Let Nothing You Dismay

We need not fear the evils of this world because God, in Jesus Christ, has overcome the world.

Our recent devotionals/blessings are rooted in the refrain of the old carol, “God Rest You Merry” because  the lyrics don’t mean what most people think. “Rest” is the Old English word for “keep.” To say “God rest you merry” is to speak a blessing—“May God keep you continually full of joy.”

Today’s blessing is built on a text that, surprisingly, is one of my favorite Christmas scriptures. It’s not from the Gospel Christmas narratives and it’s certainly doesn’t the Christmas aura of hot cocoa, cute greeting cards and Hallmark movies. It’s a violent, triumphant war scene. In chapter 12 of Revelation, John sees a woman giving birth and a red dragon waiting to devour the male child. But the dragon was thrown down and a loud voice in heaven declared the victory of Christ!

Every Christmas, when I read about Herod trying to kill baby Jesus, I like to read the Revelation 12 story alongside it. It reminds me that Christmas isn’t just about God’s love—it’s about His power over evil! Receive today’s blessing rooted in the images of Revelation 12:

God rest you merry!

Let nothing you dismay.

Nothing, as in, not a single thing.

Let no thing cause you unrest.

Let no thing steal your joy.

No predicament. No pandemic. No problem.

Let no thing you dismay because

Christ your Victor lives!

The ancient serpent has been thrown down,

But Jesus has been lifted high.

I bless you to live with confidence in God’s power

Over evil, over sin, over the grave.

In Christ, you’re safe, now and forever.

And that’s the Gospel!