Christmas shopping, decorating, card addressing, baking cookies, holiday parties and programs, wrapping gifts, volunteering and oh, you need to do this on top of all your regular responsibilities. Is this really the most wonderful time of the year? I can feel my anxiety raising just as I type this list. Many people in the Bible can relate to our feelings of stress and anxiety. Moses is one of these men. In Exodus 33:12-13 Moses approaches God with a bit of an anxious heart. He brings his concerns before God and God reassures Moses in Exodus 33:14, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Rest. I believe we all long for this, especially this time of year. What does this rest look like? Is it a long winter’s nap as in The Night Before Christmas poem? Is it a much-anticipated vacation? Is it a family member volunteering to do something on our to do list? I believe it is so much more fulfilling than this. In His presence, we find rest. In this upcoming Advent season, I invite you to unwrap the gift of His presence. A child eagerly anticipates the opening of a daily advent gift. Become a child in mind and heart and anticipate the daily gift of His presence. Wake up ten to fifteen minutes before the rest of the family, make a cup of coffee or tea, turn on the lights on the Christmas tree, read a verse, ponder on it and pray. He will meet you there and prepare your heart for the day ahead and His presence will go with you. I experienced the gift of His presence this morning. Right before my alarm went off I woke with a disturbing dream. I dreamt our family was on a boat and the winds and waves caused the boat to capsize sending our family into the water. I frantically began to look for Hannah and Abby’s heads bobbing above the water. As I saw their faces, they were much younger. I called out to Eric to help me save them. This is when I woke up, not knowing if we made it to them to help or not?! Talk about an anxious heart. This is not the way you want to start a day. After I got up, I spent some time reading God’s word and praying, still feeling a bit unsettled. As I went out for a run, His presence went with me. Just over a mile into my run, God interpreted the dream for me. In my dream I envisioned Hannah and Abby much younger. I felt God say to me, “Your girls are not little children anymore. You cannot go with them and protect them wherever they go. But, they are Mine, I know them by name (Exodus 33:17) and My presence will go with them.” Immediately, God’s peace and sense of rest came over me calming my anxious heart. Glory be to God. As you enter this Advent season may you anticipate the gift of God’s presence and allow Him to calm your anxious heart.
3 Comments
Lynn
12/1/2017 08:07:41 pm
Touched my heart
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Kim Peterson
12/2/2017 09:30:21 am
Thank you, Becky. A very good reminder and encouragement. ❤️
Reply
Judy Schneider
12/2/2017 11:09:26 am
Good reminder at this time to keep our eyes on the Lord.
Reply
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AuthorI am a woman who loves everything about making a house a home. I enjoy meal planning, cooking, baking, sewing, crafting, and decorating. Not so much cleaning and laundry, but that goes along with caring for a home. I am blessed to be married to a pastor and we have had the privilege of raising two daughters. Archives
July 2021
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