Matthew 14:30-31 – But when [Peter] saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" (NIV)

"I called to remind you to buy a jug of milk," my husband said, "but you did not answer your cell phone."

"I never answer in heavy traffic," I replied. "I focus on my driving, which I consider more important at the moment."

Peter learned the importance of being focused when he tried to walk on water. As long as he was focused on Jesus, he walked across the water, but when his attention wavered and he looked toward other things, he began to sink. He called out to Jesus for help.

There will be many things during the Advent season beckoning to us to shift our focus from the real meaning of Christmas to the commercial aspects. Christmas is and should be a joyous season, but joy is offered in many different forms during the busy days ahead. It becomes easy to move our focus to the commercial aspects of the season as well as the social occasions. The wise men of old focused on the star that led them to Bethlehem that first Christmas. There they found the truth of the holy birth — the baby that had come to be the Saviour of the world.

True joy can be found this holiday season by focusing on the Saviour, whose birth the angels proclaimed.

Prayer: Lord, when Peter lost sight of You, he began to sink. When we lose sight of You, we, too, begin to drift. Keep us focused on You and Your message throughout the days of Advent. Help us to find the real joy of the season. Amen.

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