Earlier today on Bellshill Salvation Army Band’s Facebook page I shared the devotions I shared at our band practice last Wednesday evening. I’d like to share those devotions with you tonight.
December often feels like a race. The calendar fills with carol services, shopping lists, family gatherings, and endless to‑dos. Even in church life, the pace can be relentless. Yet Advent is not meant to be a season of exhaustion, it should be a season of waiting, of slowing down, of preparing our hearts for Christ.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:28-29
Advent invites us to step into that promise. It reminds us that rest is not laziness, but trust. When we pause, we declare that God is in control, not us. When we breathe deeply, we make space for His presence.
Rest doesn’t always mean we have to go to a retreat or on a long holiday. Sometimes we may just
- Sit quietly with a cup of tea and a candle.
- Listen to a carol that stirs your heart.
- Walk slowly through the winter streets and notice the lights and the decorations.
- Read a few verses of scripture and consider what their message to you.
These small events can become acts of faith. They remind us that God meets us in the ordinary, and that His peace is not reserved for perfect circumstances.
As we wait for Christmas, we are not just remembering a past event, we are preparing for Christ’s coming again. Renewal means lifting our eyes beyond the busyness, and fixing them on the hope that is to come.
The King is coming, so be still, be ready, be renewed. O Come O Come Emmanuel.
The Distinct Dot 