In Search of CHRISTmas Presenceنموونە

CHRISTmas Presence

As a popular Christmas song reminds us, we’re rapidly approaching “…the most wonderful time of the year.”

Christmas movies stream around the clock, entertaining us with heartfelt and sometimes comical stories. Smells of Christmas goodies permeate the air as cookies, pies, and other treats are thoughtfully baked. Stores are decorated with lights, trees, and tinsel, and are filled with the sounds of favorite Christmas songs as shoppers hurry to find the perfect gift. With each passing day, the reality that “Christmas Day is almost here” comes more clearly into view.

Perhaps, like me, you can recall those childhood days when, right after Thanksgiving (or even earlier your central focus was the fulfillment of that all-important wish list addressed to Santa himself. You might have wondered, “Was I naughty or nice?” - qualifying yourself (or not) for the ultimate gift-giving extravaganza. Or maybe, like my wife when she was a little girl, the waiting itself was too much to bear, and curiosity got the better of you. Before the rest of the family woke up, you found yourself sneaking a peek—or even unwrapping—a few of those shiny treasures beneath the tree. Whether you got caught or not, one thing was certain: you were in search of Christmas presents.

As a child, and even sometimes as adults, the focal point of the season revolves around Christmas presents and their meaning to us. Some may argue that their delight comes from giving gifts to others, not receiving, and that may be the case. However, deep down inside, the “childlike delight” of receiving a gift has touched us all at one point or another. It could be the anticipation of unwrapping that longed-for gift. Or the emotion stirred from receiving an unexpected but heartfelt surprise. Or, perhaps, a thoughtful token from loved ones and friends near and far. It’s nostalgic and magical - if kept in its proper context.

As I’ve gotten older, though, Christmas has become less about receiving presents and more about experiencing presence - the presence of Christ. It’s a time to pause and reflect on Jesus being “God WITH us.”

Life today can feel like it’s moving at warp speed. We rush from one thing to the next with barely enough time to catch our breath. This feeling is only exacerbated during the Holiday Season. The old Simon and Garfunkel lyric still speaks truth and invites us to reflect: “Slow down, you move too fast, you’ve got to make the morning last.” For our own sanity, we need to heed that invitation.

This Christmas, I encourage you to be intentional - making His presence the centerpiece of your yuletide celebrations. Allow Christ to give you the gift of Himself this season. And as He does, may you experience once again the childlike wonder of anticipating the greatest gift of all - the gift of His presence, far surpassing any present you might receive.

As you move through this devotional in the days ahead, I encourage you to take intentional moments to pause, reflect, and respond. Each day’s thought has been kept brief to give you space — space to linger in God’s Word, to engage with the suggested application, and to listen for His voice. My prayer is that as you set this time apart — whether once a week, on five days throughout the season, or culminating on Christmas Day — you will encounter a fresh revelation of His presence in every moment of your everyday life.