Pause to Dwell in His Wonder

Come and See, Receive and Share

Testimonies are everywhere, but do we walk in them? 

Hearing and receiving are different, yet both yield to a posture. Our willingness to pause and be present amid our “ordinary” is key. It is often where purpose unfolds. In Luke 2, the shepherds paint a picture of how to embrace the moments entrusted to us. 

Tending to their flocks, they stood as ordinary vessels with extraordinary purpose. Through an angel sent by God, they were the first to receive the Good News, the coming of the Savior. 

Suddenly, glorious Light shone through the night’s darkness. Their hearts could not contain the encounter regardless of how others viewed them. 

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’” (Luke 2:8-14)

Inspired by the unexpected interruption, they followed the prompt, hurrying to be in His presence. They heard and received, going to see perfect love face-to-face. With truth and love bundled in a manger, their eyes captured a moment that changed everything. Great joy was birthed from a promise. 

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:15-20)

Hope for our souls was found there, in His presence, illuminating the darkness. In the middle of the miracle, 400 years had awaited, the Good News was not only to be received but meant to be shared. And it still is today.

Pause to dwell in His wonder. What a posture to have amidst a hustling world of distractions! “Hearken unto this, O Job: Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.” (Job 37:14 KJV)

Rest is a gift and a command. 

Tis the season of slowing down, or maybe it always is. The posture of pausing is purposeful and can be present every day. It’s one of the greatest lessons God continues to teach and refine in me. Through God embracing me against my tendency to sprint, I have encountered such blessings in the pockets of pausing, in the slowing down, in the seasons of stillness, in the knowing…in His presence. Success is not found in a crossed-off checklist, even if the projects, messages, etc., are ones He placed on the heart to share. Instead, success is found in obedience to the Lord with all the steps, even rest, trusting in His timing. God’s attention to detail is nothing we can even dream of drafting, and that includes His perfect timing too.  

For me, the messages on slowing down in the busy typically have their ties to Mary and Martha (Luke 11), reminding me to pray often… Lord, lead me to be faithful where You entrusted me today.

Yet, at first, this December found me continuing to prepare when called to BE STILL. It was time to sit in a season of stillness in many areas of my life where I found myself still “doing.” Rest…

There is a time to be Martha in the preparations and a time to sit at His feet like Mary…that is preparation, too. God loves us through all the Martha moments and the Mary ones, too. In praying for what message to leave on Instagram before I took a social media pause, God took me to visit Job... 

Stand still in His wonder. “Hearken unto this, O Job: Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.” (Job 37:14 KJV)

Amid all seasons, God’s power and sovereignty reigns above all. He is purposeful and calls us to be, too. Tis’ ALWAYS the season to be obedient to Him and each faithful step, even rest. God desires for a personal relationship with all of us. He is our faithful Father and dearest friend. What an invitation to rest and dwell in the wonders of His love and the expectant hope of even His mysteries unfolding. 

Rest is a beautiful invitation. Though the flesh may resist it, His love persists STILL. In the stillness of this season, what a gift it is to dwell in the moments. There are blessings in His presence because… He is the blessing, our King of glory. His presence is enough. 

Make room and prepare the heart. Extraordinary experiences happen in the presence of the Lord. By the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony, there is power in sharing what Christ has done in and through us. Authentic truth-telling not only leads to freedom but gives agency for others to do the same when the proclamation points to the promise, the birth of our eternal joy.

So how can we do this? We learn the power of the pause. Practice the pause. Pause to be in His presence. Pause to BE. Pause to pray. God knows our hearts. He is the Source of everything we need. When we pray, we harmonize with Heaven. More than the less-than-perfect circumstances we face, we can always look around and take mental snapshots of our loved ones and moments. Pause to rejoice, pray, and be thankful for what we have been entrusted with. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬) Despite the trials, God teaches us to live a lifestyle of thanksgiving. At the time of the passage, the Thessalonians were experiencing persecution, so it may sound absurd that they were asked to rejoice in the face of the trial. Yet, this is a beautiful message for all of us, reminding us never to stop praying, believing, and being thankful. God has everything we need because He is everything we need. Our hope is not in what we see. It is in the Lord. He is purposeful and faithful. Joy and peace come from Him. He is our Prince of Peace. 

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

How do we rejoice, pray and remain thankful when our feelings push against it?

Put worship music on. Talk to God throughout the day. Be authentic and honest. Don’t hide the hard. Look for those moments of beauty and take the memory snapshots. Breathe…

inhale (“Be still…) 

exhale (and know.)

inhale (God…) 

exhale (thank you.) 

inhale (Lord…) 

exhale (my Help) 

Come and see. Come and receive. Come and adore our perfect King, born in an imperfect stable. Such hope cannot be contained to a moment when miracles await to unfold. How will we share our greatest gift even when the decorations of a season are packed up and put away? We pause to dwell in His wonder throughout all seasons and days. It’s never about the glittery details, nor is it about ourselves. Instead, it is all about Him, our Savior… the Light of the world.

“and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2) Worship is a lifestyle; it must not be contained to a song or season. Instead, it is found in the presence of the Lord. He is with us always. “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means ‘God with us’).” (Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭23)‬‬

From the trenches to the timeless treasures, hope is alive because hope has a name…Jesus. He is always the reason to rejoice. We don’t need to just know about God; we can know Him in a personal relationship, and that is a gift for all days and seasons! “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” (2 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭10‬)‬‬

May we not only know the Good News but may we have the right response to it. Let’s come and see, receive and share. Be in awe of and in His presence. 

Draw near to our Prince of Peace. He is everything we need. He is the blessing. He is with us, Immanuel.

Other Scriptures: Luke 2

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,” (Titus 1:1-3)

 “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” (Revelation 12:11)

Dear God,

You are in control. You are mighty and hold all authority. Thank You for this past year, and I pray for blessings in 2025. Help me make room for what You are doing in this upcoming year, releasing everything to You. I release my concerns and cares, dreams and goals. Lead me, Lord. You are where my hope is. You are my Lord and Savior. Thank You for the gift of this season and this very moment. Empower us to come and see. Prepare us to receive. Embolden us to share. May we do all things to honor and glorify You. In Jesus, name, Amen. 

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

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Be blessed and always remember you are so loved! ♡