Blessings to enjoy during this time of year fill our schedules every December. As you are worship Christ more deeply, you may find that you enjoy the entire Christmas season in a fresh way.

For me, the more I understand of Christ, the more I want to understand. Even just a little bit of true worship whets my appetite for more. To start off today’s Christmas Worship Challenge, pray the following verses from Ephesians:

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.”–Ephesians 1:18-19

When God shines the light of transforming grace, understanding reaches past the mind and takes root in the heart. This kind of seeing comes through the power of the Holy Spirit. We come to KNOW Christ.

Appreciate the details of Christ revealed in the following prophecy. As you give God a deeper level of your attention, He will expand your vision of the majesty of Christ.

Worship Tip: Worship in the Details

As you read one of Isaiah’s prophecies regarding the coming Messiah, focus on the specific attributes of Christ, both child and Mighty God. Let God fill your heart with wonder as you meditate on the fact that God became flesh, yet remains Mighty God.

Appreciate the “riches of God’s Glory” that we have in Christ. Fight the tendency to read these words as words.

Read them as windows through which to see the majesty of Christ more clearly with the eyes of your heart wide awake.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.– Isaiah 9: 6-7

Today’s Worship Challenge: Anticipate His Return

[tweetthis]Turn your heart to the approaching glory of the return of Christ.[/tweetthis] In days long past, people looked forward to the birth of the promised child; today, we look forward to the return of Christ, not as an infant, but as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

King of Kings

Originally, I was going to post a video of Handel’s Messiah, “For Unto us a Child is Born,” but in looking for a specific version I came across this flash mob video of the Hallelujah Chorus, also from Handel’s Messiah.

Hearing this glorious work of worship by the musical genius of Frederick Handel in the unexpected  hustle and bustle of a shopping mall, brings a different perspective. Too worship Christ publicly in the midst of the daily like this…an interesting thought for sure. What I love about this video is watching the people, some who are the planned part of the song, others who spontaneously watch and join in. I would have loved to be eating my Chick-Fil-A sandwich in the food court the day this took place.

If you have never heard a live performance of Handel’s Messiah, the entire audience rises tall as soon as the first notes echo. For sure, some rise because it is expected, but most stand in honor of the One so gloriously sung of–the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.”