22nd - 28th December 2025
OUR WORLD OF CHOICE
Researchers have estimated that a person makes approximately 2000 decisions an hour, conscious or subconscious, ranging from the insignificant to major life decisions.
What a lot of choices to deal with every day! Many of us have just spent weeks deciding what gifts to buy for family and friends, exhausting, time consuming and expensive! But some choices are much more important, so much can depend on the right choice – for example, friends, career, spouse, even the words we say or the food we eat!
Many years ago a Christian artist recorded a CD called Indecision Kills. Those two words often come to my mind, especially when trying to decide on something, however mundane! But of course he had in mind the more serious decisions in this life which have eternal ramifications!
I have recently read a very thought provoking book, the autobiography of Ayaan Hirsi Ali. She made the most important choice of her life. She was born and raised a Muslim in Somalia, escaped to Holland and some years later moved to America. During this time she gave up all faith and became an atheist. But being in a very unhappy state of mind, her psychiatrist suggested she was spiritually bereft and perhaps should find a ‘god’ to pray to! She asked her what she would want that god to be like and the doctor (not a believer) replied that she seemed to be describing the Christian God. Ayaan, with nothing more to lose, looked into Christianity and, in her words, she ‘chose to believe’.
This is the season we will read again and sing about the people who chose to believe that the baby born in Bethlehem was God’s precious Son, the long awaited for Messiah. Many were on the spot witnesses and their experiences are recorded for us … one account by Dr Luke, who wanted to make his own investigations into all that happened. Most of us know the stories by heart but this time, as you are reminded afresh, think with me how they ‘chose to believe’. I wonder did they have to listen to criticism and even mockery from well meaning family and friends. Did Mary’s family really believe she had seen an angel? Was Joseph not advised to end the betrothal quietly? How could an old woman like Elizabeth have a baby? How did Simeon and Anna recognise the Messiah? We could imagine questions for all the witnesses. Yet they stood firm and believed. May we stand firm also.
Written by Heather Lennox
MONDAY
Mary
One generation commends your works to another. They tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendour of your majesty. And I will meditate on your wonderful works. Psalm 145:4-5
Mary was visited by an angel who told her she would be the mother of God’s Son. She asked questions but her heart was ready to choose to believe. The wonderful acts of Almighty God had been told to her as to generations before her. She had learned to think about and rejoice in God who had done such wonderful things and had promised to do even more - to send his Son. The angel explained to her what would happen and ended his message with these words, ‘for no word from God will ever fail’. Her reply, ‘I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.’
Heavenly Father, I want to think today what a wonderful, loving and mighty God you are. I am thankful for those who taught me from childhood the Bible stories of your mighty acts and the events surrounding the birth of your Son. How wonderful to know that your word is true and will never fail. May what I read and sing this week, when we especially remember your Son coming to this world, fill my heart with joy and thoughts with understanding. Amen.
TUESDAY
Joseph
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14
Joseph had a problem. He was betrothed to Mary, whom he loved and would have had no reason not to trust her word. But it could not possibly be true, could it? He decided he had to be faithful to the law, which he knew by heart, and end their relationship. But did he not recall the word in Isaiah about the sign? God reminded him in a dream of the scripture he had forgotten and Joseph chose to believe. Mary was his betrothed and would be his wife.
Heavenly Father, what a privilege to read your word and know you had a plan from the beginning of time to fix this broken world. Perhaps Joseph found it hard to initially believe that this wonderful promise of the coming of Messiah was going to be fulfilled before his very eyes. But he did and he acted on it. I thank you for your wonderful promises of salvation from sin and the gift of eternal life through your Son and all I have to do is to believe. May my life today show that I love and follow you. Amen.
WEDNESDAY
Elizabeth
Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promise to her. Luke 1:45
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
Elizabeth was old and well passed normal child bearing age. So the timing of the pregnancy of her and Zachariah’s son was a miracle in its own right. They are described as a righteous and blameless couple in God’s sight - but not perfect, as we especially see from Zachariah’s reaction at the angel visit. Doubts rose to the surface, he was still learning. I’m sure Elizabeth was too. Her name comes from the Hebrew Elisheva and means God’s promise. I wonder if the words she spoke in verse 45 were about Mary, herself - or both?
Lord Jesus, help me to remember that in all circumstances your timing is perfect. I so often am impatient, even doubting that answers to prayers and questions will become clear. I can’t even begin to fathom all the things you have done in my life so far and continue to do. Whenever I can’t see the way ahead, help me to trust again that you have this. Amen.
THURSDAY
The shepherds
… and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:18-19
“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29
The angel came again with a message, this time to poor ordinary shepherds doing their night’s work. A quiet normal night on the hills was interrupted by a talking being. I can imagine them clutching each other in fear and asking, “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” And for these chosen shepherds, one angel was followed by a huge choir of angels. No doubting now what they all experienced. Their next words were ‘Let us go and see’. The signpost was a baby in a manger! They visited, they spread the word about who Jesus was and they returned to their sheep. And they praised and glorified God for all.
Father God, I give you praise and thanks with all my heart for the birth of your precious Son. Thank you for accounts faithfully written of witnesses like the shepherds who were there to see the baby exactly at the time and in the way you had declared. They saw and heard your choir of angels, they saw your Son with their own eyes and were changed to worshippers of you. My eyes have not seen as theirs did so help me to ponder and treasure all these things in my heart. And you have promised that those who have not physically seen you but chose to believe will be blessed. I believe and praise you. Amen.
FRIDAY
Simeon
"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord" Lamentations 22:26
It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Psalm 27:14
Simeon was waiting. In fact he had spent his whole life waiting and trusting the Lord’s promise that he would see the ‘consolation of Israel’, the Messiah. These two lines of a favourite carol come to mind as I think of Simeon … ‘The hopes and fears of all the years, Are met in thee tonight.’ For us, Messiah has been born, died and risen again so we are not waiting for a way of salvation, we believe all has been accomplished. But we are waiting too - one day his promise to us will be fulfilled and we will see him face to face. How are we waiting?
Dear Lord Jesus, I bring my hopes and fears to you this day and leave them there. There seems to be so much rushing in a day, but a lot of waiting too - in queues, for answers, for people, for results. Help me to take heart and to be strong today, to wait well whatever is happening. Thank you that I don’t wait alone but that the Holy Spirit, Comforter and Helper, is with me every minute of the day and night. Amen.
SATURDAY
Anna
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; Isaiah 11:1-2
Zachariah, Elizabeth, Simeon and now Anna, all very well along in years and God still had a vital role for them in assuring a young Mary, and Joseph too, that this little baby was indeed the long awaited Messiah, God’s Son. Anna was a widow who been married for only seven years and from then served the Lord in the temple. She knew the Old Testament prophesies, believed the Redeemer would come and at the age of 84 she recognised him. ‘Here is the one I’ve been telling you about for years’, she proclaimed to all around her. Perhaps some thought that these were just the ramblings of an old woman but Mary knew better.
Father God, such love and understanding you show in knowing that Mary would need assurance and confirmation from someone like Anna that Jesus was the Messiah. Thank you for the people you bring into my life who with their words bring encouragement and reminders of the promises you have given. As I read your word, help me to learn and remember what your word actually says and, like Anna, I give thanks to you and declare confidently that Jesus is your Son and Messiah. Amen.
SUNDAY
The Wise Men
And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. Genesis 1:14-15
They were wealthy men of influence, maybe even kings, clever, searching for truth and loved to study the night skies. God spoke to them in the language they understood for he sent a sign in the sky and they chose to follow it. Being important foreign dignitaries they visited King Herod to explain the reason for their travels. And Herod was disturbed, a king born who might usurp him! He knew about this King long awaited, he had read the scriptures - and he chose to reject him! The wise men accepted the direction of the Scriptures and went on their way. They rejoiced to follow the star again to a house in Bethlehem. And when they found the child they chose to worship him.
Father God, thank you for the wonder of your creation which declares your majesty and might. Your creation is a sign that leads me to you, Almighty God and Creator of all things and all people. A sign in your creation led those kings of old to your Son and you also put in their hearts that he was and is Redeemer and Saviour of the world. My heart is full of thankfulness today and I choose to worship Jesus, my Saviour and Lord. Amen.