December… The mere mention of the word can send shivers down the spine of any worship pastor, and for most who serve in music ministry, the shivers don't come from cold weather.
I have enjoyed the blessing and privilege of having music as my vocation for most of my adult life. I have friends who enjoy music as a hobby and long for the opportunity to do it vocationally, so I continually remind myself how thankful I am that God has allowed me to earn a living doing what I enjoy. For musicians, the holiday season is a busy one. There are more events and special gatherings where live music is requested. Though the work is a blessing, it can often hinder me from truly finding peace during the Christmas season.
These extra busy weeks are the reason I often struggle to authentically communicate songs about "peace on earth". Each year, I make a goal to have peace in my heart and a "quiet soul" as I go about the tasks of preparing for Christmas services — arranging music, rehearsing groups for the various Christmas services, and putting in additional hours on top of my usual work schedule. My children are also becoming fine young musicians, which means we are busier than ever and our family cars have become a shuttling service for all of our musical events. The schedule on my iPhone calendar and the length of my to do list do not paint a picture that says “peaceful". First-world problems, I know.
Sometimes, while we are leading our congregation in songs about “peace on earth” I feel like I am inviting others to enjoy an experience with the Lord that I am not experiencing in my own heart. In an effort to “put on Christmas” for others, the opportunity to experience the peace and joy of the incarnation of Jesus gets missed. From conversations I’ve had with others, this lack of peace during the holidays isn’t limited only to musicians. Regardless of vocation or station in life, our world provides an infinite number reasons not to experience the peace of God. Some years, the holiday season is filled with busyness and lots of good things to do; other years, the season is marked by struggles, loss, and hardship. Either way, if we aren’t intentional, a peaceful heart can turn to chaos and we end up missing an opportunity to experience a fresh touch from God.
I guess this dichotomy is one of the reasons why it is so good for me to go back and read the Scriptures that foretold and recorded the first Christmas. For over 2,000 years, generations of believers have put their faith and trust in a Savior who came to earth in the midst of one of the darkest eras in human history, and God continues to bring light into darkness through the message of Christmas each year. The prophecies and stories never change, and yet, as I immerse myself in the Biblical Christmas story each December, the Holy Spirit is always faithful to bring life and hope through those words written long ago. This year, I've committed myself to allow the Lord to bring peace into my heart through His Word, and I invite you to do the same. I don’t know your circumstances this December, whether joyful or challenging, but I do know that we have to take action in order to make room for the Holy Spirit to work through Scripture to remind us of the greatest gift of all time: Jesus.
If you don’t have a reading plan through the Christmas Scriptures this year, here are some of the most well-loved prophecies and stories for the Christmas season:
Have a blessed and “peaceful” Christmas season.
Brent
bmills@b4church.org
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