When we look at the life and death of Jesus there are many lessons that stand out. But today, I invite you to reflect on these 5 ways that you can practice the presence of Spirit in your life, based on Jesus’ birth.

Today’s reading from Luke demonstrates to us the joy and rejoicing of Mary and Elizabeth, as well as John the Baptist’s reaction to first meeting Jesus while in the womb.

We’re told that Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit immediately.

These are the first two ways that we reflect the spirit of Christmas and Jesus’ birth in our lives:

• Rejoicing
• Filled with the Spirit

Rejoicing in the Christmas Spirit

If only it were as easy as I make it sound. Rejoice!

Many try to imitate this Christmas spirit with dopamine and serotonin substitutes:

• Shopping sprees
• Parties
• Giving gifts
• Novelty: Loads of new toys and things to do

All of these mimic that feeling of rejoicing, but once Christmas is over and we enter the New Year, we slump. They were just substitutes for true joy.

True joy, on the other hand, is from the inside out. Mary responds to Elizabeth’s greeting with these words: (1:47)

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

This is a spiritual joy, not a dopamine rush. It’s not dependent on circumstances or the latest buzz.

Before this, however, we read that Mary proclaims:

My soul magnifies the Lord.

In order to reach this level of spiritual joy, Mary focused on praise and worship. What is your focus and praise?

Where attention goes, energy flows.

Where is your focus? Does this create spiritual joy for you? 

Filled with the Spirit

Secondly, as I mentioned, Elizabeth was filled with the Spirit. She had a moment of enlightenment as she spoke to Mary and blessed her. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… (Galatians 5: 22-23)

Is your spiritual focus on being filled with the Spirit and growing these fruit as a natural outcome of your spiritual practice?

When you squeeze a lemon, you get lemon juice. If you are squeezed and pressured in life, what naturally flows out of you?  Is it love, joy, peace and patience?

It’s when you are under pressure that you naturally see what fruit you have.

And the spirit of Christmas calls us to be filled with the Spirit.

The purpose of Christ’s coming

The final three ways that we can reflect the spirit of Jesus’ birth in our lives are all related to the purpose of Christ’s coming to this world. 

Hebrews 10 mentions that sacrifices and burnt offerings are not what the Creator desires to see from us. Jesus also said that he had not come to  do away with the law or change it, but to fulfill it.

And yet, our sacrifices and burnt offerings are not what is desired. So, what does the Creator desire from us?

Love the Lord thy God…

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.

Mark 12: 30

So, what is your heart set on? What rules your emotions and feelings? Neuroscience tells us that our heart governs our desires. It’s not a rational thought governed from the mind – but rather something that is felt and hoped for. 

But our mind and thoughts are also covered by this rule to Love God. It’s not just with your heart, but also with your mind. Are your thoughts governed by your love for God? What do you spend all your time thinking and worrying about?

As I said above, where attention goes, energy flows. Is your attention placed on your love of God?

Once again, we are called to love God with all our soul – it’s a spiritual love of God, not just thoughts and feelings.

Finally, there’s a physical love of God: what we actually do. Do your actions reflect your love of God?

This takes us naturally into the second part of Jesus’ teaching:

Love your neighbour…

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.

Mark 12: 31

The first commandment is to love God, and the second ones tells us to love others as much as we love ourselves.

The spirit of Christmas often shows up in churches and communities as giving to those less fortunate than us. Especially in colder climates, where the homeless battle extreme cold, Christmas is a time for sharing basic necessities and life-saving goods. 

But as you reflect on this season, how will you express your love for others and those around you?

As Jesus taught us, your neighbour can be anyone, including marginalised social groups or immigrants.

Thy will be done…

Perhaps the biggest challenge of the season is to accept that the real message in Christ coming to earth is these four words:

Thy will be done…

We read this in the text from Hebrews, where the author tells us

I have come to do your will…

It’s not about offerings and sacrifices, but understanding the Creator’s will in your life. Not looking at how this is expressed for the person sitting beside you, but rather accepting that your life has a plan and a purpose.

Exclusively yours.

How will you fulfill this purpose?

Are you willing to look at what this purpose for your life is and then put all of your heart and soul into living with purpose?

Is your daily prayer: “Thy will be done”?

It’s easy to get caught up in plans and executing good ideas. But are those good idea a reflection of the Creator’s will for your life? Are you in alignment with your purpose?

When you tune into your heart’s desire, what do you heart? Is your heart’s desire to live your best life for yourself? Or are you willing to focus your energy on letting your heart’s desire be what God has for you?

When you take action, who guides and leads those actions?  What is the driving motivation behind you?

Reflecting the purpose of Christmas in your life

So, in these coming days, I invite each and every one of us to delve into:

Rejoicing in a life filled with the Spirit, where your heart, mind, soul and strength are focused on loving God and your neighbour as yourself. In this way, saying “Thy will be done” starts to come naturally for each of us.