“Alexa, play Christmas music.” My husband and I look forward to the time of year when we can FINALLY let Nat King Cole serenade us and ignite the holiday spirit. With the stressors of a global pandemic, a volatile political climate, and economic decline lingering rent free in our minds, we are itching for something to bring us joy.
As I’ve gotten older, I look forward to the Christmas season for different reasons. My soul is longing for a miracle greater than a present under the tree. I have always struggled with articulating the desires of my heart. Music has a way of expressing my longings in a way that I cannot for myself and reminding my heart of the truths it needs to hear. I would much rather the lyrics and tunes of a Christmas hymn linger rent free in my mind that the stressors of the day-to-day.
Music is one of God’s gracious gifts to us. I’m in awe of the way lyrics and notes can pierce and express the deepest desires of my heart that I didn’t even know were there. Hymns which sing sound theology never get old. The tunes and the lyrics they carry are truly timeless and shouldn’t be limited to one month. My heart needs to meditate on the ENTIRE gospel story every day of the year. I want to focus on the miraculous birth of Christ all twelvemonths of the year. When I hear “Joy to the World” sung by Whitney Houston outside the holiday season, it’s message of hope seems fitting.
I encourage you to Google the lyrics of Christmas hymns and mediate on them throughout the year.
Incorporating Christmas hymns and lyrics into our quiet time is a practice we can embrace not just during the holidays, but in the thick of the mundane.
Here are some of my favorite Christmas hymns and verses. If listening to Christmas music throughout the year just doesn’t feel right, reading the lyrics alone will speak hope to your soul. I promise.
1. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
“From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o'er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.”
2. O, Holy Night
“Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til He appears and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn”
3. Silent Night
“Silent night, holy night
Son of God, oh, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth”
4. O Come All Ye Faithful
“O come, let us adore him
God from true God, and
Light from Light eternal
Born of a virgin, to earth he comes!”
5. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
“God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r
When we were gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy”
6. Joy to the World
“Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
And glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love”
7. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
"Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of Earth
Born to give them second birth
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel”
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About Jordan: Lives in historic central Virginia with her husband and daughter. She is a first grade teacher at a Christian school, and loves early mornings and spending time with her family. |