Monthly Archives: December 2019

In the Midst of a Storm

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Facing tough times

Hasten, O God, to save me;
O Lord, come quickly to help me. Psalm 70:1

The circumstances for this psalm must have been very dire. The psalmist needs help quickly for he is under attack and will soon lose his life.

May those who seek my life
be put to shame and confusion; Psalm 70:2

Here the psalm takes a surprising turn.

But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation always say,
“Let God be exalted!” Psalm 70:4

Always say: “Let God be exalted!” These are not as some magical words that will force God to intervene miraculously. These are words of worship that knock our troubles and circumstances out of preeminence in our life… and put God on the throne. Worship changes us, reassures us, moves our focus from what we are praying about to God.

The psalm ends with the troubles still bearing down.

Yet I am poor and needy;
come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay. Psalm 70:5

What is different is the psalmist—“Let God be exalted” in me.

Christmas Anticipation

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The heavens and earth await His coming.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13-14

 

Advent Shadows

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Morning light chasing away the shadows.

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2

This Advent let the light chase away the shadows.

The Path of Glory

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I can see it just ahead

Advent is much more than looking forward to December 25th, the day we celebrate Christ’s birth. It is about realizing the hope of glory bestowed upon us in Jesus.

When the angel announced to Mary that she was highly favored and that the Lord is with you. It greatly troubled her because her life looked nothing like “highly favored.”

Going from “greatly troubled” to “highly favored” is what Advent is about. We do it by taking the words of Mary for our own:

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Luke 1:38

The promise of God for us is “Christ in me the hope of glory,” (Colossians 1:27). A hope that grows each day carrying us through sorrow, and troubles, and onto a glorious Christmas forever in Christ.

So we hesitantly count ourselves as highly favored and whisper with Mary—may it be as You have said…I think I am pregnant.