Advent 14 - Just Relax
DAY 14 - Just Relax
Read Luke 1:34-38
How do we overcome our fear so we can experience joy?
Look again at Mary’s response to Gabriel. Early Christians revered Mary of Nazareth as Mary, Mother of God. But we also lift her up as the model disciple of her son: “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”
Something changes in her between v.28 and v.38. Mary says, “I want what God wants!” Please not: God’s plan isn’t forced on her. Mary is not a puppet. She freely cooperates in God’s plan of salvation. Paradoxically, she actively chooses to be passive. Mary yields. She lets God’s gift of joy wash over her. Mary learns to rest in the joy that’s already hers.
Sometimes I’m better at making it harder for others to be joyful. Other times I fight for joy. I fight to feel it for myself and fight to help others feel it. I work so hard to make everyone feel joy, as if it all depends on my ability to host a good dinner, buy the right gift, or create the right experience in worship.
Instead, we can rest. Rest in the joy that’s already yours. Yield to God’s grace freely given. Relax into Jesus. Stop trying so hard to feel joy. It’s not on you to make everyone happy, not even you.
What does that look like to rest in joy that’s already yours? Well, what normally happens when you rest? You relax. You let your guard down. You close your eyes. Busy thoughts settle down. You smile easy, maybe even laugh. Learn to rest in the joy that’s already yours.
REFLECT
What does rest look like for you? Imagine what it would look like for you to rest in joy.
PRAY
Almighty God, you have made us and all things to serve you, now prepare the world for your rule.
Come quickly to save us, so that wars and violence shall end, and your children may live in peace, honoring one another with justice and love; through Jesus Christ, who lives in power with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. AMEN.
Read Luke 1:34-38
How do we overcome our fear so we can experience joy?
Look again at Mary’s response to Gabriel. Early Christians revered Mary of Nazareth as Mary, Mother of God. But we also lift her up as the model disciple of her son: “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”
Something changes in her between v.28 and v.38. Mary says, “I want what God wants!” Please not: God’s plan isn’t forced on her. Mary is not a puppet. She freely cooperates in God’s plan of salvation. Paradoxically, she actively chooses to be passive. Mary yields. She lets God’s gift of joy wash over her. Mary learns to rest in the joy that’s already hers.
Sometimes I’m better at making it harder for others to be joyful. Other times I fight for joy. I fight to feel it for myself and fight to help others feel it. I work so hard to make everyone feel joy, as if it all depends on my ability to host a good dinner, buy the right gift, or create the right experience in worship.
Instead, we can rest. Rest in the joy that’s already yours. Yield to God’s grace freely given. Relax into Jesus. Stop trying so hard to feel joy. It’s not on you to make everyone happy, not even you.
What does that look like to rest in joy that’s already yours? Well, what normally happens when you rest? You relax. You let your guard down. You close your eyes. Busy thoughts settle down. You smile easy, maybe even laugh. Learn to rest in the joy that’s already yours.
REFLECT
What does rest look like for you? Imagine what it would look like for you to rest in joy.
PRAY
Almighty God, you have made us and all things to serve you, now prepare the world for your rule.
Come quickly to save us, so that wars and violence shall end, and your children may live in peace, honoring one another with justice and love; through Jesus Christ, who lives in power with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. AMEN.
Posted in Winter 2022
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January
February
The Way DAY 9 - Full of the Holy SpiritThe Way DAY 10 - Defeating Your DefeatersThe Way DAY 11 - The Year of JubileeThe Way DAY 12 - FreedomThe Way DAY 13 - Freedom to LoveThe Way DAY 14 - Ditch "What About Me"The Way DAY 15 - The Way of LoveThe Way DAY 16 - The TeacherThe Way DAY 17 - What is the Kingdom of God?The Way DAY 18 - Trust and ObeyThe Way DAY 19 - Follow MeThe Way DAY 20 - Differences and DisagreementsThe Way DAY 21 - Jesus and Mr. RogersThe Way DAY 22 - Respond Like JesusThe Way DAY 23 - Bend Toward MercyThe Way DAY 24 - Burden or Bless?The Way DAY 25 - BONUS: The TwelveThe Way DAY 26 - Happy?The Way DAY 27 - Excessive GenerosityThe Way DAY 28 - What is Love?The Way DAY 29 - Give What God Gives
March
The Way DAY 30 - Follow the LeaderThe Way DAY 31 - Dinner with a PhariseeThe Way DAY 32 - Don't Be the HeroThe Way DAY 33 - God's GraceThe Way DAY 34 - The Grace You ShowThe Way DAY 35 - Our Sin and Our SaviorThe Way DAY 36 - Jesus and ParablesThe Way DAY 37 - The Farmer and the SeedsThe Way DAY 38 - The Seed and The SoilThe Way DAY 39 - The Good HeartThe Way DAY 40 - Who is Jesus, Pt 1The Way DAY 41 - Who is Jesus, Pt 2The Way DAY 42 - They Saw His GloryThe Way DAY 43 - Your Next StepThe Way DAY 44 - His DevotionThe Way DAY 45 - The Leadership of JesusThe Way DAY 46 - Pick Up Your CrossThe Way DAY 47 - Daily DenialThe Way DAY 48 - Forgive Like Jesus
2023
June
COMING SOON! RevelationRevelation Day 1 - TAKE IT TO HEARTRevelation Day 2 - IN THE SPIRITRevelation Day 3 - Learning to SeeRevelation Day 4 - The VoiceRevelation Day 5 - A Faithful WitnessRevelation DAY 6 - Past, Present, or Future?Revelation Day 7 - PRESS ONRevelation 8 - Comfort and ChallengeRevelation Day 9 - Compromised CommitmentRevelation Day 10 - I'm Fine, ThanksRevelation Day 11 - Holy, Holy, HolyRevelation Day 12 - Who is Worthy?Revelation Day 13 - Don't Give Up!Revelation Day 14 - No ContestRevelation Day 15 - Worship WellRevelation Day 16 - The Problem of EvilRevelation Day 17 - When You Don't Know WhyRevelation Day 18 - The Limits of SufferingRevelation Day 19 - Is God Angry?Revelation Day 20 - Saved Through Suffering
July
Revelation Day 21 - The Cry for JusticeRevelation Day 22 - The Judgments of GodRevelation 23 - They Still Did Not RepentRevelation Day 24 - Don't Curse CorrectionRevelation Day 25 - Search Me, O GodRevelation Day 26 - You Shall ProphesyRevelation Day 27 - Eat This BookRevelation Day 28 - Fight!Revelation 29 - Let the Truth TalkRevelation Day 30 - Worship and WitnessRevelation Day 31 - Our EnemiesRevelation Day 32 - The Enemy's WeaponRevelation Day 33 - The Enemy's FallRevelation Day 34 - Our ChampionRevelation Day 35 - Our BattleRevelation Day 36 - Where the Wild Things AreRevelation Day 37 - The Sea MonsterRevelation Day 38 - The Antichrist?Revelation Day 39 - Ordinary FaithRevelation Day 40 - The Heart of Ordinary FaithRevelation Day 41 - God's Guarantee
August
Revelation Day 42 - The Ugliness of EvilRevelation Day 43 - God's WrathRevelation Day 44 - God's DelightRevelation Day 45 - God's Just-nessRevelation Day 46 - The Wild Woman on a DragonRevelation Day 47 - Why a Wild Woman?Revelation Day 48 - Why is Babylon So Bad?Revelation Day 49 - Get OutRevelation Day 50 - Renew Your VowsRevelation Day 51 - He Shall Come Again