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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 16: Zechariah’s Praise
Take a deep breath. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts through today’s reflection.
Zechariah’s neighbors witnessed a miracle: he spoke after nine months of silence. And when God opened Zechariah’s mouth, this priest declared a resounding message: God fulfills his promises.
Zechariah’s praise declared God’s promise to Abraham—that through his family all the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:1–3).
His praise declared God’s later promise to King David (which partially fulfills God’s promise to Abraham). God told David that there would be a king from his family who would reign forever (2 Sam. 7).
His praise declared that the Lord was bringing salvation, light and peace. Oh, we need his salvation, light and peace, don’t we?
His praise also announced the purpose of his son, John, a prophet of the Most High, “to prepare the way for Him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.”
Friend, Christmas is so much more than sparkling lights and hot cocoa by a warm fire. It’s enormously more than pretty boxes with name tags under a tree. It’s cosmic.
Christmas is about God coming to earth as Christ to redeem the world—the plan for thousands of years, unwrapped in the perfect time.
So, let’s not get hung up on what we have (or don’t have) this Christmas. We have more than everything we need, we have Immanuel, God with us.
Read: Hear from God
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a horn[a] of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—
to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you 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,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel (Luke 1:67-80).
Reflect: Focus on God
Take a moment to re-read the Scripture above, pausing to thank God for the truth it speaks.
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 Jesus. This Christmas I become anxious and stressed about all the things to do and what I don’t have. I’m sorry. God, I need you—just as much as I need you for my salvation. I need you for peace, guidance and provision. Please help me, God, to draw near to you rather than just getting through. 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.
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