There’s no denying that we’re engaged in spiritual battles every day and, as Christians, we often feel the effects of the enemy’s attacks. However, God will never leave us and we’re not fighting the battles alone. He has armed us with a number of spiritual weapons, and prayer is one of the most powerful weapons we have. Prayer is our battle cry. When we stand together recognizing Jesus as Lord, the gates of hell will not prevail against us. It is to God that we run for protection and power to advance His kingdom. God does not fail us.

There’s no denying that we’re engaged in spiritual battles every day and, as Christians, we often feel the effects of the enemy’s attacks. However, God will never leave us and we’re not fighting the battles alone. He has armed us with a number of spiritual weapons, and prayer is one of the most powerful weapons we have. Prayer is our battle cry. When we stand together recognizing Jesus as Lord, the gates of hell will not prevail against us. It is to God that we run for protection and power to advance His kingdom. God does not fail us.

“Come to Me, take up My yoke” is a call for stressed and strained souls to find rest in God alone. Jesus calls us to become yoked with Him instead of all the other things we find ourselves burdened with in our daily lives. When two animals are yoked together, their combined strength pulls the load that would have been too much for one animal to pull alone. So it is with Jesus. To take Christ’s yoke upon us is to detach ourselves from the world’s burdens, to obey the gospel of Christ, and to yield ourselves to the Lord. Let that be your 2023 resolution.

“Come to Me, take up My yoke” is a call for stressed and strained souls to find rest in God alone. Jesus calls us to become yoked with Him instead of all the other things we find ourselves burdened with in our daily lives. When two animals are yoked together, their combined strength pulls the load that would have been too much for one animal to pull alone. So it is with Jesus. To take Christ’s yoke upon us is to detach ourselves from the world’s burdens, to obey the gospel of Christ, and to yield ourselves to the Lord. Let that be your 2023 resolution.

As Christians, we celebrate Jesus’ birth not because it was when He was created or came into existence, but because our Savior took human form to redeem us from our sins. It is a time when we rejoice in the truth that God loves us so much that He gave us the ultimate gift in His Son, Jesus Christ. And this amazing gift that we celebrate at Christmas stirs us to move from an almost faith to an altogether faith in the Light of the World. He is indeed our peace, our hope, our joy, and, most importantly, our love.

As Christians, we celebrate Jesus’ birth not because it was when He was created or came into existence, but because our Savior took human form to redeem us from our sins. It is a time when we rejoice in the truth that God loves us so much that He gave us the ultimate gift in His Son, Jesus Christ. And this amazing gift that we celebrate at Christmas stirs us to move from an almost faith to an altogether faith in the Light of the World. He is indeed our peace, our hope, our joy, and, most importantly, our love.

At Christmas, we instinctively know the difference between an “almost joy” and an “altogether joy.” An “almost joy” is the happiness we find in decorations, sharing cookies, and unwrapping presents. But we all know that true joy is something that can blossom alongside frivolity and happiness, or it can flourish alongside sadness and even deep sorrow. Joy is what came at Christmas—the steadfast assurance that God is with us. For Wesley, salvation and joy go hand in hand. Joy comes from knowing that God is near and salvation is offered to all. Altogether joy is a gift— it comes from an encounter with God’s mercy, which is freely given to every sinner.

At Christmas, we instinctively know the difference between an “almost joy” and an “altogether joy.” An “almost joy” is the happiness we find in decorations, sharing cookies, and unwrapping presents. But we all know that true joy is something that can blossom alongside frivolity and happiness, or it can flourish alongside sadness and even deep sorrow. Joy is what came at Christmas—the steadfast assurance that God is with us. For Wesley, salvation and joy go hand in hand. Joy comes from knowing that God is near and salvation is offered to all. Altogether joy is a gift— it comes from an encounter with God’s mercy, which is freely given to every sinner.

The primary attribute of God’s character is love. He demonstrated his love for us by coming to this earth to give Himself for us. God loves us no matter who we are or what we have done. We are called to respond to God’s love by loving God with all our heart and by loving others. An altogether love runs deep. It is not shown out of obligation like an almost love. It’s the risky kind of love requiring hope, and at times, even seems irrational. Advent invites us to enter into a season of honest reflection and consider what it means to bring our whole selves to God in love and to give ourselves in love for the well-being of others.

The primary attribute of God’s character is love. He demonstrated his love for us by coming to this earth to give Himself for us. God loves us no matter who we are or what we have done. We are called to respond to God’s love by loving God with all our heart and by loving others. An altogether love runs deep. It is not shown out of obligation like an almost love. It’s the risky kind of love requiring hope, and at times, even seems irrational. Advent invites us to enter into a season of honest reflection and consider what it means to bring our whole selves to God in love and to give ourselves in love for the well-being of others.