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The Stockings Are Hung

In effort to focus on the true meaning of Christmas, I got to thinking about things that have been implemented over the years to celebrate the season. One of my favorites is stockings. I remember as a little girl going to my Grandmother's house and being so excited over the unexpected treasures that I would find in my stocking. These weren’t necessarily things that I asked for. They were just small little trinkets. The stockings we have now are very special. A dear friend of ours stitched them out of a pair of Lyndon‘s old jeans. 

As I thought about stockings, I began thinking about what stockings represent. Stockings represent expectancy. The first Christmas, the Jewish people were expecting some they didn’t know what to expect. They prayed for a king and hoped for a warrior that would come in and redeem them from the oppression of the Roman occupation. Little did they know that a young girl would give birth to a tiny baby boy in a stable. This certainly wasn’t exactly the miracle they were hoping for. God likes surprising us with unexpected miracles sometimes. 

Going a step further, God didn’t announce the birth of his Son in the temple or even to the entire Jewish region. He went to a field where shepherds were watching their sheep. The shepherds probably had heard the stories of a savior but likely were so poor they probably didn’t know much about the prophecies. Yet, they were the first to know. Outside of Mary and Joseph the shepherds were the first to  see the Savior of the world. They were the first to see God in human form as a small baby. 

What are you expecting this holiday season? Are you expecting that high-tech new gadget that everyone has to have? Are you expecting the perfect family gathering that just can’t go wrong (I hate to break it to you but if you’re expecting perfection, you probably won’t get it)? Are you expecting a miracle? I believe with all my heart that God is still in the miracle business. Miracles didn’t stop when Jesus left the earth. We have miracles all around us every day. God sees your heart and knows the miracle that you’re expecting. So hang your spiritual stocking with expectancy and it will be filled with wonderful, and often unexpected, treasures.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. (Psalm 62:5)


Prayer of Expectancy:

Father, I thank you that you are a God of surprises. As we go through the season, help me to expect great things from you. I praise you, Jesus, because you didn't come for specific people; you came for everyone in the most unexpected way. Give me eyes to see every little miracle in my daily life, and meet the desires of my heart as only you can. In Jesus' name, amen.


© Jill Cook and Unbroken & Undone Ministries.  All rights reserved.

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