Tune Your Heart to Worship

In our family, Christmas is a holy day, and it begins for us on Christmas Eve.  We take a break from silly Christmas comedies and watch “The Nativity”.  I put on more specific songs than the generic Christmas station.  We attend any family gatherings we’re invited to.  We have a special restaurant we like to eat at, if we’re able to get a table and if we can afford it (some years we can’t) and we go to Canyon Road here in Santa Fe, where it feels like the whole city bundles up and comes together as a community to celebrate Christmas.  There’s something special about Christmas Eve that helps turn our hearts to worship.  Our traditions have changed over the years, but the Holy Spirit has been faithful to always help us use those traditions to focus our hearts on the wonder of Jesus coming to save us. 

In light of that desire to focus our hearts on worship, today I am going to let my words be few and simply share some of my favorite verses with you that cause me to marvel at what the Lord has done for me, that He has also done for you.  I hope you will take the time to read through them, and add to them, either alone or with your family and join me in praising God today for the wonderful gift of Jesus Christ!

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me. (Psalm 13:5–6)

 “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. (Isaiah 43:25)

For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. (Isaiah 54:10)

For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth—the LORD, the God of hosts, is his name! (Amos 4:13)

One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). (John 1:40–41)

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.  He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Hebrews 1:1–3)

The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” (John 4:25–26)

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”  And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”  He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13–16)

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:12–13)