Focus
Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.
Read
6 For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Reflect
On a recent shopping trip, my wife and I came across some nightlights in the home improvement aisle. It brought back fond memories for us. Nightlights were a real necessity in our home when our children were very young. To them, the lights chased away all of the “bad” from the darkness and offered them great comfort as we tucked them in for the night.
Most of us still have uneasiness of the dark in our adult lives. In the light, we can see whatever is going on in the house and all appears safe and sound. In the middle of the night, the darkness can bring fear. Darkness can be confusing, uncomfortable, and frightening.
In Isaiah 9 the people were uncomfortable, confused, and lost. Then the Great News arrives! The Light is coming and that Light is going to arrive in the form of a baby, the Christ Child. With Him, the Light will bring fearlessness of the dark!
Pray
Father God, we thank you for this day and all of the days before and yet to come. We praise you for the Light that You bring into our lives. Through Jesus we pray. Amen!
