As Christmas approaches, the excitement begins to build as people look forward to gathering with family and friends to celebrate. However, with all the shopping, preparation and extra events that happen this time of year, Christmas can drain us rather than build us up. The challenge is to find a rhythm of life that enables us to enjoy the season and still be centered in the One who is the reason for this season: Jesus, the Messiah. But how does a person do that?
Human beings are not the only things that need a rhythm in life. Every evening, I plug a charger into my cell phone before I go to bed. While I am sleeping, my phone rests and its battery is getting charged up. When I wake up, my phone is ready to go for the entire day. If I forget to plug in my phone or try to use it all night without charging it, the charge on my phone is drawn down. Eventually it will quit working unless I plug it in and let it rest.
You and I were designed to be connected to Jesus. As Jesus says in John 15:5, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” The necessity of connection with Jesus may sound like one more thing that we need to do on top of many other tasks, but it is really not. It involves taking a step back and asking the question, “What is really needed here?” We may find that we have allowed ourselves to get tied up in tasks that really aren’t important or necessary. Jettisoning those things will set us free to focus on what is really needed: Resting in Jesus and letting Him live His life through us.
As we do that, we will find that the really important things will get done, and we will be more rested and more able to both bless and be blessed by others during this joyous Christmas season.
Dear Jesus, help us to trust in the connection that You have made with us. Help us to rest in You and Your love. Please re-charge our spiritual batteries with your life-giving presence. Amen.
Farewell to Shadowlands 