The early store decorations may send you into a place of frustration or excitement. I know some people want to enjoy the entrance of fall, Halloween, and the beginning of the Thanksgiving season before thinking about Christmas. Others are elated at the very first sights and smells of a holiday they find to be special and heartwarming. The reminders of how many shopping days left until Christmas may overwhelm you or challenge you. But no matter what, these signals do tell us something – Christmas is coming!
How much space and time do we give to prepare in our hearts for the coming of Christmas? How much space and time do we give to God every week or every day? While the decorations and music may mostly apply to a few particular weeks of the year, we should not just give God room in our life only at this time of year.
In fact, the busyness of the holiday sometimes can distract us from God more than draw us closer to Him. Because there are so many things that can distract, I love hearing about family traditions that encourage important faith-filled moments.
Opportunities to serve others, families coming together for worship, and spending extra time with devotions or scripture help teach us about the true spirit of this holiday. This moment of Jesus coming into the world over 2000 years ago has impacted the world ever since. God showed us His amazing love and it transformed everything. And as we reflect on the significance of God’s presence through Jesus, this impacts and transforms our lives too.
So, Christmas is coming! Jesus Christ has come! But do we create space and time for these meaningful moments with our family, to help others, or to spend time at church only at Christmas? When we create room in our hearts and lives for God to enter in – we should allow Him to not only linger, but to abide with us. Let’s allow God’s spirit to truly find a home and resting place with us. In this season of Christmas, prepare your heart for Christ and invite Him to speak to you in new ways that impact the days after as well.
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. How all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. – Ephesians 3:17-21
Amy Givens, Director of Youth Ministry
