(By Rachel Joyce)
“O come, let us adore Him. O come, let us adore Him. O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!”
Focused on emptying the dishwasher and stacking the clean plates in the cupboard, I was hardly aware these words were going through my head until suddenly I realized that I was singing them. And this made me smile, not just because Christmas was nearly here, but also because it felt so right for adoring Him to be part of what was going on in my subconscious, even while I was engaged in mundane tasks.
My “one word” for this year, the word that God led me to choose as my “theme” word, has been adore. (https://www.livinglovedtoday.com/post/my-one-word) It was the word I started 2021 with and it’s the word I have sought to keep at the forefront throughout the year. I cannot say that I have learned any new or profound truths about adoring Jesus, but it has been a good focus for my soul. And since worshiping Him is what we’ll be doing for all eternity, it’s good to get into the steady rhythm of it now.
Heavenly rhythms for earthly living.
And the lines of the first verse flooded my mind again, “O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!”
I’ll come, Lord. I’ll come. I want to be here, adoring You in Your presence, where everything else pales in the light of Your beauty and glory, where the joy of Your closeness eases the ache of everyday living, where the triumph of Your resurrection gives me hope to keep going. Minute by minute.
Help me to be faithful, Lord. Joy slips away so easily. And the sadness of life crowds in.
We’ve taken some hits this year; some on our prayer list have lost the fight to cancer: a young mom whose grieving parents, husband, and little ones desperately need You, several older moms who have left behind so many mourning their passing. Others are still battling bravely, striving to stay strong despite depleted energy and the ravages caused by treatments. Mental health issues, accidents, disease, death — so many are hurting.
Jesus, beloved Son of the Father, You endured the agony of the cross and know full well the sting of suffering, yet in Your presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). Fill us with Your joy, even in the midst of our sorrow.
Light of light, shine the light of Your truth in our hearts, that we might see You more clearly, adore You more devotedly.
Word of the Father, forever faithful and true to us, help us to be faithful and true to You. Help us to live triumphantly through You.
This Christmas, may we come and behold Him. May we come and adore Him.
O Come, All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the King of Angels:
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.
God of God, light of light,
Lo, he abhors not the Virgin's womb;
Very God, begotten, not created:
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above!
Glory to God, glory in the highest:
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord
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