Christmas – A Day of Hope and Rejoicing
The celebration of the birth of Christ didn’t begin at His birth. It was long foretold by the prophets and recorded in the holy scriptures. God always had a plan of redemption and at the right time, He initiated it. He set forth the plan of salvation to give man an opportunity to be restored to relationship with Him—forever. This is not something to be treated casually or a day to be celebrated without deep contemplation and worship. It may not be the actual day of Christ’s birth, but it is a touchpoint to adore Him. Read these words of the popular Christmas song, “O Holy Night”. “O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining. It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope. The weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.” These lyrics are taken from Isaiah 9, one of the great prophetic passages about the coming Messiah. Take hope in them and rejoice!
“The land of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali were once disgraced, but the future will bring honor to this region, from the Mediterranean eastward to the land on the other side of the Jordan, and even to Galilee itself, where the foreigners live. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. They lived in a land of shadows, but now light is shining on them. You have given them great joy, Lord; you have made them happy. They rejoice in what you have done, as people rejoice when they harvest grain or when they divide captured wealth. For you have broken the yoke that burdened them and the rod that beat their shoulders.” (Isaiah 9: 1-4a; GNT)
Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:
- Lift your eyes and your heart up from the work and busyness of Christmas and place them on Jesus. Sit still for a moment. Maybe get a cup of coffee or cocoa and the Word and take a quiet, reflective moment. You can spare it for Him.
- Play or sing “O Holy Night” and worship our Savior, Jesus. Consider other Christmas hymns that focus on Christ and go ahead and play or sing them, as well.
- Pray for your loved ones. Lift their need for Him to the Lord. Pray that their yokes of bondage would be broken off as they see Jesus.
- Pray for America to know Him. Say, “In this land of darkness and shadows, Lord, let us see Your great Light!”
A prayer you can pray:
Lord, I desire to set aside some time today to adore the Son. Jesus has saved me and I am so focused on all the things I have to do and want to do to make others happy, that it is easy to miss the main star of the season, my Savior, Jesus. Your Word is a road-map to Your plan of salvation. Your prophets foretold His coming as a child to save us. Even His birth was to be a time of yoke-breaking and darkness fleeing. I will get out my Bible and meditate on Isaiah 9. (Play or sing “O Holy Night” and worship our Savior, Jesus. Consider other Christmas hymns that focus on Christ and go ahead and play or sing them, as well.) Jesus, let my loved ones see You. Holy Spirit, draw them to Jesus. Let my heritage be children and grandchildren that serve the Lord. Save them, heal them, and deliver them, and make sure they know it was You that did these things for them. Open the eyes of my nation, Jesus. Shine Your light in every corner where darkness threatens America. Break the yokes of poverty and other causes of heart-ache. Raise up and send healers into this nation—those who have God-given blueprints to heal this broken land. Amen.
Today’s decree:
In this land of darkness and shadows, Lord, let us see Your great Light!