Affirmation of God: I welcome the comfort of the Messiah.

Today’s Scripture: A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He lived an honorable and devout life. He was waiting for the one who would comfort Israel. The Holy Spirit was with Simeon. God’s Word Translation (@1995) 

I must admit that this will be my first Christmas season reading about Simeon as my Christmas story. God wants me here now and I am blessed to be seeing the Messiah through the eyes of Simeon. 

I remember over two years ago and two years into this affirmation journey crying out to God my frustration of not hearing Him. Why LORD did you create me to only remain silent. As it is with His timing, my friend Robin wrote something on her blog at www.allthingsheartandhome.com about the many ways God speaks to us. 

I felt comfort in the fact that I didn’t have to hear a booming voice from heaven, which is what I think I was expecting. From that point on I have had one burning bush experience after another. Yes I hear God and I find comfort in that. 

Which brings me to today, sorry I can see this is going to break the 200 word rule today but this is the Christmas story I have been given. 

After 30 straight days of working from twelve to twenty hours a day I decided to head to the peace and comfort I find sitting in the woods in the name of hunting. Much of the time I have had no internet connection or time to write. Two days ago sitting in the comfort of the circa 1960’s camper in the solitude of the woods of Georgia alone the Holy Spirit prompted me to think about Simeon. 

I went to the Tyndale’s Chronological New Living Translation I had with me and found the prophesy of Simeon in Luke 2:25-35. Here I found my new Christmas story. This story occurred after the birth of our Messiah when Mary and Joseph went to the temple to dedicate their first boy to the LORD. 

It just so happened that Simeon, who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would see the Messiah before he died, was present at the temple at this time. Should we doubt God’s timing? This was a small window of time to be at the same place at the same time, don’t you think? 

Simeon took the child in his arms and praised God! He knew he had seen the Savior. 

This brings me back to today. Returned from the woods, I made my way to my prayer closet this morning. I was impressed by the Holy Spirit of the comfort I feel on those Big Lot’s bath mats I had placed on the cold concrete basement floor. As I honored the LORD’s name the word comfort was what kept standing out to me. I praised God for His comfort. 

Then in looking up Matthew 2:25 in Biblos.com I read the God’s Word Translation version quoted here. “He was waiting for the one who would comfort Israel.” He knew he had seen the savior and he knew HE was the source of comfort. 

Robin was right; God can speak in many ways and in many places. Like Simeon, I don’t have to wait any longer. I have seen the Messiah, the Savior and I have experienced His comfort. 

Many of you reading this have experienced this comfort too. If not, I implore you to just continue to eagerly wait and eagerly expect the Savior to show Himself to you. It will happen in its perfect time if you eagerly expect it, listen to the Holy Spirit and show up when and where the Spirit guides you. 

We celebrate Christmas for the arrival of our Messiah. He came and His Spirit lives within us. In that we find comfort and so much more. 

Have you experienced the comfort of Jesus? 

Today’s Prayer: Father God, I praise Your name and thank You for sending Jesus to be our saving Messiah. Like Simeon I embrace Him and praise You. Father, thank You for Your comfort. You are the Almighty and I am humbled by Your presence and Your gifts. Thank You for giving me this story and I pray You use it to Your glory in Your perfect timing. Amen 

Feel free to contact me if you do not know God’s comfort. I can share how He has revealed this and blessed me with His comfort. 

Tom Raines

Christian Affirmations 4 Life