John the Baptist – Preparing the Way - Isa. 40:3-5, Luke 1:17, Jn. 1:19-34
John the Baptist was the miracle baby of Zechariah and Elizabeth (see Day 3). John, like Isaiah, was a prophet.
However, John lived a long time after Isaiah did. By the time John the Baptist arrived, there hadn't been a prophet in Israel for hundreds of years. So you can imagine when the Israelites learned about John, they crowded around him to hear what he said! John told people to prepare their hearts.
"Look," he said as Jesus approached, "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).
The word advent means "coming." The first Christmas was about the coming of Jesus. And John the Baptist announced that Jesus had come! Today, as we celebrate Christmas, we remember to prepare our hearts for the second coming of Jesus, when He will return again to the earth. Nobody knows when He will come, but we do know we can be ready. John the Baptist told the people to prepare their hearts, turn away from sin, and ask Jesus to forgive them. We can do the same today. Ask God to reveal what needs to be given up or taken out of your life to make room for Him. Ask for courage to do what He is calling you to do. Ask a friend to pray for you to help you be accountable.

Song for today: Go Tell It on the Mountain by Zach Williams

The Holy Spirit – Peaceful – Luke 1:41-42, Romans 4:17
Without the Holy Spirit, there is no Christmas story. The Holy Spirit is God. He is the Third Person of the Trinity-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Not only did the Holy Spirit play a major part in the creation of the world (Genesis 1:2), but He also was a part of the  miracle that is known as the incarnation (Jesus created in the womb) and it's powerful to the Christian faith because it means that Jesus is both God and man-something nobody else in the history of the world can claim!
After the Holy Spirit visited Mary, He kept sprinkling joy throughout the Christmas story. When Mary arrived at Elizabeth's house (see Day 4), the baby inside Elizabeth's womb was filled with the Holy Spirit and leaped with joy.
As Mary greeted her, Elizabeth was also filled with the Holy Spirit and let out a "loud cry" as she exclaimed, "Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed!" (Luke 1:42).  Filled with the Holy Spirit and overcome with joy, Elizabeth praised God with Mary. Not only did these women carry two baby boys who were about to change history, but they also were saved by the Messiah in Mary's womb-the baby Jesus! The Spirit is real and is moving and active. Have you seen or felt the Spirit moving and acting in your life or the life of others? Share with your family or a friend how you’ve seen the Spirit move in your life.

Song for today: Silent Night by Pentatonix

Ceasar Augustus – Purposeful -  Micah 5:2, Luke 2:7
Caesar Augustus was the first emperor of the Roman Empire. He brought stability and organization to the Roman world. Right before the birth of Jesus, Caesar Augustus wanted to make sure everyone paid their taxes. So, he took a census, gathering a list of the names of everyone living throughout the land. Because of the census, Joseph and Mary had to return to Bethlehem, where Joseph's family was from, to be counted and added to the list. Caesar Augustus likely never knew who Jesus was. He lived 1,500 miles from where Jesus was born. Not only that, he died when Jesus was about nineteen, before Jesus became well known. Yet, because Caesar Augustus ordered the census, the prophecy that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem was fulfilled (Micah 5:2). Even 600 years before Caesar Augustus lived, God had a plan to use him. Although Caesar Augustus didn't know it at the time, his leadership provided the stability and organization of roads throughout the Roman Empire to help Christianity grow across the land. His actions still affect our lives more than 2,000 years later! God has a plan to use you, too.  Live today in your calling to move God’s Kingdom forward. What is God asking you to do to help the Gospel spread across our land? Pray and ask for God’s guidance!

Song for today: Emmanuel (God With Us) by Bryan & Katie Torwalt

Simeon – Ready to Listen – Luke 2:22-35
Simeon's name means "hearing." True to his name, Simeon listened for God's voice. He paid close attention to live according to what the Scriptures taught. Simeon wanted both to hear from God and to see Him, so he prayed a lot. One day, he heard the Holy Spirit tell him that he would not die until he saw Jesus in real life. Imagine that! Simeon was well along in age when his part of the Christmas story began. Led by the Holy Spirit, he went to the temple the same day that Mary and Joseph came to dedicate Jesus. While Jesus looked like every other baby at the temple, Simeon knew-by listening to the Holy Spirit-that Jesus was the one and only Messiah. When he saw Mary and Joseph, Simeon joyously picked Baby Jesus up in his arms and praised God. God blessed Simeon for his faith. Simeon had desired to see God his whole life. And because Simeon listened, he was one of the first to hold Baby Jesus and to understand that Jesus was God in the flesh. What is God saying to your today?  Spend time in prayer and silence so that you can hear His voice more clearly!

Song for today: Here Comes Heaven by Elevation

Patient – Anna – Luke 2:36-40
Anna, like Simeon, was of old age when her part in the Christmas story began. Many years before, she had been widowed after only seven years of marriage. Can you imagine the heartache as a young bride? Though she could have turned her back on God, Anna chose to seek God and godly community instead. The Bible says she worshiped God at the temple, spending her days and nights there. Anna, like Simeon, waited patiently on God's arrival into the world, even in her distress.
The word wait in the Bible is a verb. In Luke 2:25 (NIV), the Greek word for wait means "to look forward to" or "to expect." In this instance, the word means that both Simeon and Anna expected the first Advent. They knew, without a doubt, that Jesus was coming, but they had no idea when! Because Anna spent her entire life serving God, she was in the temple on the same day as Simeon. Having a close relationship with God, she also recognized Mary and Joseph when they entered the temple with Jesus. The Bible tells us that when Anna saw Baby Jesus, she blessed Him and began telling everyone about Him. Her wait was worth it! You may be waiting on something very different – reconciliation, healing or understanding.  In the birth and death of Jesus, we know all things will be made right.  It’s worth the wait!

Song for today: Worth the Wait by Phil Wickham (The word NOEL simply means birth. Its root word is where we get our word “Nativity”.)

King Herod – Jealous – Matt. 2:1-8
King Herod is the villain of the Christmas story. He was the cruel ruler over the Jews leading up to the birth of Jesus. When he found out that Jesus, "the King of the Jews," had been born, he became jealous. Herod wanted to be the only king. He could not stand the thought of sharing his power or, worse, losing it. King Herod told the wise men-who had traveled a long way to see Jesus-to come back and tell him when they found the baby so that he, too, could worship Jesus. But Herod was lying. He wanted to kill Baby Jesus! Later, when King Herod learned that the wise men tricked him and did not return, he went into a fit of rage. King Herod did not like that someone else had something he had-the title of king. He grew so jealous that he came up with an evil plot to have Jesus killed, ordering that every boy two years old and under in and around Bethlehem be put to death. King Herod's jealousy drove him crazy and led him to make evil choices. When you love a position, person, or possession more than you love Jesus, you will become jealous at the thought of losing it. This is why the Bible teaches us to be content by loving the Giver-God Himself-more than what He gives us. Are you holding on to your position as King or ruler of your life?  Today, declare that you will place Jesus on the throne of your heart. Let Him rule your thoughts and actions.

Song for today: O What a Glorious Night
by The Sidewalk Prophets

The Magi – Generous - Matt. 2:1-12
The magi, also known as wise men, traveled from the east to find Jesus. Many Bible teachers believe these men studied the science of space, or what we call astronomy today. They believe the magi were smart, wealthy, and highly respected men. While the Bible doesn't tell us how many magi journeyed to see Jesus, the traditional teaching is three. That's because they brought Him three generous gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Bible teachers say the magi did not arrive at Jesus' house until He was between sixteen and twenty-four months old.
When they entered the house and laid eyes on Jesus, they fell to their knees, presented their gifts, and worshiped Him. Then God warned them in a dream not to tell King Herod where Jesus was since God knew Herod wanted to kill Jesus (see Day 13). Obeying God, they returned to their home in the east a different way. The magi were the very first Gentiles, or non-Jewish people, mentioned in the Bible to worship Jesus as the Messiah. They understood the significance of Jesus' birth. God Himself had come to earth as a man-what a generous gift from heaven!
They responded by giving back to Him in a generous way. Throughout Scripture, many who came in contact with God brought a gift or a sacrifice.  What are you offering Jesus today through your life?  In what way is your money being given back to Jesus?  In what way are you giving your time and attention to Jesus before all others?  Pray and ask God to give you the strength and courage to offer your life as a gift to the King of Kings!

Song for today: Unto Us by Matthew West