Emmanuel
Hillsong

Prepare

Scripture Reading: Luke 3:1-6

It’s really close now. Just days away.

Are you ready?

Not yet? Woah, that’s cutting it pretty close isn’t it? Do you have a list to help you finish soon so you can try and relax a little before the big day?

And what of your spiritual preparation? How’s your heart doing? How’s your family perparing?

John the Baptist is a popular reading in Advent. John was a priest’s son who spent time walking the countryside helping people prepare for the coming of Jesus. He wanted people to prepare their hearts for when Jesus would begin his ministry. He called people to repent from their sins so their hearts would be as pure as possible to hear what Jesus would have to say.

While Jesus was an adult when John was doing this, we are seeking to prepare in the same way. We are preparing our hearts to receive the love God has for us when He sends His Son back to the earth. We also prepare to celebrate the birth of our Saviour as part of that preparation in just a few days.

Are you ready? Is your heart prepared to receive the love of God sent in Jesus?

Lord God, prepare my heart. In the busyness I am surrounded by,
let me see Your peace. Let me see Your love come upon this earth, through Your Son. Amen.

Behold

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11

My family likes to explore the outdoors. We like to go to new places and hike to see what we can find. We look for animal tracks. We explore hills and valleys. We take pictures of flowers and leaves to look up later on to see what they are. We like to play in God’s creation.

We also live in an area with high unemployment, addictions, and poverty. We see the daily struggles some people have, and how they sometimes are unable to get out and enjoy God’s creation as much as we do.

The good news is that God is coming again so we may see the fullness of His creation. We see this fullness in the Christmas story as God comes to earth Himself as Jesus. Jesus, the promised one, who will strengthen people, who will guide them, as a shepherd guides his sheep.

God is here with us, leading us, loving us, and protecting us. Behold His glory given to us in the Christ child.

Lord God, in the beauty of Your creation,
may I behold Your glory in the Christ child this Christmas. Amen.

Love

Scripture Reading: John 3:16-21

Love is a tricky thing. Love can bring us immense joy. Love can also bring us unbearable pain. We can love things or people which are good for us. We can also love people or things which bring us harm. Sometimes the same thing can bring both joy and pain.

“For God so loved the world…”

God loved the world…

GOD LOVED!!!

He loved it so much He sent His Son.

He sent His Son to not only show His love, but to show us what true love really is. God’s love draws people to Him. God’s love pulls people out of the shadows and into His light. By responding to God’s love in Jesus Christ we are shown the what wonderful gifts He has for us. The gift of eternal life. The gift of living in the presence of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, not only on this earth, but for all of eternity.

For God so loved the world, He came personally for you.

Lord God, thank you for loving me. Thank you for sending me Your Son, Jesus,
so I may experience this love like none other. Amen.

Complete Joy

Scripture Reading: 1 John 1:4-7

There have been times when I’ve not had any clue what I was going to do. Times when I felt so overwhelmed there was no chance I was going to be able to make a decision, nor did I even fully know what the problem was I was trying to solve or respond to.

In these times I felt like the weight of the world was squarely on my shoulders and there was nothing I could see or do.

So I often did the only thing I could think of. I went for a walk.

While I walked I would open my heart and cry out to God for help. Often I would find a bench or something similar to park for a bit while I sorted out what God was trying to tell me about whatever was going on.

And I felt better. The problem would still be there, but I now knew God was there with me in working on the solution.

My pain had turned to joy.

When we find ourselves walking in darkness and take time to seek God’s perfect truth, our pain can be turned to joy. The problem may not be solved, but in acknowledging God walking with us, we can begin to see how He is using this to bring His plan to the world. That’s where we find the joy. It’s in God’s plan.

God’s plan included walking the earth as Jesus Christ. So we can walk with Him knowing He shares our struggles through the birth of Jesus. A gift for all the world.

Lord God, walk with me. Help me to see Your perfect plan
so I may rejoice with You in the plan You have for me. Amen.