It’s day two at the Christmas tree, and the dancing lights continue to dance to and fro, reminding me of the presents that will soon lay at its feet, waiting to be unwrapped.

This week, I’m studying the name of God, El Chay, which means Living God. Yesterday, the study took me to 2 Kings 19:14, which says, “And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it, and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord.” The letter received was threatening, but how Hezekiah dealt with it speaks volumes to my heart!

Hezekiah took the letter from King Sennacherib to the house of the Lord, much like we do when placing presents at the base of the tree. What a beautiful reminder that in life’s difficulties, we don’t need to carry them on our own but are encouraged to lay them at the altar, presenting them to the One who sees all and knows all. As we learn to trust in and look for Him, we take on the joy of Christmas as we begin to unwrap His presence in our lives and those around us.

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. – Ephesians 3:14-21