Reflection:  My wife Amy loves me but, gee whiz, I can frustrate her at times. Like when I refuse to find it within myself to get excited about something before it happens. Be it a holiday (remember those, in a world pre-COVID-19?) or the birth of our own children, I’m one of those annoying people who have to experience the thing before I get excited. And even then, my excitement is measured, not exuberant. So, I am the pot and you are the kettle when I point you towards this expectant passage in Isaiah, and humbly suggest we all grasp the exhilaration of what it promises. Pretend we have all gone back in time and we are hearing Isaiah speak these words of God, about one extra-special child yet to be born. There are other indicators throughout the full book of Isaiah about who this special child is, but in these exquisite phrases and titles we get a stratospheric snapshot of who this son will be. Read slowly each description of the child and do what I normally do not do – fire up about the majestic promise of this One to come. The One who did. Thank God.

Question: Is there anything stopping you from getting excited about the child who fulfilled what Isaiah 9:6 promises?

Reflection:  Brainstorm ways you can remove those blockages to such Jesus-shaped excitement.

Prayer:  Ancient of Days, may I be empowered in my love and worship of Jesus, by considering him as the divine ruler portrayed in Isaiah. Thank you that this special child entered our world. Amen.