As the Christmas season rolls in it feels different to me than past seasons. To be honest I’ve never been a huge Christmas person. I’m a huge Christ fan but all the “other” stuff that goes on, I can do without. Well, with the exception of my kids and wife time. Those are certainly priceless and while I don’t engage in all the board games and some of the other activity, I do love to listen to them interact.

The difference I seem to be sensing is probably more about what’s about to happen, than what is happening. I look around and often wonder is this really worth it. I mean, you pour your time, talent and treasure into things and when they don’t appear to be making a difference, you begin to judge yourself. So while surveying the current situation it may not appear to measure up to the effort, nonetheless God is speaking in a way that seems both strategic and encouraging about the future. This really fuels the moment to both adapt to what He’s saying and be happy about the moment.

Three things God is speaking right now:

1. 1. My Faith will answer the questions I’ve posed that God has remained silent to. The Lord has shown me that He generally only gives direction with minimal details. As I walk in faith, the questions that I so readily need to get clarity on before taking a step are answered. When God speaks, we move by faith and the destination gets clearer as we move. Most people are help hostage to the unanswered questions concerning the call of God on their lives. God simply says, “Take off Abraham to a land I’ll show you when you get there. Head out Moses and go free the children of Israel and I’ll tell you what to say when you get there. Take up your cross and follow me.” It’s like, ask while you’re moving and the movement will lead you to the answer. In this season don’t be afraid to just launch out! Don’t let your questions keep you immobile.

1. 2. Your criticism of others will shroud your ability to see. God is a very creative God. Look at the many diverse faces around you. No two are alike. Even the best twins still have something that distinguishes them. We tend to criticize difference. God celebrates it. If you’re going to get to this new place in God, it will come through the embrace of diversity. Your answer to advancement is found in someone different than you. Two walking together is not about them being alike but heading to the same place. When Jesus chose His twelve, look how different they were. A matter of fact look at the choices made throughout scripture. No two are the same; they all had differing abilities and gifts. The difference made the whole. Without diversity you will be lonely. Pray today that God will open your eyes to the grace at work in others. Celebrate diversity!

1. 3. Take off the Qualifiers. One of my sisters told me recently that she realized, as she had been challenging herself to witness, that she would first qualify the prospect. Upon this discovery she said she was now dismissing this tendency and moving in the assumption that everyone needed to hear from her. Often times, the greatest treasures are not discovered because of the landscaping but because the digging. If you’re to see the value in others it will be because you cast off the restraints of stereotype. One of the biggest problems people in the days of Jesus faced was He didn’t fit the mold. We overlook what God is sending us through qualifying people. In this season move in the assumption that you have the answer to everyone’s questions and you’re the solution to their problems. You’re gonna be amazed at how God will use you!

God moves incrementally more often than not. He doesn’t supply all the information up front. He hides treasure in an earthen vessel. He presses us to look on the inside rather than the outside. At the end of the day it is all for the reason of getting us closer to Him. In this season, embrace the change of doing things differently. See people as God sees them. Trust Holy Spirit to guide you. I think you’re about to be surprised if you do.

Merry Christmas,

Anthony Daley