The Twenty-Fourth Day of Advent

[Prayer-Soldier]

“On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, He will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals. I will remove disaster from among you, so that none may recount your disgrace. Yes, at that time I will deal with all who oppress you; I will save the lame, and assemble the outcasts; I will give them praise and renown in all the earth, when I bring about their restoration.� (Zephania 3:16-19)

The promise of the Lord is salvation; salvation offered through His love for His people. Through His mercy, the disgrace of the sin of His flock shall be removed. What troubles His children have known will vanish and the Lord will rejoice when His children turn to Him.

What greater news could we be told than our Savior will rejoice over us with gladness. The prophecy for Jerusalem would become the prophecy for all of the children of God, for salvation became the promise of God for all who should believe in His only begotten son. Through the sacrifice He made for us on the cross, our disgrace of sin was forgiven. On the day we approach heaven with Jesus in our hearts, there will be none, not even the evil one, who may oppress us for the remainder of eternity.

“When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant (John) leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.� (Luke 1:41-45)

What would we do if the mother of God came to visit us? Would we be able to tell by looking at her the blessings of her womb? Would we rejoice with her that in Her womb was the Word made flesh? Elizabeth, also with child, the one who would prepare the way for the Lord, knew through the holy Spirit that her Lord was within Mary. His presence was also felt by the son of Elizabeth, the child to be named John, the voice who would cry out in the desert of the coming of the Lord.

The joy Elizabeth knew may also be ours, for what she knew she felt through the holy Spirit. In prayer, we may also ask to be filled with the blessings of the holy Spirit. Through the holy Spirit, we will come to understand the love and blessings of our Lord. Let us offer in prayer our thanks and praise for the birth and blessings of our Lord and Savior.

May the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier