It’s my absolute favorite time of the year. There is something so magical about the lights, the trees, the decorations, the music, all pointing back to the most perfect gift wrapped in swaddling cloth and born in a barn. This time of year, has a special way of bringing people together that typically don’t have much in common. Even many unbelievers’ hearts are a little more softened around this time of year.
Christmas time can truly feel magical. Yet most years, with the busyness of the season, it seems to pass in the blink of an eye. You have presents to buy, Christmas lights to see, work Christmas parties to attend, family to visit. The list seems to never end. The agenda seems to be completely filled. Before I know it, the Christmas season itself has passed and, sadly, I have to wait until next year to celebrate again.
It’s not until the last couple of years that I have really discovered the need to slow down in this season. Of course, as Christian women we know beyond the shadow of a doubt that Christmas is about Jesus’s humble entry into the world. Many of us have grown up knowing this, yet many of us still fill our calendars with all of the extra things.
I pray that in this season we would spend more time patiently awaiting the not-so-grand entrance of our Savior. Why did He choose to come down to earth, humbly, in the form of a baby anyway? Because He loves us and He wants us. He loves us enough to later die the most tragic death of all time so that all of our sins could be forgiven.
I pray that in this season we would slow down and see how God intricately reveals this love that He has for us. When we are giving gifts, I pray that we can praise God that He was the ultimate gift. When we are in awe of the beautiful lights thoughtfully hung, I pray that we will remember that God is light and desire for His light to shine through us. When we are celebrating at family get togethers or work Christmas parties, I pray that we are praising God for the people that He has surrounded us with and the fellowship that He has allowed us to have.
I pray that once this season has passed, that we would praise God for how He uniquely revealed Himself to us through the lens of the birth of Christ. I pray that the hope that this season brings would shine far brighter than the beauty of the lights, the trees, and the presents.
Jesus, thank You for being the perfect gift! I pray that we will celebrate You above all in this Christmas season.
