Bow Down

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. –Psalm 95:6

There is no better way to experience the season of Advent then with a heart that is in awe and worship of the majesty of God.  Advent is about awaiting God’s greatest gift to the world.  When we come before God humbly bowed in worship, how much more are we humbled and awed by the prospect of his Great Gift?

Even Christians have learned to throw around Christian-sounding phrases during this time of year… “Jesus is the greatest gift of all”… “Jesus is the reason for the season”… “put Christ back in Christmas”…. There’s nothing wrong with those phrases, but after a while, they begin to sound trite.  Especially when we toss them around as we push through the malls in a panic to spend more money on more things that our family and friends don’t need.

Most of us have probably thrown ourselves into the Christmas rush.  But it’s not too late to withdraw for a moment or two; catch our breath; find an altar or our own personal worship space and take some time to bow down and worship…  open our hearts to the awe of that “greatest gift”… “reason for the season”… “the Christ of Christmas.”  

Presents aren’t bad.  They bring joy in both giving and receiving them.  But the joy will be multiplied if our hearts have been properly prepared.  The joy will be magnified if we give and receive gifts from the perspective of why we exchange gifts.  And the malls… they will not seem as crowded and pushy… instead they will feel festive and joyful.  Take time to kneel before the Lord our Maker before we head into the rush.

Lord God,

This Advent help us to take time to first prepare our hearts.  Bring to our souls the true wonder and awe of your Great Gift.  Amen.

Joys:  Getting caught up with some tasks and errands I have been putting off; Christmas lights; sleeping in to the sound of rain.