(from the heart of Julia Furness) 

“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel-, which means ‘God with us’” Matthew 1:23.

…And they will call him Immanuel-. Which means “God with us”..

Now stop. Take a deep breath. Close your eyes and repeat after me.

“Immanuel. God with us.” Again… “Immanuel. God with us.”

Do you feel it? Do you feel the presence of Immanuel fill the room?

Do you hear the promise of “God with us” fill every vacant space of your heart?

We have a good Father. We have a Father that wants nearness with us so badly that he would send his son and called him Immanuel- God with us. He wanted us to understand just how important intimacy was that he would use his very name as a reminder. That every time we would address him we would be declaring truth over ourselves.

Loneliness was never our inheritance. But relationship is our choice.

The advent season holds different emotions for every one of us. To some this season is a time for thanksgiving; rejoicing for all we have been given. For some of us this is a time of remembering the ones that use to be with us and are no longer. This season for some is joy and this season for some is frantic, or sad or even lonely.

But the beautiful promise that comes with the very birth of Jesus is this: God with us.

God with us.

We are not alone.

In every season, in every moment, in every emotion, in every decision, we remember Immanuel: God with us.

Prompt: Take a moment and let Jesus remind you of his nearness. Ask Holy Spirit to bring you back to places where you need to remember the “Immanuel- God with us.” And receive the beauty that is closeness of Jesus.