“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” Luke 2:13-14
As November comes to an end, you walk into your local grocery store, and what do you see? Christmas decorations galore with the sounds of “All I Want For Christmas is You” blasting through the stores speakers. The holiday season has begun, so let the hustle and bustle begin. This is a season to be merry, as many songs proclaim, but along with it can come varied emotions. Some people dread the season knowing that it is accompanied with irritability, while others face loneliness or depression. The worry, busyness, family gatherings, and some unmet expectations begin to take their toll.
But in the beginning of the Gospel of Luke, we are reminded of the beautiful picture that is painted when Jesus was born. The angels joined together after sharing the good news to shepherds and simply praised God. And in other spots in the Bible, we see angels displaying this wonderful act of worship towards God. Here, they bow down before Jesus and with incredible joy they sing praises to God. They acknowledge God’s glory and spend time worshipping Him.
As the holiday season is among us, let’s be reminded to keep Christ in Christmas. Let’s take a stance of intentionality through hearts of worship and adoration like the angels had. May we see this season as an opportunity to be His hands and feet out of the overflow of a worshipful heart. When there are long lines at the store, see it as a chance to create conversation and be gracious to someone who may be as stressed as you are. Rather than spending so much time finding that perfect present, may we focus on the wonderful gift of a Savior. When the Christmas music begins to fill every station possible, may we not be overwhelmed by the busyness of the season; but rather, may we be overjoyed as our attention is fixed on giving thanks to Jesus for what He came to do.
There will be a lot of choices that are made over the coming month: gifts to buy, family to invite, events to attend, songs to sing, and much more. While the holidays can bring about strong emotions and a multitude of choices, may we remember the most important one: to praise God. As cliché as it is, He truly is the reason for the season, for His gift, for His love, and for His peace. May the upcoming holiday season reflect that as we embrace Him.
Prayer: Lord, with the season ahead and all the emotions it may bring, I choose to intentionally worship You. Help me to stay focused on Your goodness and what You have done and praise You through it all. Amen.
