Are you ready for Christmas? Or are you secretly hoping for an extra week? Thankfully, Christmas does not depend on our mindset or feelings or how perfectly prepared we are. The journey to Christmas joy starts slowly and it is more than okay to come as you are. No preparations needed. Just come and meet Jesus. You can walk to the stable at your own pace. There are no requirements. You can come empty-handed and heavy-hearted.

Yet you don’t ever leave empty. That’s grace. Whenever we meet Jesus, God’s grace heals and fills us with his peace, joy, and love. Grace renews, restores, and re-energizes us in amazing ways. Truly, we need Jesus. Not only for our salvation but also for abundant life. We can’t have it on our own but we don’t have to either. It’s all prepared for us. And it starts at the manger.

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Listen carefully, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will call his name Immanuel (God with us). (Isaiah 7:14, AMP)

Come and meet Jesus

This is the central message of Christmas: Jesus came to meet us as we are and save us from ourselves by making it possible for us to be reunited with God. Dan Schaeffer has said, “Christmas celebrates the awesome and amazing fact that God is grander, wiser and more mysterious than we could have ever imagined.” A lot to celebrate. And it has nothing to do with us and how far behind we are with our preparations. It has everything to with our awesome God. Hallelujah.

What I hope for you this Christmas is to have a moment with Jesus alone. Embrace his love and grace for you. Be in awe of God who has come to you. Then your heart will be ready to unite with the songs of angels. And that’s Christmas. It doesn’t matter if you are in a stable or a palace. If Jesus is born in your heart, there’s nothing that can take it away from you. Keep celebrating! Our Savior is born! Hallelujah!

 

Gracious God,
Thank you for sending Jesus to save us.
Be praised for welcoming us all as we are.
We open our hearts wide to receive Jesus.
Come and change us according to your plan.
What an awesome God you are.
Be praised forever and ever!
In Jesus’ precious name,
Amen

Q4U: Is meeting Jesus part of your Christmas?

Be blessed my fellow pilgrim as you meet Jesus and celebrate this birth!

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash. I am linking up with Unite the Bloggersphere and #tellhisstory.