Christmas is rapidly approaching, and if you're anything like me, it's time to do all the last minute things you've been putting off. We've got baking to finish, the last few presents to ensure we get, move the Elf on the Shelf every night, and all the other things that we do to make the Christmas season special for our family.
Yet, in the midst of the hustle and bustle, I've been intentionally reminding myself to be thankful.
I can think of no better way to remember that than the words of Mary in Luke 1.
"For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has pulled down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and His seed forever."
Look at what she says there - she is aware that she is blessed by carrying the son of God, and she magnifies Him - she cries out that His name is Holy, His mercy is on us, He's shown us Hia strength.
This is the attitude I've endeavored to cultivate in my life lately. When I stop and recognize that I've been blessed, my first move is to give thanks to God. I've become more and more conscious of His hand on my life and I am thankful.
What do I have to be thankful for? I've got a wonderful Savior in Jesus that we are celebrating during this Christmas season. I've got a lovely wife who also happens to be my best friend. I've got three amazing kids who love deeply and feel passionately. I've got a content dog snoring away behind me while I write in my office. I've got a house that fits our family and our needs. Our ministry, despite the challenges of being a smaller, mostly online ministry that desires to be working alongside churches, is reaching thousands of people through blogs, long form video content, short form video content, and we're constantly finding ways to get more out there.
If that's not enough to be thankful for, I don't know what is.
But maybe that's not how you feel this holiday season. Maybe this is the first year you're without a loved one. Maybe you lost a job, a home, or you're in the midst of fighting a terminal disease.
I can't say that everything will magically be better if you just pray a simple prayer...but I can return yet again to Mary's words. God is the exalter of the lowly, He's filled the hungry with good things, and in remembrance of His mercy, He's helped His servant.
This reminds me of what Jesus read in Luke 4:18-19 regarding Himself. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."
Jesus' ministry was preaching the Gospel to the poor, healing those who were brokenhearted, liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, liberty to those who are oppressed. Maybe you fall in one of those categories this Christmas season...Jesus desires to be with you through this season and see you through it to the other side. Jesus desires to take care of any and all situations that are afflicting you.
This Christmas, absolutely remember that Jesus came to ransom you, to buy you back, to redeem you from the dark powers that have held the world captive, but also remember that your redemption is a total redemption. It's not just for when you die and reach the other side, it also impacts your here and now.
Whatever you need this Christmas, trust Him to be that for you.
By Grace,
Dave