The other day, I accompanied my husband to an early morning appointment with his eye surgeon. As he presented himself at the counter, I looked around for a good place to sit. My eyes were drawn to a row of six or seven empty chairs. Strategically, I sat down on a seat in the middle, soon to be joined by my husband. I looked forward to a quiet time of waiting, with ample opportunity to let my thoughts wander freely.

It was not long until an elderly lady entered. Like myself, she scanned the room for the best seat and took a few seconds to decide. After all, there were many empty chairs. Then, with a sense of purpose, she sat down right beside me. And she did not ignore me either. To the contrary, she immediately opened the conversation with a remarkable statement: "I am sure you kept this seat for me."

No, I had not, and I was looking forward to a quiet time. But I also remembered that the ways of the Lord are sometimes unexpected. I could not just dismiss the lady's words as small talk. Maybe the Lord had a special conversation planned for us.

The lady was ready to talk. She began by stating her displeasure with all those in the room who were engrossed with their cellphones. She told me that she still drove her own car in spite of her eye troubles. She asked me where I lived and expressed her gratitude for good houses and good roads. Meanwhile, I was waiting for a profound message or for an opportunity to share my hope in the Lord. But no. The conversation went on to eye drops and the dreary days of January.

But on the way home, my eyes were opened. Suddenly, I realized that although I had been waiting for a great revelation or an opportunity to witness, instead, the elderly lady herself was a picture of the Lord's way with His people. He finds us wherever we are and prompts us to talk to Him. As today's verse says, He turns to us and is gracious to us, as is His way with those who love His name. He is involved in the seemingly small things of our lives. Graciously, He corrects our disinterest and makes us aware of our blessings. He uses unexpected moments to redirect our glance to Jesus, the light of the world.

Prayer: Dear Lord of sight, we thank You for revealing Yourself to us. Help us to recognize Your grace when You reach out to us with Your Word. Help us to experience Your gracious nearness when we meet with You in prayer, and help us to reflect Your light of grace into this darkened world. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

This summer, I had an opportunity to visit my friend who, with her husband, volunteers at a Christian retreat camp as caretaker. As we casually strolled over the rolling property, she pointed to a wooded area down the hill. "That's the orchard," she explained. However, I did not see an orchard. "Where?" I asked. Again, she pointed at the wooded area. But looking down, I saw only a field that was overgrown with lush weeds and tall bushes. "Is that an orchard?" I wondered out loud. "Yes," my friend reassured me, "but the weeds have taken over. No one had time to maintain it. By now, it has become impossible to pick the apples." Then I saw. The fruit trees looked like mere bushes amidst the lavish weeds.

On the drive home, I had time to process the haunting impression that the overgrown orchard had left with me. How many figurative orchards that I should have looked after are overgrown with weeds? How many spiritual fields that I should have harvested have become inaccessible due to my negligence? I could think of a few. I have taken detours around people whom I know very well, but whose burdens seem too painful for me to share. Rather than helping them with their burdens and sharing the hope of Jesus, I stayed in my comfort zone. Paralyzed by insecurities, I have walked away from people who were receptive to the good news of Jesus. There are still other persistent weeds that prevent me from being effective in the field during the time of harvest.

These painful considerations made me realize how dependent we field workers are on the power of the Lord of the harvest. There are willing workers, but many are ineffective. They are sidetracked by other duties. They lack the strength to withstand the heat of the day and the exhaustion of the late afternoon.

But the Lord of the harvest is keen to answer their prayers for support. He removes their weakness when they remember His strength. He makes the weeds of unproductiveness disappear when they focus on His harvest. When they are labouring in the field, they notice how many people are working beside them. To their joy and relief, they realize that neither the accessibility of the harvest nor the number of field workers depend on them.

The most wonderful truth unfolds before their eyes. The Lord prepares His harvest by ripening immature hearts into hearts that are ready to accept Jesus as Saviour and bring forth fruits of righteousness. Are we prepared to harvest them?

Prayer: Dear Lord of the harvest, we thank You that You have opened our hearts to receive our Lord Jesus. Humbly, we ask that You would make us willing to leave our comfort zones and enter unfamiliar territory with the call to follow Jesus. Enable us to work in the field that You have prepared for the harvest. In our Saviour's name, we pray. Amen.

The week before Christmas, one of my sons dropped by to make some adjustments to my computer. It was a quick visit without much conversation. But on his way out, he turned around and said to me, "There were three terrorist attacks today, Mom: one in Berlin, one in Zurich, one in Ankara. So much hatred." We looked at each other. His eyes were serious. I am sure that mine were bewildered.

I went to my computer to search for details. The random attack at the Christmas market in Berlin became my main focus. A truck had barged its way into the decorated booths, killing twelve unsuspecting shoppers and injuring fifty-six. The driver of the truck escaped. After some confusion, his identity was confirmed, with the telling detail that he was known to police. Would that mean that he would be found quickly, or was he a seasoned criminal who knew how to escape detection? I was not sure, but in a few days, he was located in Italy, and killed by police.

His death shocked me. Suddenly, he was not dealing with the police anymore, but with the King whose unique birth had been the focus of the celebratory market in Berlin. Being known to police led to his capture and physical death, but facing the Judge Who fully knows his motives and actions may mean his eternal death.

But facing this Judge awaits each of us! Thankfully, those who follow Jesus do not have to fear an exposure of their hidden sins, such as intentional gossip, gnawing envy, or lustful thoughts. The penalty for their evil deeds and thoughts has been paid by the atoning death of their Lord Jesus. Already during their life on earth they will receive a new identity, and upon entrance into eternity they will receive a crown of glory. As proof of their new identity they will be known to the Lord by a new name, such as "Loved by God" (Romans 1:7 NIV) or "Received mercy" (1 Peter 2:10 NIV), and the remembrance of their sins will be wiped away.

Hebrews 8:12 – For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. (NIV)

God's people can enter the kingdom with the innocence and trust of a child. Children do not worry about paying their parents for gifts that they receive from them. Rather, children are absorbed by the glory of the gift, and look up to their parents with a big smile on their face.

The blessings of being known to God as His child abound. Fear of punishment will be replaced with gratitude for being forgiven. As confident sons and daughters of the Lord, we will speak freely about His grace. We will shine in this dark world like a crown of beauty held securely in the hand of our Lord.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, we thank You that we no longer have to fear Your judgment, but that we are known to You as honourable sons and daughters. We humbly ask You for the guidance of Your Holy Spirit as we learn to walk in Your ways. We pray this in the name of Jesus, our Saviour. Amen.

The time before Christmas is a period of great stress for many young adults who attend colleges and universities. After several months of study, they have arrived at their final exams. Often there is much at stake. For many students, the direction of their future depends on those final marks.

Over the years, I have prayed many times for the Lord's blessing over my children who were in that situation. This year, I was prompted to write down a more specific prayer outline, as once more, I was witness to these stresses. I wrote the words "peace", "insight", and "endurance" in my prayer booklet: "peace", knowing that He will care for them during the exam; "insight", mental clarity and emotional stability; and "endurance", sustained and intense energy. I realized that "peace", "insight", and "endurance" all work together during the entire exam, but the peace of God is the driving force. Without the inner strength that this peace provides, not only exams, but any major tasks, become insurmountable.

Indeed, we all need the Prince of Peace, Whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. To be sure, this Prince is capable of much more than sustaining us during an exam. We need Him foremost to reconcile us to our God. As a result of our sinful nature, we are initially unable to dedicate our lives to His service, being inclined to serve ourselves. But the Lord sent His Son Who paid with His life for the capital offenses that we committed, restoring peace between us and heaven.

During this often hectic Christmas season, let us receive the peace of the Lord as a constant source of strength and comfort. Even though it surpasses our understanding, it can energize us. To our great surprise, we realize that the Spirit is placing wisdom in our hearts. We want to follow the Prince of Peace. We feel empowered to take on whatever task the Lord has prepared for us. Throughout the year, this could be looking after a family, or managing a store, or delivering newspapers, or attending a school, or coping with a terminal illness. In all situations of our life, the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our faithful Saviour.

While on earth, we will encounter stressful situations. We will receive difficult assignments: poverty, bereavement, persecution. But at the end of our lives, we will enter the courts of the Prince of Peace. Having received Him, there is no entrance exam. Our failures will have been erased, and our misunderstandings will have been cleared up. It is beyond understanding — but true.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, we thank You for having prepared the entrance of the Prince of Peace into our dark world. We thank You that in Him, we are reconciled with You. We ask You to continue to surround us with Your peace, to fill our hearts and minds with wisdom, and to help us endure till the end. In the name of Christ Jesus, we offer this prayer. Amen.

My mother had the gift of telling us about real-life developments as they unfolded. She kept us spellbound with vivid details, even when the story took several years to reach its secretly hoped-for, but still-unexpected climax. One such memorable story was about her unmarried friend, who was old in our eyes even as the story began. One day, my mother mentioned that a well-known, middle-aged gentleman had asked her friend to marry him. The story became a fairy tale, until my mother told us with sadness in her voice that it seemed very unlikely that the friend and her soft-spoken husband would become parents. The tone of her voice conveyed the pain of the childless couple. Our family started praying for them. Probably a year later, when my mother told us that her friend was expecting a child, we were in disbelief. But it was true! In due time, a son was born. We were touched by this miracle, the more so because my mother said with strange tears in her eyes that the boy's name was John.

If the birth of this naturally conceived child already felt like a miracle and a new beginning, how much more miraculous and meaningful was the birth of John the Baptist! For many years, Zachariah and Elizabeth had pleaded with the Lord for a child. But their prayer was not answered until after their ability to conceive had ceased. Then the miracle happened. At the divinely determined time, the Lord blessed Elizabeth, the barren woman, with a child. He had given new hope, not just to Zachariah and Elizabeth, but to the entire spiritual house of Israel.

Truly, John's birth heralded a new beginning. The promises of long ago were about to reach their fulfilment in the arrival of God's own Son. It would be John's task to prepare the way for this promised Saviour. This meant that John, as prophet of the Most High, was to call the people to repentance. Hearts that were hardened in self-righteousness needed to be softened with an awareness of the need for a Saviour. And what a Saviour Jesus is! He re-opened the way to God the Father by taking upon Himself the guilt of His people.

But we cannot be satisfied with stating these wonderful truths. We must apply them to ourselves. At this season of Advent, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus, our Saviour, we need to repent daily from our selfish behaviour and our unholy thoughts. At the prompting of the Holy Spirit we must learn to confess our sins. Then He "will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 11:19b). We will have been prepared to serve our Saviour with a revived heart.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, we thank You for softening our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh through the work of Your Spirit. We thank You that You prepare us for receiving our Saviour Jesus by teaching us to recognize and confess our sins. We thank You also for teaching us to pray incessantly. We pray for Your help when we encourage people who do not know You to examine their hearts. We thank You for Your miraculous grace. In the name of our Saviour, we pray. Amen.

When my daughter and her husband picked up their kitten from the animal shelter, they were informed that the two-week-old foundling would likely die soon. Undeterred by these foreboding words, they lovingly named their black and white ball of fur "Domino". Under the watchful eye of his caregivers, Domino defied the predictions and turned into a healthy cat. His loyal devotion to his rescuers was endearing.

After eight years of purrs and cuddles, Domino fell seriously ill. The veterinarian diagnosed a life-threatening condition and presented two options: euthanasia, or surgical treatment that together with aftercare would amount to twice their monthly rent. Clearly, surgery was not an option, but neither was euthanasia! Hastily they called some people for financial assistance, without immediate results. When the vet's assistant started to prepare for the affordable option, their cell phone rang. Good news! One of my other daughters would gladly make the money available. Tears of relief and gratitude spilled from their eyes. Domino would live!

As this life-and-death story was unfolding before my eyes, it was as if I had witnessed a dramatized illustration of our salvation through Christ our Lord. Jesus prevented the eternal death of His loved ones by paying a very high price — a price worth infinitely more than the equivalent of two months' rent. Jesus paid with His own blood, willingly and without complaint. Our hearts fill with gratitude! We will receive eternal life!

1 Peter 1:18a,19a – For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed … but with the precious blood of Christ. (NIV)

Another detail adds depth to the story. The joy that Domino provided to his caregivers with his loyal devotion draws our attention to the delight that the Lord has in His loyal children.

Psalm 149:4a – For the Lord takes delight in his people. (NIV)

It is also striking that as my children chose life for Domino, so the Lord wants life for His children, not death. God's people are precious in His eyes.

Psalm 72:14 – He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight. (NIV)

The story of Domino became a confirmation of God's grace for me. But it also made me aware of my shortcomings. How much am I willing to give to others in their time of need? Am I a cheerful giver? Do I share the gospel? Certainly, we need the Lord's help when we reach out to our neighbour in need.

The gift of life that Jesus provided at a very high price inspires us to follow His example. We learn to share freely what has been entrusted to us, including the good news of our salvation.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, we thank You from the heart for coming to our rescue when we were doomed to eternal death. We pray that You will make us truly grateful for the very high price that You paid for Your children. We also pray for a spirit of generosity as we still struggle with the reality of sin in our souls. In Your special name, we pray. Amen.

It feels strange to analyze a friendship that is so natural and meaningful. But if I were to identify the most special aspect of our friendship, it is my friend's unconditional support. She does not judge or hold back. Rather, she shares her true self and listens to me with an open heart. Whereas her practical advice is impressive, she speaks her most enduring words when we are both at a loss. "I don't know how to help you, but the Spirit will make you aware when you must act and what you must do."

Truly, my friend is a blessing. But to my astonishment, the Word of God revealed a much greater blessing to me. The Lord Himself is my Friend!

Exodus 33:11a – The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. (NIV 2011)

When I first read this verse, I could hardly believe that He could be my friend, too. The Lord is holy, majestic, and splendid. I am sinful, and often scared. How will I ever be able to look at Him without turning away my eyes in embarrassment and bowing my head in reverence?

But as I contemplated the Scriptures under the guidance of the Spirit, it became clear to me. The reason why we are afraid of our Lord has been lifted. In Jesus, He welcomes into His presence all those who acknowledge their failings. Jesus' words to the paralyzed man whom He healed are clear: "Friend, your sins are forgiven." (Luke 5:20b NIV)

Obviously, the Lord is not a Friend like my friend in the Netherlands. We cannot approach Him casually or speak to Him irreverently. On the other hand, our conversations with the Lord have no restrictions. He is involved in all the details of our lives. He is never at a loss, as He already knows the solution. He is always near to those who call on Him, and He never slumbers or sleeps.

Through our prayer, we enter into a conversation with our Friend. He lends His ear to our joys and sorrows. He reassures us that He listens with a forgiving heart. He answers by giving us peace and strength to keep going. After a conversation with Him, we continue to be surrounded by His love. We feel a smile on our face. We have a trusted Friend, Who will be loyal to us throughout all the events of our lives. And when our earthly journey has come to an end, He will graciously admit us to His uninterrupted presence.

Prayer: Dear Lord in heaven, we thank You for being our trusted Friend. We also thank You for Your Spirit, Who teaches us to communicate properly with You. Help us to keep praying as You prepare us for an eternity of perfect fellowship with You and Your people. Amen.