ADVENT REFLECTION VERSE
Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Reflect on the names given to Jesus in this passage: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. How do these titles relate to your life, and how do you experience Jesus in these ways?
One of my favorite traditions as a kid was singing “O Come O Come Emmanuel” in the choir.
Let me paint a picture for you: The high school kids would sing this a cappella, holding a candle, walking into the auditorium. We would surround the audience and sing. It was beautiful and so precious, even if we sang this song two more times during the performance. It was a beautiful part of our winter concert. We also sang “Hallelujah” yearly and invited fellow alumni to join in. These moments were more than just performances; they were profound experiences of communal reflection and celebration of the Advent season.
NAMES OF JESUS:
The names given to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace—hold deep significance, especially during Christmas, when we celebrate His birth into our world.
WONDERFUL COUNSELOR:
As Wonderful Counselor, Jesus guides us with wisdom that astonishes and transcends human understanding. Reflecting on my choir days, I realize how those moments of singing about Emmanuel’s coming weren’t just about beautiful melodies but were guided by the deeper wisdom of what those lyrics meant. How has Jesus been a counselor in your own life, guiding you through decisions and challenges with wisdom that feels divinely given?
MIGHTY GOD:
As Mighty God, Jesus demonstrates power that can transform lives. The power in the words of “O Come O Come Emmanuel” resonates with the strength of Jesus’ nature, a reminder that our Mighty God was humbly born and laid in a manger yet destined to save the world. Where have you witnessed Jesus’ mighty power in your own life or in the lives of others?
EVERLASTING FATHER:
As Everlasting Father, He offers us eternal compassion and a protective love that never ends. This enduring presence is like the tradition of singing “Hallelujah” with alumni, spanning across different generations, reminding us of the timeless nature of Jesus’ fatherly care. How have you experienced Jesus’ fatherly qualities through constant love and protection?
PRINCE OF PEACE:
As Prince of Peace, Jesus brings peace that calms our chaos and transcends all earthly troubles. Just as the candlelight during our choir performance cast a gentle, peaceful glow over a darkened room, Jesus illuminates our lives with peace in the midst of darkness. When have you felt this profound peace in your own life?
THE SPIRIT OF ADVENT:
As we reflect on these profound titles of Jesus, this Advent lets us draw nearer to understanding and experiencing Him in all the fullness that His coming offers us—not just during Christmas but throughout our lives.
Heart Checks:
How can understanding Jesus as the Wonderful Counselor influence your decisions and actions during the busy Christmas season?
In what ways can recognizing Jesus as the Mighty God inspire you to trust more deeply in His power over your life’s challenges?
How might you foster a deeper appreciation of Jesus’ role as your Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace in daily interactions and relationships?
I hope I filled this out correctly.
Hope I did this correct
So Grateful for our Savior
Thank you for doing this. I was a single mom and at times would cry that my children didn’t have a father figure in their lives. But God, 😁 reminded me he was their Father.
My son has a heart condition and went through many pen heart surgeries. This one time things were hard. I prayed to God for help for my son. I also prayed for myself. I’ll never forget the peace that went through my body. It took away the worry, me being scared and I was able to get a good night sleep. I was by myself with my son. How wonderful to have Jesus with me at those times. Thank you Jesus.
Thank you Melissa. This is awesome.
I Agree! This was absolutely Beautiful!! Well written and impactful! I’m glad I have an everlasting father that loves me and is my illuminating salvation!!
I would like to receive this
I love this ❤️
Thank you I would love this devotional
Thank you
Thank you
This reflection really spoke to me today. Here is just a little bit about my faith journey. I am 58 yeas old and grew up going to an Episcopal church. There were times when my family went frequently and consistently and other times that we didn’t go. However, no matter what church, worship and faith were a large part of my life. Last year at this time, I decided I needed to read and study the entire Bible. My soul seemed to be lacking and searching for it. I found Heart Dive channel. I have faithfully watched and studied since starting on January 1st. I found if I missed a day, I felt lost and alone. Fast forward to 1 month ago, my life was turned upside down by my live in boyfriends betrayal. His past ex (who wanted to date him again) came to my house for a day. I was physically paralyzed with anger, resentment and bitterness. I was becoming physically ill. That night I was still emotionally stuck so I thought – PRAY! I got my bible, a prayer list of verses, (I’m in the process of making a prayer bible) and began to pray. I surrendered myself to God and Jesus. The more i prayed the more I found myself becoming calm and at peace. I found strength and comfort. I found the Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, and Mighty God. I then prayed for this other woman and my boyfriend. I literally felt this overwhelming peace and light come into my heart. I realized they needed prayer more than I did. A woman who enters another woman’s home knowing that she wants to destroy their relationship and a man who allows this to happen, needs God in their lives. I continue to surrender to God to light my path on the direction I should go. I believe he will show me my path. I also continue include both of them in my prayers. I would have never been able to do this if it wasn’t for Heart Dive. I have finally found true peace and comfort with Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Thank you all for everything. A true blessing
This has been a bit of a problem for me to recognize how I can put my trust in Jesus more. It has been a challenge for me to find quiet time with God because my brain doesn’t think much of anything but work. When I get home, I just want to take a nap to forget about the day.
Absolutely beautiful reminder of how wonderful and marvelous our God truly is. Thank you for reminding us how blessed we really are. I will meditate daily on these reminders and print it out to help me.
I can talk to Jesus about my challenges and concerns and I know he will be my mighty counselor and guide me in all situations.
Recognizing Jesus as the mighty God helps me to take matters out of my hands and give it to Jesus and trust Him with it. It inspire me to want to have the character of Jesus, and through His perfect life, He leads us to the path of obedience…. Blessings!!🙏🏾🌈