Be merry not snappy

Christmas is fast approaching and the world is split yet again into the merry and the grinches. I used to be a bit of a grinch when it came to Christmas but slowly, layer by layer, year by year I am moving deeper into the merry side of things. It all boils down to choice. We get to choose what we focus on at Christmas. We can get caught up in who do I have for secret Santa or better yet, who has me for secret Santa? What should we eat on Christmas day? Do we do a big meal on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Where are we going, family vacation or staycation? So many things to keep us busy and we have not even factored in the craziness at work at the end of the year!

It is easy to get so sucked into the Christmas rush that we end up being exhausted, frustrated, impatient, less merry and more snappy. But if we choose instead to remember the real reason for Christmas, we can’t help but be grateful for the wonderful gift that we have in Jesus.

Isaiah 46:10 says, “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure’”. God knows the end from the beginning. Meaning before something even starts God already knows how it will end. This is why the heaven’s rejoiced when Jesus was born. At the birth of Jesus, the earth saw a baby but the heavens saw the finished work of Jesus. The birth of Jesus looked pretty ordinary (if not underwhelming, Mary gave birth in a barn!). However, from heaven the birth of Jesus marked the beginning of the end of the devil’s reign on earth.

The official countdown to the crushing of the serpent’s head prophesied in Genesis 3:15 began. This was an exciting time. Christmas is an exciting time. It reminds us that much like the rule of Satan, whatever oppression, sickness, sadness we may be facing now has an end date.  Christmas reminds us that God does significant things in ordinary ways. Jesus could have stepped down from heaven a grown man, He is God, but He chose to be born like an ordinary baby.

Christmas is a reminder that even when things look insignificant, God is at work. Even as things are beginning God knows the end and for all of us who believe we know that the end is going to be good! We have victory over every work of the enemy in Jesus Name! We are more than conquerors, we are overcomers, we are victorious! We have been given authority to trample of Satan’s kingdom, to trample every demon before us and overcome every power Satan possesses. Nothing can harm us as we walk in the authority Jesus has given us, see Luke 10:18-20.

This all began with a baby in a manger. We have more than enough reasons to celebrate our Jesus at Christmas. The gifts or food or holiday plans that may be stressing us out should fade into the background as we joyfully life up the One who gave it all for us. The greatest gift ever given to mankind, our mighty, victorious, warrior King Jesus.

You and I have a reason to be merry this Christmas!

Love and blessings,

Melissa Tsingano.