It’s Christmas week! How can you prepare your heart to receive Emmanuel in fresh new ways during busy Christmas week? In this content, we look at simple action steps to focus on Emmanuel: God With You. Preparing your heart is just as important as all the other preparations. Perhaps even more important.
Prepare Your Heart For Emmanuel – How?
We said we’d look at simple action steps to help focus on Emmanuel. Realistically, I know you are really busy right now. Christmas is days away. So, here’s an “easy-list” of meaningful meditations as you close-in on Christmas.
- Pause where you are to reflect on how Jesus became a baby to change history.
- Give thanks to God where you are for this incredible gift.
- Pour out what’s inside you to God – where you are. You may have extreme joy. Perhaps great expectations. You may be lonely or have grief, sorrow, or sadness. Regardless, whatever you are experiencing – pour it out to God.
- Ask God to meet you where you are as you head into celebration. That’s how God likes to do it.
- Finally, open your heart to whatever God wants to tell you this Christmas week. Every day, God wants to do something special in your heart. Things like –
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- Let Jesus meet deep needs – where you are.
- When your heart overflows with joy, share it with Jesus – each moment.
- Incidentally, it’s possible to experience extremes all at the same time. I know because I’ve been there. So – come close to Jesus – right where you are.
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You can also practice these things all next year!
Emmanuel: God With You
God literally wrapped Himself in flesh to completely identify with you. He reaches for you, and wants you to Reach Back* to Him above everything else. In Christ is your hope, peace, and joy.
Let’s look more deeply at who Jesus is, how He leads, how He lived and how He suffered.
Jesus is a very unique and awesome King. He is extremely intelligent. Creative beyond imagination. Also, He is wise and alert. Kind and good. Strong and courageous. Loving and merciful. Unafraid of anything. Very much in charge. Yet, His Kingdom is not of this world. How He carries out Kingdom policy is inside-out and upside-down to the world.
He was born in a barn! First cradle – a feed trough! First Christmas baby outfit – spare strips of soft cloth! First comforting music – lowing cattle and baa-ing sheep! First breath of air – filled with the smell of animals!
What king is born like that?!
Jesus walked everywhere in sandals with fishermen. His ride – a stinky fishing boat. His pulpit – that same boat. Typical food – often fish. His stories were packed with hidden meanings and trimmed with delightful word pictures. His miracles were amazing – sometimes multiplying fish. Jesus didn’t have a company and wasn’t the president of anything. He didn’t have stock or shares in anything except an invisible, unmeasurable, unmatched government.
Yet, His countenance was joy.
Who leads like that?!
Jesus laughed and cried publicly. He never minced words. He never deceived or made empty promises. Every political statement He made was so discerning – no one knew how to reply. Subsequently, He earned respect, gained popularity, was deeply hated, and also deeply loved. Remarkably, He overturned the money tables of the wealthy and gave all He had to the poor. Stunningly, the King of the Universe paid taxes! (So as not to offend earthly rulers of earthly governments.)
Who lives like that?!
He had no real estate: no house, no land. Jesus was falsely accused and remained silent. He was traded with a renowned criminal: Jesus got death. The criminal was set free. Shamefully, He was sold for the price of a slave. Jesus, the Messiah, died a bloody, torturous death. On the cross, He forgave every person on earth. He quickly and willingly took on the loneliness of separation from His Father (Who turned His back on Jesus as He died) so you and I would never have to be separated from God! His purpose was to forever be Emmanuel: “God With Us.”
Who suffers like that?!
Jesus rose from the grave – not through the tomb entrance – but through many feet of solid ROCK! He was gone before the stone was rolled away. He appeared and disappeared in a new human body – a seed of what He promises anyone who trusts Him for eternal life. Interestingly, He showed His Lordship by cooking breakfast on the beach for His hungry disciples who had fished all night.
Who attains the greatest personhood and position possible, yet serves like this?!
This King is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Consequently, all government will be on His shoulders. He invites you back into the royal position He created you for – to rule with Him through all eternity. Thankfully, He chose to be called Emmanuel: God With Us! God With You!
Also, He multiplies His presence into the needy, lonely, desperate hearts all around Him. So, you never need to be alone again. He comforts in your sorrows. Remarkably, the governing of your life is on His shoulders.
This is Jesus – Emmanuel: God With You.
Prepare Your Heart With Spiritual Senses
Pause and consider the 5 senses God created people with:
- First, there is so much wonder, tradition, music, and celebration – for those who have ears to hear!
- Then, there’s hope and joy sticking out from ribbons and gatherings – for those who have eyes to see.
- Also, those incredible holiday spices and the smell of pine – even more so – the aroma of kindness and love tempt your nose – if you are willing to breathe deeply.
- Next, the tastes of Christmas – yes, goodies at every level of your soul delight your heart – if you open your heart.
- Finally, the climax. Jesus, Himself, longs to touch you through His humble birth – for those eager to receive His touch.
These are invisible kinds of “senses of the soul.” Now, how can you prepare your heart for Christmas in these ways? Strategically, and simply, ask God to enable your –
- Ears to hear.
- Eyes to see.
- Breathing to take more of Christ into your spirit.
- Tasting to see that the Lord is good.
- Touch to receive more of Him and to reach back to Him.
Even At Christmas, Life Can Be Hard
God knew you and I would have hard times in this sinful world. Thankfully, as He watched us almost drown in our sorrows, limitations, and broken dreams, He did something about it. He poured all His God-ness into a human person (body, mind, spirit) to live among His people. Subsequently, Jesus became a baby. Fully God. Fully human. Remarkably, full of love and compassion.
Jesus does not want you to suffer needlessly, to be trapped by life, or to be alone. So, He became Emmanuel: God With You. Interestingly, we don’t know for sure what time of year Jesus was born. Yet, at Christmas we celebrate that He became a human – like you. Jesus is your hope.
Jesus grew up sinless. As He paid the price for all sin on a cross, He offered the “Great Exchange.” Wow. What a gift exchange! He took all sin on Himself, and in exchange, He offered His holiness back to you. As a result, when you trust Him, He places His perfection on you. Actually, it’s a trade. Further, it’s forgiveness. Incredibly, it’s an eternal gift. Equally, no one can buy or earn that gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Rather, you just take it with gratitude by faith.
Gifts at Christmas are a symbol of gratitude for Christ’s gracious gift. Therefore, when we give gifts to others, we act out the picture of God’s great gift. Essentially, we say – in the same manner Jesus did – “I cherish you. You are important to me. I love you. So, I’m willing to sacrifice to give something special to you.”
That’s what a gift means at Christmas.
Summary For Emmanuel: God With You
Most importantly, prepare your heart for Emmanuel: God With You, by focusing on the simple ideas we’ve talked about. Additionally, keep your perspective trained on God’s amazing gift. Finally, share this JOY with others around you.
(Review the five action steps in the beginning of this content.)
Application Thought And Questions:
Focus your five spiritual senses, even if you’re in a season of grief, loss, loneliness, or sadness. Engage these senses deeply as you prepare your heart for Christmas.
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- Have ears to hear!
- Have eyes to see.
- Breathe deeply all the aromas of celebration.
- Open to the tastes at every level of your soul and – delight your heart.
- Let Jesus, Himself, touch you through His humble birth. Receive His touch.
* Reach Back: Intentionally Reaching Back to God is a study book filled with short weekly studies that focus on responding back to God’s love by partnering with Him. Incidentally, it’s written for busy people who want to grow closer to God.
Now, I wish you a very Merry Christmas!
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