Lift Up Your Heads

Lift up your heads, you gates;
    lift them up, you ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.

Who is he, this King of glory?
    The Lord Almighty—
    he is the King of glory.

Psalm 24:9-10

At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”  

Luke 21:27-28

In recent years, things have felt out of control. As the pandemic recedes, earthquakes, floods, and fires fill our newsfeeds. Wars and political rifts are prevalent, and it seems people’s hearts have grown cold. Despite how we may feel though, these things are nothing new. When Jesus was born, Israel lived under Roman rule and they continually experienced violence, oppression, and political gamesmanship. By faith, Israel hoped the messiah promised by the prophets would come. They expected a human king who would restore Israel to power and were surprised by the King who actually came. In humble human form, God came to establish His kingdom—not through military might, but through self-sacrifice. 

In context, both of today’s passages are about preparing for the King’s arrival. Psalm 24 celebrates the manifestation of God’s presence—the Ark of the Covenant—arriving at Mount Zion. Like the gates, we get to open ourselves up and let the King of Glory come in. 

In Luke 21, the disciples comment on the beauty of the temple and to their surprise, Jesus prophesies its destruction. Distressed, they ask what will signal the time is near. Jesus responds with a long list of signs of the end times. Some things on the list, like earthquakes, famines, and wars, have been happening and will continue to do so. Some events, like the destruction of the temple, have already occurred. Other signs, including Jesus’ return, have not taken place yet. When Jesus comes with glory and power, it will be unmistakable. Everyone will see Him (Matthew 24:27, 30) and God’s people will lift their heads and be encouraged because redemption is coming. 

When we align Old and New Testament passages, we see how past, present, and future fit together. Today’s verses each contain the phrase “lift up your heads.” When we feel low, our chins drop, and we focus on the ground. Lifting our faces to the sky feels much more joyful. Today’s verses say, cheer up, the King is coming! All will be well. Immanuel has come and will come again. 

During the busy Christmas season, we can experience anxieties that weigh our hearts down and take our eyes off Jesus. We may dread interacting with a challenging relative or be grieving a loss. Whatever is going on, we bear the burden of our expectations. So, how do we navigate the worries that can bog us down? By leaning into faith and opening our hearts to the King. Here are some suggestions to try:

1. Does your to-do list have you worried about measuring up? When we refuse to believe that we must present a certain image, serenity and selflessness replace self-focused angst. Let the Holy Spirit tell you who you are in Christ, not your accomplishments or lack thereof.
2. Admit the futility of fretting. We cannot solve tomorrow’s problems today. Extend your arms, palms up. Imagine lifting your soul to God and surrendering your future to Him. 
3. Remember God’s past faithfulness. Recall a time when God came through for you. He will be faithful again.
4. Try to gain an understanding of the purpose of suffering. You are where you need to be to become who God designed you to be. He uses suffering to conform us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:28-29). Recognize the fruit of suffering is hope and God’s love confirms this hope (Romans 5:3-5). Suffering tests our faith and proves it genuine, strengthening us (1 Peter 1: 6-7).
5. Make time to refresh your soul in God’s presence. He is delighted by your desire to be with Him. Some options are to watch the sunrise and appreciate that He brings it every morning. Take a prayer walk. Put on worship music and dance or sing. Write Jesus a thank you note, or summarize Bible verses in your own words. 
6. Finally, place your problems on a timeline. Redemption is near. It may be tomorrow or many tomorrows from now, but in the scope of time, our troubles are light and momentary. 

Our Christmas experience hinges on who or what we depend on. Faith in Jesus is the foundation of a life well-lived. When we catch ourselves head down in discouragement, we can lift our eyes to Jesus, the perfector of our faith, and remember redemption is near.

Faith: Bethlehem Candle (Purple)

The second candle of Advent is called the Bethlehem candle, and it represents preparation for the coming Messiah. As Mary and Joseph traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem, they possessed great faith in what was to come.

Prayer to say when lighting the candle

God, thank you for being a God who is all goodness. Your nature and Your plan are good—as evidenced by Your gift to us—Your own Son, Jesus. As we light today’s candle, we affirm our faith in You, Heavenly Father, and offer you our trust amidst all the challenges of this world. Strengthen our faith as we wait for Jesus’ coming. Help us to let go of our own plans, and unabashedly embrace Yours.

Amen.

Scripture:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Prayer Meditation:
Father, thank you that we trust in you. Help us to trust you more and more. When life gets hard, and difficulties abound, when we are tired and have lost patience and hope, enable us to lean not on our own understanding or evaluation of the situation but to lean into who you are. This is a busy and often chaotic time of year, Lord.  We want to trust in you and walk with you throughout our days, knowing that we are on the path you have for us. You are a God rich in mercy and steadfast in love. You have the power to make us new. Make our hearts to trust in you and you alone. In all our ways, whether alone or in company, when we are walking, sitting, working, serving, playing, praying, and just being, may we seek you out and acknowledge you and confess your goodness. Thank you for making our way straight as we trust in you and your word. Amen.

Scripture:
“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

Prayer Meditation:
Father in heaven, it is tough to be still. Why is it so uncomfortable to just sit still? Whether we are waiting on good news like the birth of a grandchild or on more heavy news like will my son be deployed, the feeling of not knowing and waiting can be excruciating. How long, Lord, must we wait and be still before you? How do we wait? Do you perhaps have something to teach us in the stillness of waiting? Help us to see, Lord, that inactivity itself is beneficial to us. Fill us with hope and peace, and enable us to fully rest in your presence. Help us to carve out time to be still during this holiday season. Our faith grows as we wait on you, and we are training ourselves to be submissive to your will. Our expectancy will turn to understanding when the waiting is over, and we will praise your name and give you thanks in all my circumstances so that everyone will hear of your faithfulness and your name will be exalted. Amen.

Make & Share Christmas Cookies

The weeks leading up to Christmas are the perfect time to invite friends over for some cookie baking or simply do it yourself and share them with your neighbors. Check out this recipe for delicious sugar cookies. Buy some cellophane bags like these and wrap them with festive ribbon to hand out to friends, colleagues and neighbors.