How to Experience Jesus at Christmas

It’s an odd title, isn’t it?  I mean, really, Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ, so why on earth would we have to seek Him to experience Him at Christmas?

Well, I’ll tell you why….

We can so easily miss Him when we’re standing in long lines shopping for gifts, wrapping gifts, planning a Christmas dinner, or rushing from one event to another.  And just because it’s tradition to make Grandma’s fudge or Mom’s cookies, these pursuits don’t mean I’ll be spiritually satisfied this Christmas season because I won’t. These activities are all fine and dandy, but they won’t quench the thirst of my parched soul.

The answer to my dry soul during this glorious season is one thing and one thing only- Experiencing the presence of Jesus Christ.

Somehow, this Christmas, I’ve missed much of it.  Usually my Christmas seasons are much slower paced, but this year I had more on my plate, and let me tell you, I’m so bothered by the fact that I’ve missed so much of my Lord’s presence during this awesome season.

I’ve lost sight, and I’ve gotten busy.

If Satan can’t get you to sin, he’ll keep you B-U-S-Y.

When my eldest son was a teenager, he learned about this acronym from his youth group and shared it with me.  I thought it was brilliant, so I thought I’d pass it on to you!

B-Busy

U-Under

S- Satan’s

Y-Yoke

There are not many days left before Christmas, but I will redeem my time and soak up every bit of Jesus Christ that I can.  Here’s what I’m planning to do.

I’m putting my Christmas ‘to-do’ list on the back burner, and I’m putting my relationship with Jesus at the forefront.  I will intentionally seek Him, pursue Him, and rest in Him.

How to Experience Jesus at Christmas

Here are my 4 Ways.

1.  Get in the Word

A quick devotional during this season just isn’t cutting it for me.  I’m finding that a spiritual snack leaves me hungry for more; therefore, I need a spiritual feast!  More time in the Word will curb a hungry soul.

2.  Listen to worship and praise music.

My soul changes when I listen to Christmas music, and I don’t mean the traditional Jingle Bells or Dreaming of a White Christmas.  Those songs are worthless to my soul.  I need lyrics that point me to my Messiah- the Hope that has come.

How about you? Does praise and worship music soothe, comfort, and breathe life into your soul?  Are you listening to it?

3.  Write for my Lord.

As apprehensive as I am to write in this space, I exercise one of my spiritual gifts when I do.  God beckons me to come and sit at His feet when I write on His behalf.  He woos me and invites me in, and then the Holy Spirit moves–flowing in and out of me. The words that pour out into this space are not done by my might, nor by my power, but by His spirit.

‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.  Zechariah 4:6

 

What’s your spiritual gift?  Are you able and willing to use it during this beautiful season?  Don’t miss out on this power!

4.  Want His presence.

I will wait for my Lord to show up because I know He will.  I’ve just got to still myself so I can see and hear Him even in the chaos of this season.  What’s so precious about me waiting for Him is that He’s waiting for me.

He calls us into the deep with Him.  The stillness.  The invitation is for just the two of us.

I love what Moses said to the Lord in Exodus 33:18-

And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”

Moses was intentional.  He knew he wanted more of the Lord in his life.  He was discontent per se in his relationship with the Lord, and so am I.

Maybe you are, too?

The beautiful thing about our relationship with the Lord is that we can always go deeper with Christ.  Unlike our human relationships, where you and I can only go as deep as the other person is willing to go with us, this is not the case with Jesus. Our Savior has no limits in how deep we can intimately walk with Him.

Lord, please, show me Your glory.

That’s my prayer this Christmas season.  How about you?

Anything on this list that you need to pursue to experience more of Him?  

Live a poured out life for Christ,

Jolene Engle