Celebrate Christmas! (2) - All The Word for Today Daily Devotionals for 2026

‘This day is holy.' Nehemiah 8:9 KJV

The word holiday comes from the Old English word haligdæg, which means ‘holy day'. So, when Nehemiah announced, ‘This day is holy,' he was declaring a celebration; a time to

Today, overindulgence and overspending have become synonymous with Christmas, making Christians hesitant to celebrate. Jack Hayford writes: ‘Often it is from those newly associated with our fellowship who have allowed themselves—perhaps for the first time—to enter into the wonder and fullness of Christmas joy and celebration Christmas is more than merely "merry". Christmas is mighty. Celebration—unfettered enjoyment, love laughter gifts and giving, trees and tinsel carols and bells all of it—has an inherent potential for mightiness. The qualifying factor is the presence of the Holy Spirit. When He is present, the accoutrements of Christmas can bless, strengthen, heal, [and] restore When He is absent, carols ring hollow. Greetings, wishes and smiles lie on the surface, like glitter glued on a flat card. Lights and decorations can leave the heart more desolate than ever. But where the Holy Spirit is there is power to change entrenched habits transform cold hearts grudges and expectations lift lives out of the shadow This Christmas, let Him come upon you. Welcome the Holy Spirit to move upon your life, and then make your own move into the season's best opportunities to bask in the wonder of it all Reach out to those around: encourage, bless, bake, give, visit, invite, share, and lift hearts wherever you can. By New Year you'll find Christmas to have been marvellously, and even miraculously, mighty.'

SoulFood: Isaiah 11:1-10, Luke 2:21-38