Last year, I was in a funk. My favorite uncle passed away at the beginning of December, my daughter and her new husband could not come home for Christmas, and I was disappointed about the lack of growth of MBolden Ministries. So I was in a funk – going through the motions of the Holiday season without joy.

One Sunday morning during my period of funk, the worship band sang, O Holy Night. This has been my favorite Christmas song since I was a child and heard Robert Guillaume sing it on the TV show Benson. But this time, as I sung that song, the lyrics

AND IN HIS NAME ALL OPPRESSION SHALL CEASE!

reverberated into my spirit, my soul, my body.

It hit me like a ton of bricks, I was allowing my circumstances to oppress me but Jesus came to set me free! I immediately repented (changed my mind) and began to walk in the freedom Jesus provided. Yes, I was still sad about my uncle and my daughter but those facts should not alter my joy. Because you see, despite my circumstances, despite my disappointments the truth, as the song so eloquently states is:

Christ is the Lord, Oh praise His name forever. His power and glory forevermore proclaim.

That is what I decided to do in that instance  – praise His name forever and proclaim His power and glory not my disappointments. My funk left at that moment and I walked in the freedom He had already provided.

What is oppressing you this season? Are you mourning the loss of a loved one, a job, a relationship? Are you disappointed with your career, your bank statement, your 2018 goals? Are you dreading family gatherings or wishing for more opportunities to spend time with family? Remember Christ is the Lord. He is your All and All. He is more than enough. So praise Him. Worship Him. Your circumstance may not change, but I guarantee your joy will be restored.

Sing these words with me and command oppression to cease:

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

#nostressholidays