Experiencing Jesus This Christmas

Let’s face it. So much time and energy is not focused on Jesus during the Christmas season. For most folks, it’s a mixed bag of stress and parties, fighting traffic and surprising gifts, children’s joy and family dysfunction. I know, I know, I’m really not trying to be Scrooge. But I have heard more than one person say they enjoy Thanksgiving a lot more than Christmas. The expectations are off. The rush is gone.

But what if Christmas could become more about experiencing Jesus? Really. Not just mentioning Him in passing, but experiencing Him? The real, living Jesus. There are lots of doors into His presence. Here’s a time-tested one.

How We Enter Stories

We all have had the experience of getting lost in a gripping movie or book. The story grabs us and takes us on a ride. We forget about our circumstances, our troubles, our burdens, and for a span of time, we enter the story of another. Good storytellers and screenplay writers know how to make this happen with scenes that draw our hearts in. We begin empathizing with the characters, even wanting to be like them.

The same motion can happen with the story of Jesus. It’s one of the reason why the recent series The Chosen has touched so many. But I want to share a much older way of entering the story of Jesus. It’s through our imagination. Rather than just reading about Him in the gospel stories, you learn to imagine the story and put yourself in it.

And of course, the story to enter at Christmas is His birth.

Entering The Nativity Scene

Here’s a step-by-step guide to entering the nativity story. Allow yourself 15 minutes or so of quiet to do this.

1. First, quiet your mind and heart with some deep, slow breathing. Ask Jesus to meet you where are and show you more of Himself.
2. When you feel yourself calming, read the Nativity story from Luke 2:4-7.  Read the text several times to remember the basic flow of the story. 
3. Now decide how you want to enter the scene. You can enter as yourself in the story, as one of the characters, or just as an omniscient observer. There is no right or wrong. Go with what you desire. 
4. Next set the scene in your mind. Spend some time here. Picture the place where Jesus was born. What does it look like? Note the lighting, the temperature. Who is there? How are Mary and Joseph positioned? And where is Jesus? Note both people and animals. Pay close attention to what you are hearing, smelling, and touching with your hands.
5. Then when you feel you have set the scene, just let the story play out in your imagination. Always pay attention to Jesus, what you are feeling toward Him, what is happening to Him, what you are drawn to say to Him.
6. Finally, talk to Jesus about whatever you experienced entering His birth story.

Some Helpful Notes

Some will find praying like this easy to do. Others will find it more challenging. Just do what you can. When I first began to pray like this, I was in the latter category. But over time, it got easier for me.

When you set the scene, focus on your senses. We experience things through our five senses, so the more you can do that with your imagination, the more it becomes a real experience for you.

You follow the story from the Bible, but don’t be surprised if other things happen that are not in the Scripture story. How the Spirit will meet you here will be unique, tailored what you need. Remember, if it draws you toward the Lord, it’s a good thing.

This type of praying is a major part of The Exercises, a prayer adventure where you walk through the entire story of Jesus. We offer the Exercises to men as one of our ministry offerings. If you want to hear more about them, contact me.

More than anything, I hope you experience the living Jesus with you this Christmas. His presence is life, light, healing, and joy. That’s my Christmas wish to all of you!

Bill