Luke 2:19 “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”

ponder: to weigh in the mind; to consider and compare the circumstances or consequences of an event, or the importance of the reasons for or against a decision (Webster’s 1828 dictionary)

My current season of motherhood is what some classify as “long days, short years.” Snotty noses, diaper changes and sibling battles are on constant repeat. But so are the bear hugs, slobbery kisses and endless giggles. Maybe my future self will one day disagree, but these are the best days! Busy? Yes! Exhausting? Of course! Worth it? Oh goodness, YES a million times over!

All that to say, in this season of motherhood, I’ve had to realize that some things in life are going to look different for me, and I need to be ok with that. When I was a teenager, I’d spend hours pouring over God’s Word reveling in a truth He had shown me. I no longer have hours on end in which to do that. Sometimes I hear from moms with older kids who do deep dives into the Scriptures and have wonderful, theological discussions. We aren’t quite there yet. A better description for my devotional life right now would be short and sweet. I know it won’t be this way forever, but for now I’ve had to learn to glean and grow from devotional thoughts. This is where the word “ponder” comes into play. I am working hard to take a thought, phrase or verse from my morning devotional time (however long that day, and my children allow for) and ponder on it throughout the day. As I think on, contemplate, weigh and consider even a small portion of God’s Word, I see it washing over my heart, transforming my thoughts and conforming me into the image of Christ.

Ways That I Ponder Throughout the Day

• Pray: I work hard to keep myself in a state of prayer throughout my day. While I do have designated times of prayer, most of my prayers are whispered while I’m doing dishes, making dinner or cleaning messes. As God brings people to my mind, I try to lift them up before Him then and there. If I don’t, I will most likely forget! My devotional musings often work their way into my prayer life. Whether I’m asking God for wisdom regarding a thought, asking Him for forgiveness for how I’ve failed in that area or  seeking His strength to become more like Him in that specific area, I find myself pondering through my prayer life.
• Praise: This is connected to pondering through prayer. This year has altered my prayer life, hopefully forever! I try to spend more time praising God than making requests. He is so worthy of all our praise! The more I praise Him, the more I have to praise Him for! There are different ways that my ponderings become praise. Sometimes, I praise God for the specific characteristic of Himself that I’m studying. Other times, I read about man’s sinful condition or rejection of God, and I praise Him that in spite of us, He loved us anyway. Offering Him the praise due His name has helped me gain a heavenly perspective. That has been invaluable in my heart, especially during these current days.
• Pass It On: Preachers often give the illustration of Christians as sponges. We are not to continue to soak more and more in. We are to soak in, then squeeze out. As God is filling my heart and life with His truth, am I squeezing that truth into the hearts and lives of others? My husband and I often discuss the ponderings of our hearts. It connects us on a deep level and reveals to the other how God is working in our heart. We also do our best to take every opportunity to speak truth into the hearts of our children. I want them to grow up hearing Mama and Daddy praying, praising and speaking often about God. They understand way more than we give them credit for!

Now for some application. . . I’m sure you’re wondering how all that ties into keeping Christ the center of Christmas? Well, I’ve decided to take the month of December to ponder on the gifts we receive in God because of the relationship made possible by His Son when He came to earth.

In past years, we’ve done different versions of an advent calendar with our children, usually involving toys or candy. This year, we’re coming at it from a different angle, and I’m excited about incorporating this year’s countdown to Christmas in our annual traditions. I found this gorgeous advent calendar on Amazon. The 24 little drawers open, and I’m filling each with two slips of paper. One will list a fun activity/craft/outing/ that we’ll do that day. (examples: Christmas movie pizza party, holiday baking day, Christmas parade, caroling with friends, etc) The other will have a characteristic of God that we’ll ponder on throughout the day. We will ponder on one each day as we prepare our hearts for Christmas. It is my prayer that this will keep our hearts and home centered around the true meaning of Christmas. Might I add, that the meaning goes way beyond the manger. The true meaning of Christmas is rooted in the cross. If it wasn’t for the cross, there would have been no need for the manger. God sent His Son to earth as a babe with the purpose of Him being the ultimate and final sacrifice for the sins of mankind. While we have many traditions and fun activities that we do during the Christmas season, it is so important that we keep Christ the focus of Christmas.

However you choose to focus on Christ throughout the Christmas season, I pray that you will be intentional! He is worthy of all our love and adoration.

Counting Down to Christmas by Studying the Character of God

1. My God Sent His Son to Pay For Our Sins: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

2. My God Forgives: Psalm 86:5 “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”

3. My God Cares for Me: Matthew 10:29-31 “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

4. My God is Able: Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”

5. My God is Hope: Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

6. My God is My Father: Isaiah 64:8 “But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”

7. My God is Worthy: Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

8. My God is With Me: Deuteronomy 31:8 “And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”

9. My God is in Control: Romans 8:28-29 “

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

10. My God is Worthy of My Trust: Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

11. My God Enables Me to Fight Worldly Thinking: II Corinthians 10:3-5 “or though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

12. My God Comforts: Psalm 23:3-4 “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

13. My God is My Refuge: Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

14. My God Enables Me to Fight Satan’s Attacks: Ephesians 6:10-11 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

15. My God is Good: Psalm 100:5 “For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

16. My God Casts Out All Fear: Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

17. My God Gives Peace: Isaiah 26:3-4 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:”

18. My God is Love: Jeremiah 31:3 “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

19. My God Gives Wisdom: James 1:5-7 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”

20. My God is Powerful: Luke 1:37 “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

21. My God Strengthens Me: Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

22. My God Gives Grace: Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

23. My God is Strong: II Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

24. My God is Coming Again: I Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

*Some of the attributes and Scripture references listed in the Christmas countdown are taken from the book What Do I Know About My God by Mardi Collier