A Refocused Christmas

Written by Marilyn Ehle

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“The revelation awaits an appointed time … though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3

In these weeks before Christmas, we are tired. Church and community activities wear on us instead of energize. Canned music assaults our ears as we navigate crowded store aisles; its original intention to bless has turned into annoyance. The unstoppable energy of children no longer delights. We know we should re-focus, yet our brains and bodies fight against our spirits.

It is time to look more closely at this God who comes, time to pause and re-examine the character of the one who came once as a Baby and will one day come as a King.

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Hail to the Lord’s anointed,
Great David’s greater Son!
Hail in the time appointed,
His reign on earth begun!
(by James Montgomery, 1784)

Our worlds seem to be coming apart at the seams. People starve, bombs fall, jobs are lost, families deteriorate. Expectations crash like the clattering of broken pottery. There is no better time to reaffirm our faith in the one anointed as “great David’s greater Son.”

Throughout Jesus’ life on earth His friends wanted to step up His timetable. They wanted Him to become the conquering king they thought He should be. In response we read the words “His time had not yet come.” How impatient they were. How impatient we are. We live between the now and not yet. We want His reign to begin now.

Author Diana Ball writes about the appointed time this way:

In His time, in His time,
He makes all things beautiful in His time.
Lord, please show me every day,
As you’re teaching me your way,
That you do just what you say, in your time.

Father, may every Christmas song, every lit candle, every wrapped gift remind me that you are the timeless one, that you can be trusted.

Relfection: Take time as you read these words to sit quietly and think about the unhurried Savior, to pattern your life – even in these busy pre-Christmas days – after Him.

About this Author: Marilyn Ehle

Tags: Christmas, community, Devotional, expectations, Family, fatigue, God, holidays, Jesus, Marilyn Ehle, patience, Women

2 Responses to “A Refocused Christmas”

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kanj says:

December 26, 2009 at 6:50 pm

this year I felt the unhurried-ness with the Christmas season. I can only explain that Jesus Christ is the focus therefore I didn’t allow ‘busy’ to rule. Busy can be barren if we let it.
Andi says:

December 22, 2009 at 2:45 pm

I thank you for this prayer reminding us that HE alone is timeless and worthy of spending our lives on.

I’ve lost 2 friends recently who never accepted His invitation of salvation. I feel very sad by this….
Your devotional is helping me.

Thank you and have a blessed Christmas!