Abba, a blanket of snow and chill winds are evidence of the wintry season, a time when death descends on this part of the world. Wintry cold is offset by the promise of Springtime, that there will be renewal of the earth, warming by the Sun’s rays.
My heart feels a kind of chill as I see the struggle with sin and death that is all around. Men crazed by hatred kill. Politicians drunk with power and puffed up with pride threaten the poor and the weak and send armies that lay waste to cities and people’s livelihoods. Mighty angels of Heaven do battle with the demons of Hell. Spirit of God, turn their hearts to life.
And yes, Abba, I confess that I, too, am tempted by my own weaknesses to abandon the warmth of Your great care to chase my own whims. I trust the seal of the Spirit that keeps me close to Your heart.
Father, I pray the words of Ezekiel, asking that our love for You will be renewed by the winds of the Spirit blowing over us. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” (36:25)
This Advent renews our hope in the Savior Who came to bring life and in the King who will come to reign in peace. Oh, the wonder of it all.
In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
