings beauty out of ugliness and light out of darkness. I want to know Him in a way that makes perspective click into focus bringing clarity to my purpose here. I just want to know Him.
Let’s start at the beginning from what has been recorded of his birth. Today let’s look at the first scenes.
Look Up!
Today’s Focus: Read Luke 1:26-35
“How will this be” Mary asked the angel, ” since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, ” The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:34-35
Gabriel an angel was sent by God to speak to a virgin, a young poor teenage girl who was engaged to her love, Joseph. We know the story, her name was Mary and she had never slept with Joseph, or any man. Imagine the shock when an angel appeared. He told her she was highly favored and that the Lord was with her. This troubled her and she was afraid. I am not sure what I would do if an angel appeared before me, probably pass out. Then the message….
“You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” Excuse me? I am not married Mr. Angel….But, there’s more. ” He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, his kingdom will never end.”
She was a young Jewish girl. She undoubtedly knew about the prophet Isaiah and the prediction of a son being born that would be called, Wonderful. ( Isa 9:6) She undoubtedly knew that there would be a Savior, but in this place with an angel she was being told, God has chosen you to bear this child. Whoa! Really? Why Me? How me? What now?
Mary’s question…”How will this be, since I am a virgin?” Luke 1: 34
Mary’s question mirrors our own questioning when God presents impossible situations before us. And, the angels answer is something for us to listen to today, with ears to hear the extraordinary miracle of God at work in human lives, to fulfill His plan.
“The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:35
God’s Work. The Holy Spirit. Coming Upon, Overshadowing what we know to be practical or possible. Working Miracles in the everyday to fulfill His plan. The bigger picture.
Look In: What if God was saying to you…I have filled you with my Holy Spirit and the power within can and will overshadow you in every area of weakness. This power is bigger than you. This power will supersede anything that you can bring to the table. Rely today on the power of my Spirit working within you. There is a bigger picture. Stop now. Don’t let this moment of truth go by unnoticed. Bow your head and heart for a second before God and come into agreement with why you were created.
Col 1:16-17 ” For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
Created by God. Created FOR God. He holds the pieces of your life together. A life created FOR Him.
Look Out: Everyone you pass on the street needs this baby born in the manger. They might not know it, but they do. You might have forgotten that you do, but you do. As surely as we wait for the sun to rise for another day, our soul waits for heaven’s touch in the rising of each morning sun. We just aren’t aware. Today as you go about your shopping and list filling look around, smile at random people, be pleasant, be part of the blessing in their day. Today as that co-worker gets on your very last nerve, breathe in the peace of Heaven, think about the plan of God to bring wholeness to our lives. Smile. Don’t react in your self, be overshadowed and overcome by the reaction and love the God’s Spirit within you.
Pray: How shall this be Lord? How can you change me? And, he will answer softly, I will come upon you and my power will overshadow you.
Oh to believe in the power of God’s presence this Christmas.
Be Merry! Look Up!
Debbie
