Listen to this article
An Advent Devotional Study from Caring.
Christmastime can carry many mixed emotions—and lots of stress. But this year will be different.
Reserve five minutes a day to read the daily devotional entry in this series and journey through the Christmas season with peace, perspective and hope.
This “Hope and a Future: Advent Devotional Study” will guide you through the month of December to ponder afresh the story of the Bible with Jesus’ birth as the focus. Find daily a reflection, highlighted Scripture, meaningful questions and a prompt for prayer.
Connect with God this Christmas season and experience hope for the future.
December 15: His Name is John
Take a deep breath. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts through today’s reflection.
How is God working on your heart this Christmas?
God used nine months to work on Zechariah’s heart when he couldn’t speak. Not. A. Word. God’s power silenced his vocal cords from the moment he doubted God’s words through the angel (Luke 1:11–20)—to the moment he scribbled four simple words: His Name is John.
Then, whoosh! Like an instant windstorm that blows open shut doors, God blasted open Zechariah’s vocal box—and what did he declare first?
He praised God.
Zechariah went from doubting to praising through the difficult season of speechlessness and witnessing God’s miraculous work in having a child in his old age.
Sometimes we see the moment of healing, freedom or provision in someone’s life—like Zechariah and Elizabeth’s neighbors witnessing his burst of words. But let’s remember, God is at work in the process too. God’s faithfulness was with Zechariah every speechless day just as much as the day Elizabeth labored and birthed John—and the day of John’s circumcision (a religious Jewish rite).
If it took Zechariah more than nine months for God to prepare his heart to speak, we can be sure he is preparing our hearts for his purposes in time too—if we are yielding to him.
Read: Hear from God
On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.
All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him (Luke 1:59-66).
Reflect: Focus on God
How is God at work in your heart this Christmas, beyond what others can see?
Pray: Talk to God
Talk to God about your reflections above. If you would like a sample prayer, here is one to follow:
Father, God, thank you for your power to work in my heart. Forgive me for the times I doubt your faithfulness. I ask for your Spirit to change my heart in all the ways it needs changed. I don’t want to have any parts of my heart like stone. Come, Lord, come. Amen.
Do Good:
- Looking for a meaningful way to prepare your family for Christmas? Try our new, classic downloadable Advent Paper Chain. For 25 days, reflect on the love we receive from God and give to others during the holiday season.
- Join us in making a difference with The Salvation Army this season and help families in your community during the holidays and beyond.
Download this page as a PDF
