O Holy Night
2002 Advent Devotion Collection
December 1
READING: Philippians 4:6-9
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Did you ever notice how much easier it is to bare your soul when the lights are out? Kids at camp have their best heart-to-heart conversations when they're all tucked into their sleeping bags and it's too dark to see any faces. Married couples may have a hard time communicating during the day, but when night falls, somehow the barriers come down and the secrets come out. There's safety in the darkness. The distractions of the physical world are out of sight, and it becomes easier to focus on inner things.
I think God made the night as a sacred gift to us. It is His way of making it easier for us to connect with Him. And one night, long ago, God bared His soul to us. His love came pouring down around us. It was a holy night. Close your eyes and in the darkness you can feel it. Feel the tiny fingers of that sacred baby - so small and yet so powerful, so long ago and yet very present even now, so near to us and yet so near to God.
God created you in His image and pronounced you good. He knows the deepest secrets of your soul, and He wants you to feel safe in His arms. Use that sacred gift of darkness - tonight - to let the walls of separation come down. Reach out and take His hand.
PRAYER: Oh God we thank you for the dark, quiet, holy times in our lives. We need these times to help us open up the deepest corners of our hearts. Hear us as we bare our souls to you. And then grant us the wisdom to listen for your still small voice of comfort and love. Amen. -- Jan B.
Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
(217) 428-4336