A few days ago, I was taking my daughter to school, and one of our favorite songs came on the radio. I turned the volume up, and we sang the parts of the song we knew!

I know how the story ends

We will be with You again

You're my Savior, my defense

No more fear in life or death

I know how the story ends

We will be with You again¹

As believers, we know how the story ends: we know that we will be with our Savior for eternity. And we also know the part of his story that we get to celebrate during Christmas: So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son (John 1:14). As we think about the wonder of Jesus coming to live with us, I’d love for us to spend time thinking about the idea of abiding.

This month, we will see bright, colorful decorations, sing Christmas songs, and hold warm drinks in our hands. As Christians, we hope these moments will fill our hearts with anticipation and joy as we celebrate the birth of our Savior! In Isaiah, the prophet says, The Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means “God is with us”). -Isaiah 7:14. A vital part of our faith is being with Jesus, and we can abide in him because he chose to be with us.

This year, we have been studying the fruit of the Spirit, which is the natural result of a growing faith. These fruits are not by our effort or determination, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. Even though we cannot produce fruit by our human effort, we can run to the one who can produce fruit in and through us: “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” -John 15:5

I need the reminder to abide in Christ during this season (and in every season!). I know our calendars during Christmas time can be full, or maybe some of us mourn over loved ones who are no longer with us this season, or there could be difficult circumstances we are going through. Whatever this season looks like for you, my prayer is that we can abide, remain, spend time in Scripture, and spend time in God’s presence. Remember that our joy and hope for this season is that God is with us and that we truly know how the story ends.

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. -Romans 15:13

Nathalie Richard

For the Ezer Equipped Newsletter Team

¹Shane and Shane. You’ve Already Won (Essential Music Publishing, 2022)

Matthew 1:18-2:12

This is a passage many of us have heard before, so I encourage you to slow down and read with intentionality. Matthew gives beautiful details to display the Lord’s faithfulness to his people. Let’s ask the Spirit to open our hearts and help us embrace the beautiful gift of our Savior’s coming as we seek to abide in him.

“All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet.” Matthew 1:22

Jamie Bishop

For the Ezer Equipped Newsletter Team

1. What keeps you from abiding? Remember, this can be anything. Often, at the end of the day, my lack of emotional energy can make true intimate time with the Lord difficult! Where can you carve out time or emotional capacity to spend time with Jesus?
2. Take a moment to list out how the reality of Jesus’ first coming and the promise of his second return impacts your life now. Reflect on things such as how you can continue to be humble around a difficult family member because Jesus came humbly into this earth, or how you can endure your current suffering because Jesus is coming to make all things right.
3. Finally, please print this calendar and pray through it with us. I love to put it on my refrigerator among all the beautiful Christmas cards! Let it serve as a reminder for us to pray for the brokenness of this world and all those trying to make a difference as we await the return of our Savior.

Stephanie Clarey

For the Ezer Equipped Newsletter Team