The candle flickered in the night, its reflection dancing across the ceiling. bringing radiant light into a darkened place. My eyes fixed on the flame. My thoughts fixed on my heart where I had encountered many unexpected darkened corners.
Self-examination is not my idea of fun.
As Deep Calls to Deep, the Lord is Calling to Me
Shining the radiant light of Christ into shadows that hide rock-hard places of my heart can be painful, but necessary, as I long to yield to Him and make Him my Lord.
As deep calls to deep, the Lord is calling to me. He is calling me to dig deeper this Christmas season — to behold the miracle of His birth and to walk in the beauty of His holiness, the mercy of His grace. He is asking me to focus on Him.
Do you hear His gentle whisper too?
The conflict of flesh and spirit is hard, isn’t it?
The competition is fierce. Retailers, relatives, and chaotic busyness all vie for our attention and it quickly becomes a commercial whirlwind while Jesus sits in the corner wondering … hoping … that we will remember Him and celebrate His birth as our coming King.
Anticipating His coming, waiting with great expectation is what Advent is made of. During Advent, we prepare for and anticipate the coming of Christ. Advent causes us to long for and recognize our need for forgiveness, salvation, and a new beginning.
And to remember that the story doesn’t end in the stable.
Bethlehem is the fulfillment of God’s promise to once again walk among His people — Emmanuel, God with us. Bethlehem begins the story of God’s promise of salvation for all people.
But the story doesn’t end there.
Will You Determine in Your Heart to Focus on Jesus During This Season?
He will come again. And when He comes, this bride wants to be ready to run into His arms as He spins me around with delight knowing I have done the work of sanctification so that I might know Him fully.
That’s heavy, isn’t it? God’s callings shouldn’t be taken lightly.
I don’t think I’m the only follower of Jesus that feels this way.
Will you join me? Will you determine in your heart to focus on Jesus during this season of Christ, allowing Him to transform and renew you, allowing Him to draw you into His radiant light?
I will be taking a break from my regular blog schedule during the month of December, but each Sunday I will pray a prayer of Advent with you: a prayer for hope, love, joy, and peace — four gifts Jesus brings to us. Prayers to know Him more. Prayers to allow Him to do the hard work in our hearts — that work of sanctification that sets us apart to do His will.
That work that transforms us into the image of Christ so that others may know Him.
As Thanksgiving comes to a close and Christmas knocks at the door, I’ll be praying for each of you as you seek to know Him more. I cherish your prayers also. I’m excited to find the thrill of hope again, for Christ alone is our hope. I look forward to an overflow of joy and His peace that passes all understanding. I especially look forward to stepping away from the chaos to be still before Him and remember that He is God, to bask in His radiant light.
When we seek Him, we will find Him.
Oh sweet friend, I will be praying for you daily.
Let His Radiant Light into Your Darkened Places
Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! (Psalm 27:14)
For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. (Psalm 62:5-7)
His Truth sets the captives free.
Those whose sin has cast them far away into exile, He longs to bring back home.
His love is from everlasting to everlasting and His mercy is great.
Selah
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Do you know someone who is experiencing great sorrow this Christmas? Are they in a crisis of faith because the unthinkable has happened? You want to bless them with a gift, but in your heart, you know they really don’t want things. They want their heart to be healed. They want hope. They want to live again.
That’s why I wrote The Offering: How to Emerge from Shattered Faith. The Offering takes the reader by the hand and allows her to ask the hard questions with raw emotions, and then gently leads her back into the arms of the One who loves her.
It’s available on Amazon for $12.99, but if you would like a personalized, autographed copy, it is $20 (to cover shipping) OR if you are local and can meet me, I charge $15. You may contact me at nan@nanjones.com
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Thank you so much for stopping by. I would love for you to share what’s on your heart in the comments below. Scroll a little farther down and you’ll see where you can leave your comments. Together, we can find the nearness of God in our darkest moments.
Sweet blessings to you,
