Becky Crenshaw

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that I will seek, inquire for and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His Presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider and inquire in His temple.  Psalm 27:4 AMP

This advent I am overcome by the simplicity of Christmas.  The humble state of Christ’s coming.

Two people in a barn. With a baby.  In Bethlehem.

Simple. Uncomplicated.

But the contrast of what Christmas has become today, in my “barn” is far from simplistic. And this makes my heart sad.  The money I spend and the schedule I keep to make Christmas “Christmas”, is not necessarily Christmas, at all.  Unintentionally, I have debauched the stillness and wonder with busy and frazzle.

And I promise THIS IS unintentional.

Did you noticed that King David “insistently requires” ONE THING in Psalm 27?  Doesn’t that seem funny to you?  To insist of God? It appears a bit disrespectful to me … to INSIST anything of God. Geez.

But today I have a different perspective.  I don’t think that is it.

I believe David is insisting something, not of God, but of himself.  David is making sure all faculties of himself are on board…. HE WILL SEEK THE LORD AND DWELL IN HIS PRESENCE.  It is declaration. An intentional decision to make his main thing THE MAIN THING — beholding, gazing, meditating, considering, and inquiring of God all the days of his life.

It’s as if his is telling himself, “this is what we are going to do.”  And he insists upon it.

And that is what it takes.  A very intentional, mindful, purposed stance to keep our main the THE MAIN THING — Jesus.  And keep Christmas, Christmas.

So today I insistently require the same of myself.  This season.  To simply dwell in His Presence this Christmas.  Embracing the Emmanuel.  Simple and uncomplicated.

Beholding the baby born in a barn. In Bethlehem….  All the days of my life.

Lord, I love you.  I pray my heart will be intentional on seeking You this Christmas.  Making MUCH of Your birth and the purpose of Your coming — to save me.  I am so thankful.  I delight in You this morning, God.  I am purposed to make this Christmas  a celebration of the simple Gospel.  A Savior coming to rescue us all.  Praise You, Lord!  In Jesus Name, Amen.