Looking Forward

Driving home from our Presbytery meeting the other day, our group pulled up behind a car with a pumpkin windsock flapping about on the end of its radio antenna. Obviously, the driver was celebrating autumn. A little further on, we passed a house where the owner was in the process of hanging multi-coloured lights on every tree and bush. Perhaps fall seems a bit early for hanging red and green lights, but clearly this homeowner was looking forward to Christmas. Then, a bit further on, my driving companions began to call out landmarks as we neared our town. Plainly, we were looking forward to the warmth of our own homes.

Looking forward is something we all do.

Psalm 5:3 – In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. (NIV)

For the Psalmist, his looking forward was filled with expectant hope. Knowing God as he did and knowing that in spite of his difficulties, he could come to God every morning with the confidence that his Lord would hear and respond, the Psalmist looked forward with eager expectation to God's answer. Even so, we look forward to God's reply to our prayers.

In this season of the year, as autumn winds send the leaves swirling from the trees and as those same winds blow us toward winter, our hope moves us toward the coming of Emmanuel, who is, indeed, "God with us". As we move toward Advent, our hearts and minds also turn with eager, expectant hope to the Second Coming of our Saviour.

Luke 21:28 – And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (KJV)

What a wonderful time to look forward!

Prayer: Lord God, we pray that we would draw nearer to You in this Advent season. We pray that we would eagerly look forward to this season of Your first appearing. Now, O Lord, may we also eagerly look up, "for our redemption draweth nigh". In Jesus name we pray. Amen.