Words of Reflection
Tonight an unbelievable amount of Christmas carols will be sung around the world. For this pentultimate devotional in the past I’ve traditionally uploaded well-known carols as a way of entering into Christmas Eve worship. But it strikes me - chances are, you will hear and sing a lot of carols today. You don’t need another version of “O Holy Night” or “Silent Night” to listen to on this page.
This devotional was born four years ago out of a desire to provide space for spiritual formation during this important season, using music as a way to give space for stillness, breath, rest, and reflection. Through it all there is one central hope - that as we celebrate Christ’s birth we also sense Christ being born in us in new and deeper ways. After all, that is the true invitation of Advent and Christmas.
To that end, on this Christmas Eve you are invited to sit with a song that captures this theme better than any I’ve ever heard. Like yesterday’s song, it is sung from the perspective of Mary as she contemplates what is about to happen with the arrival of Jesus. But this time, instead of praying for strength, she is praying…for transformation. Her plea in this song is our plea as well: be born in me.
You and I will never face the situation Mary faced - we will never bear what she was asked to bear. But the image of Mary submitting to God and offering herself to be a vessel for Christ is a picture for us of our own journey. She models obedience and openness in a way that challenges and inspires us. The writers of this song capture her willingness in such poetic language: make my heart your Bethlehem.
So I invite you, before you take that final step into Bethlehem, to sit with the lyrics and beauty of this song and make Mary’s prayer your own. Below the video of the song are the lyrics for you to read (the lyrics are also embedded in the video). As you listen, pray. And as you pray, pay attention to where the call and invitation of God speak to you most clearly. Let that guide you as you offer ask Him to show you what the next couple of days might be for you.
The only thing our heart can offer is a vacancy.
Scripture for Meditation:
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”—Ephesians 3:14-19 (NIV)
Song: Be Born in Me (lyrics below and embedded in video)
Everything inside me cries for order
Everything inside me wants to hide
Is this shadow an angel or a warrior?
If God is pleased with me, why I am I so terrified?
Someone tell me I am only dreaming
Somehow help me see with Heaven’s eyes
And before my head agrees, my heart is on its knees
Holy is He. Blessed am I
Be born in me
Be born in me
Trembling heart, somehow I believe
That You chose me
I’ll hold you in the beginning
You will hold me in the end
Every moment in the middle
Make my heart your Bethlehem
Be born in me
All this time we’ve waited for the promise
All this time You’ve waited for my arms
Did You wrap yourself inside the unexpected
So we might know that Love would go that far?
Be born in me
Be born in me
Trembling heart, somehow I believe
That You chose me
I’ll hold you in the beginning
You will hold me in the end
Every moment in the middle
Make my heart your Bethlehem
Be born in me
I am not brave
I’ll never be
The only thing my heart can offer is a vacancy
I’m just a girl
Nothing more
But I am willing, I am Yours
Be born in me
Be born in me
Trembling heart, somehow I believe
That You chose me
I’ll hold you in the beginning
You will hold me in the end
Every moment in the middle
Make my heart your Bethlehem
Be born in me