As April and I reflect this evening on all that God has done for us, we can say He has met every need right on time and kept us safe, even getting my wife through the virus safely. We’ve got to spend time with Bella and watch her grow up so quickly. He has blessed us with a phenomenal church family, worship team, and youth group. He has helped my keynotes and trainings, virtually and in person. He even helped navigate our family through an unconventional political campaign season. The list goes on and on. As we count our blessings, we quickly realize God has still been at work even when we feel like our world has stopped. His response to us as always been love, faithfulness, and commitment. He responds to His children this way as a loving father. But I have a question, “How do we respond to Him?”

In Luke 1:41 it mentions that when Elizabeth, who is expecting a boy named John the Baptist, greets the expecting Virgin Mary, that something significant occurred. The Bible says upon the greeting being heard, the baby JUMPED within Elizabeth. Think about it: the first response to Baby Jesus was from a fetus of another baby in a womb! His response spoke volumes of what kind of King this Jesus would be!

But how about your response? I would be a liar if I said I respond to the King of Kings with that much excitement all the time. Sure, some days I could talk about Jesus all day. He is my passion. I can’t wait to introduce Him to others and love to brag on my God. I feel the intensity of passion in my chest for Him even as I write this post. I get excited singing about Him and preaching His Word with everything within me. But I don’t always respond that way towards Him.

During this pandemic, I’ve often found myself viewing my prayer life as chore. I’ve been disappointed with services/ministry events/youth events/revivals being cancelled and in person visits are hard to come by. I’ll admit I have even searched the Bible in frustration sometimes, trying to find answers to the current problems we have faced in 2020, but He is still revealing truth. I’ve sometimes viewed my ministry as a job, rather than a divine opportunity. So tonight, I’m praying for a JUMP to take place in my life. I’m praying that God would help me to have that spiritual response that causes my heart to leap again for Jesus.

We could all use a jump in our lives for Jesus. We could use more of a jump of heart cry in our worship. A jump of unction in our pulpits. A jump of attentiveness in our quiet time. A jump of proactiveness in our prayer lives. A jump of repentance in our revival. And, a jump of excitement whenever and wherever we speak or think about the Lord. Tonight, I recognize that Brandon needs Jesus to help Him jump more for Him.

This Christmas, I so want to be like John the Baptist. By that, I don’t plan on eating wild honey or consuming locusts, but instead I hope that in every response to the Lord, I pray that my life would jump for Jesus. Because even in our spiritual setbacks, God still desires to see a bounce back towards Him from His children. This Christmas, let’s respond to the King of Kings and Jump for Jesus!

JumpForJesus #Christmas #Christmas2020 #christmaseve2020

“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby jumped in her womb. Elizabeth was then filled with the Holy Spirit.” -Luke 1:41