What is the biggest news you have ever received? Do you remember how your heartbeat accelerated with excitement and joyful anticipation? Perhaps you even leaped for joy or did a happy dance and were eager to tell everybody about your big news.
Here is a sneak peek of my Luke 1 devotional for Beholding Advent at Free – Rachel K. Adams.
Singing in Joyful Anticipation
Similarly, the evangelist Luke begins his story with a chorus of rejoicing. He sets the stage of joyful anticipation full of angels’ messages and songs of praise. Something is about to happen on the planet Earth: something so grand and exceptional that it will split human history in two.
The joyful anticipation starts with two angels announcing news of upcoming births. First, an angel announces to the priest Zechariah the birth of his son John the Baptist, who “will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:17)
Then the angel Gabriel proclaims to Mary the incredible news that she will give birth to Jesus, who “will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High and whose kingdom will never end”. (Luke 1:32-33)
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Joyful Response to the Wonderful News
After Mary recovers from the shock of seeing the angel, she starts singing a beautiful hymn of praise and thanksgiving. She praises God as the mighty One who has done great things for her. (Luke 1:49)
The old priest Zechariah puts an end to his nine months of silence, also with a song bursting from his heart, prompted by the Holy Spirit. He prophesies about the ministry of his son who “will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins”. (Luke 1:76-77)
Even the John the Baptist, still in his mother’s womb, leaps for joy when he hears the voice of Mary, the mother of the Lord. (Luke 1:41, 44)
Advent – the Season of Preparation of Our Hearts
Do you also leap for joy, friend? Is your heart full of excitement and awe? Advent is the season when we can prepare our hearts to join this happy chorus of rejoicing, praise, and anticipation.
We do this when we open our hearts again to the great wonder of Jesus’ birth. In the hustle and bustle, we need to stop and heed the angelic message.
Download the free 24-day Advent Devotional “Beholding Advent” to read the rest of the article and the rest 23 devotionals, each day corresponding to a chapter in the Gospel of Luke at Free – Rachael K. Adams.
More Resources to Prepare Our Hearts for Christmas
If you need more resources to prepare your heart for Christmas, I can highly recommend these books from beloved Christian authors. Check them out.
Christmas with Jesus: 25 Devotions for December by Heather Hart and contributing authors. I am happy to be one of them!
Because of Bethlehem: Love Is Born, Hope Is Here by Max Lucado
Christmas Stories: Heartwarming Classics of Angels, a Manger, and the Birth of Hope by Max Lucado
In the Manger: 25 Inspirational Selections for Advent by Max Lucado
Jesus Calling for Christmas, Padded Hardcover, with full Scriptures by Sarah Young
Jesus Listens: Daily Devotional Prayers of Peace, Joy, and Hope by Sarah Young
Bring On The Merry: 25 Days of Great Joy for Christmas by Candace Cameron Bure
Simply Christmas: A Busy Mom’s Guide to Reclaiming the Peace of the Holidays: A Devotional by Tama Fortner
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My Video Interview with Rachael Adams
Watch my video interview with Rachael Adams to learn more about me, my Christmas traditions, what brings me joy, and more about my devotion on Luke 1.
Your Turn
How can you express today your joyful anticipation of celebrating the birth of Christ? Share in the comments. If you have found this post helpful, please share it on social media. Thanks!
Advent is the season when we can prepare our hearts to join this happy chorus of rejoicing, praise, and anticipation. #Advent #Christmas #Biblestudy Share on XI send my newsletter “Keep the Faith” every two weeks. I share with you first the newest blog post, recommended books and articles, and the newest freebies and resources to keep the faith.
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So beautiful. When I think about Jesus and Christmas I do leap for joy. It is so exciting!
Thanks, Deborah! Praying Christmas blessings over you!
How do I speak to you regarding permission to use excerpts from your article on relationship with God? I do ministry at our state Women’s Prison and our local Alternatives drug re-Hab program.
It would be a wonderful addition to our February program.
Thanks
Linda Wood
Thanks for the inquiry, Linda! I am glad that you consider my article suitable to be used in your program. I will send you an e-mail. Blessings to you!
It is easy to forget the true meaning of Christmas in the material world we live in! Beyond commercialism and often excessive consumerism, there is a way deeper meaning to our major holidays and a reason why we celebrated them for so long. Thanks for reminding us!
Thanks so much, Mihaela! Yes, you are right – there is a deeper meaning to Christmas and it is good to focus on that. Christmas blessings to you!
Thank you for reminding that Christmas is so much more than the commercial side of it. May this season of anticipation bring lots of joy your way!
Thanks so much, Joanna! Christmas blessings to you too!
Sometimes in the busy days of the holiday season I forget to prepare my heart for Christmas. Thank you for your post about singing in anticipation during Advent. I appreciate it.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Lisa! Yes, you often tend to forget our hearts on these busy days. Christmas blessings to you!
I agree. Joyful singing is so important.
Thanks for your comment, Betty! Christmas blessings to you!
I wish I could get some joyful anticipation for Christmas happening around here in my household! When we were young we use to go Carol singing each year and that really made you feel the true spirit of Christmas. These days it seems more difficult and so commercialized. PS I can’t find your video with Rachael Adams about what brings you joy. It just takes me to a group FB page??
Thanks for sharing, Lee! Yes, I can understand that it is not easy to get into joyful anticipation for Christmas when there is so much to do. But Carol singing is a great tradition, perhaps you can do it again this year? The video is right there when you scroll down the posts in the FB group.