Focus

Experience silence in the midst of your busy day. Take some time to relax into a time to be with God.

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Read

Luke 2:1-14 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

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Reflect

Does your phone ring a lot? Mine does. Most of the time it is the same people calling me and I usually know what they are calling about. However, every now and then, I get a phone call and the person on the other end says something like “don’t panic” and proceeds to tell me something that makes me at least panic on the instead even if I don’t on the outside. I usually say okay, let them tell me what is going on, and we proceed as needed.

The shepherds were out tending to their flock, in the dark, when someone appears to them and says “don’t be afraid”. Of course, they were afraid! It was dark, they were in charge of all of these sheep, and some stranger appeared to them. Then the shepherds hear the words, “I bring good news”. Part of the reason I panic when someone calls and says don’t is because a rush of emotions comes over me as my memory draws me back into bad things that have happened. I wonder what I am missing when I do that?

What are we all missing out when we look for the worst instead of the best? Let us look at this scripture as a reminder to look for the best in all scary things. To say what is God doing with this instead of panicking.

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Pray

God who created all things, remind me to put away the bad and look for the good. To think about what are You doing in this moment with me instead of letting my emotions get the best of me. Instead, lead me to a place where you get the best of me. Amen.

Go with God!