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The Family Life Today radio show once featured an author named Ace Collins who wrote a historical book about Christmas carols. One traditional carol they talked about was the song, “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen.”
Before that day, the first line of that song never made sense to me. The title, “God rest ye, merry gentlemen,” seemed too old-school-English to understand. Was it encouraging us to sleep happily? I just didn’t get it. I’m excited to share with you that the scales have fallen from my eyes! What I learned about this song is really cool, and I think you are going to find it fascinating as well.
Ace explained to the listeners that he had dug through a bunch of English texts from the 1500s and 1600s. One of the first things he learned about this carol was that the comma in our modern day version is actually misplaced in the title. It’s not “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen.” It’s supposed to read, “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.”
While that information alone might not seem to make a difference, this next bit of information will bring the main point home. His research revealed that back in the day this song was written the word “rest” actually meant “make” or “keep.” And the word “merry” actually meant “mighty” or “great.”
So…if we put that all together – in a modern translation – it would sing:
“God make you mighty, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day;
To save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy.”
If you would allow me the freedom, I’d like to translate this even further. Call it the Gwen Smith Revised Edition. This is powerful:
“God make you mighty, girlfriend! Do not be upset, discouraged, or frightened!
Jesus came to earth to take our brokenness and sin
So that we could be made beautiful and whole in Him!
This is great news, which should bring you comfort and joy! Rejoice!”
Have a mighty Christmas!
Have a powerful Christmas!
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11, NIV)
Our hope is alive because 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ left His throne in heaven, was born of innocence, lived a perfect life, suffered and died for our sin, and defeated death in when He rose from the grave. This is surely “good news of great joy!” (Luke 2:10)
Celebrate Christmas this year in His strength, in His peace, and in His joy.
God make you mighty, girlfriend!
Lord, You are mighty and powerful. No matter what I face, I want to walk in Your might instead of my weakness. Help me to remember that Your Word says: “Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) In Jesus’ name, amen.
From my heart to yours, may you have a blessed, mighty, and merry Christmas!
Be safe in your travels, quick to forgive, and generous in love.
Warmly in Grace,
Gwen
FOR YOUR REFLECTION and RESPONSE:
What do you need to be mighty in this Christmas season? Forgiveness? Grace? Understanding? Patience? Is there something that is causing you to be fearful, discouraged, or upset?
PRAY about it right now and ask God for His strength to meet you in your weakness. Then CLICK HERE to share a prayer need or a Scripture verse that might encourage others. Pray for the other needs posted or simply leave a comment declaring, “Greater is He who is in me than he that is in the world!”
NEED ENCOURAGEMENT and INSPIRATION? Order Broken Into Beautiful from Amazon, your favorite Christian bookstore, or from my webstore.
Comments 39
I so need to be mighty over the lies of the Enemy, Satan. He has been attacking my heart and mind and strength for about four years. Circumstances in my life and my families life have discouraged me so I doubt even my very salvation. Confused and disappointed has made the last few years very very difficult. Please pray for peace and assurance of salvation for me and my family. Desperate!!!
I have been dealing with a chronic illness for 3 1/2 years that has had me off work for 8 months and I am beginning to become depressed. I am asking for prayers to help me get through this season in my life. I know through him he can heal me and create the perfect circumstances for treatment. So prayer warriors, please pray for wisdom, peace and comfort and that I may find what God has in store for me for my health and job. Thank you and blessings!
Bless you Gwen for this amazing word. My step-mum, who I was very close to sadly passed away last Thursday after a 4 year battle with cancer. I am facing a difficult family meeting today together with the funeral director to plan the funeral and your words that God will make me Mighty are so what I needed to hear. Bless you so much for your awsome ministry – have a really joyfull and peace filled Christmas x x
This time last year I was staying in a motel paid for by a charity after a family breakdown. This Christmas I am renting a house I think is nice and my mother is communicating with me. I have also made friends with our local Baptist church minister and his family. God has turned my life from looking like a big disaster into a mighty blessing in less than a year.
I soooo need forgiveness and grace _and_ I need to give forgiveness and grace!! Thank you for sharing this mighty, merry devotional!!
I so need to be mighty over one of the two chronic illnesses that plain drives me cuckoo!! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!!
ive been struggling with the loss of my grandmother in SEP and the loss of my job in OCT. im so stressed with school and overwhelmed and depressed and irritable. I pray and pray but it keeps getting worse. ive fallen into negativity and exploding on people. I don’t want to be this way anymore. my relationship is suffering at home because of it. I have no peace at all. no comfort. I don’t know what to do anymore.
Thank you for all sharing your hearts. I will take them before the throne this morning as my Bible study women meet for prayer. Please lift me up as I am often reminded that I am married to a passive introvert and our marriage often feels lost at sea and directionless when I know God has so much more He’d like to do. Pray that I can keep my eyes on God and not allow the enemy of our souls to keep me discouraged and hopeless. What is Christ’s appearing if not endless hope, not a hopeless end? Your sister in Christ.
Michelle,
I understand a lot of the pain that you all are coming from God wants all of us to appreciate the fact that it is he’s birthday and we get gifts 365 days a year and we can just not be so selfish and think about the real meaning of Christmas Please Pray for my Family we owe for this month rent and I was to suppose to pay some money towards the rent but I couldn’t I got paid last Friday but not all my pay because I sign up for the 401k and if you don’t know what you are doing please ask someone because I didn’t my company matches a percent of it I thought I was putting down something eles and end up putting down the wrong thing when I look at my pay they took half of my check and I can’t pay my rent off my husband get paid this Friday but our debt will not be paid off and our lease is ending and we have to pay our balance in full before we sign a new lease I was just sitting here reading all the blogs and says I’m thinking that my situation is bad and it is but I was reading all the blogs and say THANK LORD THANK LORD and crying at the same time. GOD BLESS YOU ALL MERRY CHRISTMAS AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR MY FAMILY MICHELLE / ZACHERY/ DEJAH/ DINIQUE
Please pray for me. I have a serious infection in my foot that may require amputation.
I know the creator of the universe is with me, but I am fighting many emotions. Thank you. Susan Robinson srrobinson64@gmail.com
Yes I need Gods strength in my weakness. Please pray for me. My husband has left me and filed for seperation. I’m devastated
Please pray that I get a vehicle miracle. My finances won’t allow for me to pay for a new car. I also need prayer for strength to stop allowing people to determine my life.
Please help me pray that my part time job will become a full time job and also that I will get a raise. I would also like you to help me pray for a husband.
“My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”
2 Cor. 12:9 Dear women of God, the fact that we are on this site is saying we want to know Him more and the fact that we all have something we are going through…the key, WE WILL get through although it seems not at this time. Through the Blessings of Gwen’s encouraging messages and that we are all Girlfriends in God even having never met know that you are lifted in prayer and thought! I light a candle today remembering each of you and praying that even one thing will have become positive for you through Him. Whether it is the living space you need, becoming “unstuck”, or just need a warm hug, it is sent your way. God knows, He sees, He hears (even when we don’t) He tells us our prayers are answered even before we ask. Let’s find the Merry in our lives, in our Christmas even when we think we can’t, because He can and does. Kathryn
After learning about my husband’s unfaithfulness I’m stuck in a state of severe heartbreak. I am unable to move to forgiveness. I am unable to walk from the ashes of the devastation. I’m unable to make a choice of whether to stay or go. My children are so young. Our marriage is so young. God seems so silent.
My husband has been out of work for several months and seems to be doing nothing to find a job. I pray for doors to open for him soon.
Wisdom to make the right choice regarding mediation with my ex-husband for a Parenting Plan modification. I don’t think he is worth the time and money to resolve a situation he cares nothing about. I am honestly needing Gods intervention and wisdom in this matter.
A lack of enough money to pay minimum bills is causing me great stress. We can only give our children $50 each and have never had this little amount to give. Please pray for God’s provision over our family and for us to have wisdom handling money.
Please pray for wisdom and guidance for my family. We are having to move by the end of the month and don’t have a place to go. There are 6 of us, and our 15 yr old dog. My husband is disabled, our finances are very minimal, with no money for a security deposit. We are trying not to get side traceked and forget the meaning of Christmas, but it is hard to fight thru when you are smacked with reality every day. We have been blessed with some presents for the kids and someone will let us borrow a tree today, none of which are necessary for a Merry Christmas, but they do bring joy to the children. We have had to move 14 times in the past 8 years, please pray God finds us the right place to live with the right landlord and maybe one day our own home. I feel so foolish for being so discouraged when others are dying or have lost loved ones. This place of hopelessness has been mind numbing at times. Some days it takes all I have to praise The Lord, but in All things we praise him.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding and He will direct your path. I know that it can be hard but you have to believe that God WILL take take care of you, remember He is taking care of the birds and you mean more to him and a bird, so just trust Him. I know that it can be hard because all you seem to see is the situation but like Jehoshaphat did, I’m encouraging you to take your mind of your problems and keep your eyes on God and remember to CONSTANTLY praise Him. We we’re well behind on our rent, we had given all that we had and we were still owing, and last week was our last paid week for the year, plus we still didn’t have the money for what would be next month rent. But I decided to trust God, that’s all I could do apart from praying. God will allow things to happen to us so that we can trust Him and faith in Him. But in all of that He still good. I said God I know and I believe that you will work it out for us. I continued to pray and BELIEVE and TRUST Him and said ” God I do not want the year in end with us in debt on the rent”, sure enough we got a bonus plus the pay for the week that we would not work and we were able to pay all that owing, we still don’t have never t month rent, but I’m not worried, He did it once and He will do it again, and what He has done for us He will do for you. Remember absolutely nothing is impossible for God, he will make a way in the desert and rivers to flow in dry places ( Isaiah 43 ). God bless you.
I’m asking for prayer for my family.My husband has been very ill for 2 yrs.It looks like we are coming down to a diagnosis.Possibly after coming back from our vacation.Which we are enjoying so much because it seems our lives are filled with one doctors appointment after another it has been so nice to relax and enjoy the holiday season.I don’t know what the new year brings but I do know that God holds the future and I trust him completely.
Please pray for my family. My sister is going through breast cancer and my father passed away several years ago from cancer. My mom is not handling the situation well. We all need strength, grace, and forgiveness. Also, please pray that my husband will have compassion to this situation.
Thank you for this reminder of God’s strength working in and through us. I cannot imagine not leaning on Him daily because that’s what gets me through each day. Praying for salvation for my family and the burden I carry for each of them. Merry Christmas!
Prayer for discernment – whether I need His strength to trust Him to protect and use my boys as I place them back in school or to continue to homeschool in spite of the fact it feels like I am really not doing well to meet all of their educational needs ( there are 4 of them!)
Also I extend my prayers to those who I see are hurting and suffering right now <3
Can you pray for my friend Anna? She has missed a lot of school because she is sick. The doctors don’t know what’s wrong with her. She can’t keep anything down and she is so weak she can’t stand for five minutes without sitting.
Thank you for this beautiful message, if I could ask for you woman to
pray for a friend of mine Nancy going through breast cancer and my uncle
that has battled crones disease for years I would really appreciate it.
I love your site and the inspirational messages you share each day.
God bless and Merry Christmas!
Marni
I have come to appreciate many of the traditional Christmas songs this year; deep diving on the translations and Hope of the world. I ask for prayer in our family. Our 21 year-old daughter has been estranged for 3 1/2 years from us; went to college and never came home. Our hearts burn this year beyond our understanding. Her brothers are restless. We know God is in control AND working in her life, but the ache of our empty arms is brutal. Eighteen years ago we lost her younger sister and what I remember is God’s peace that Christmas, simple and pure. May God bless and extend peace to all families anxiously waiting for their prodigal sons and daughters to come home.
Praying with you.
Thank you for decoding this song. I can now appreciate the song. May God’s grace, peace and joy ignite as we continue to pray for each other. Let’s remember, There is power in prayer and HE hears our prayers. Pray without ceasing and Greater is he within me. Blessing upon all.
The translation of the song was enlightening! Thank you. I ask for prayer to stay on a spiritual course of progression with my relationship with the Lord. Like the scripture says “Greater is he within me”. Have a blessed Day.
Please pray that I would have faith again in the Lord’s goodwill for me and my family. Please pray that He would save us from a horrible business situation. Our desire is to sell the business very quickly; plz pray for the Lord’s will with this. Thank you!
I love receiving the explanation of this song. I never could understand it’s meaning before now and, too, always wondered about the message. Now it makes so much sense. Thank you! My prayer request is for all my family to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The verse that I would like to share is Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. This verse has given me hope through some really dark times in my life. Merry Christmas!!
Thanks for the explanation of the song, I too, wondered what that meant. Today with me will be God make you mighty, girlfriend!
I just read this message, I believe all of what you say. I love The Lord and believe Jesus is my savior but right now I am a mess. I lost my husband this year to a devistating cancer mesothelioma. Prior to that we had some marital issues that were just being resolved and now I am stuck with a business we ran and a very small family that does not live close. I have girlfriends that encourage me in my faith but I am just so sad right now. All the prayers I can get are needed. Thank you. Diane
Diane, I am so sorry that you are hurting for the holidays. Please remember that God is with you in the valley. My gf lost her husband and although her valley was long and dark, she clung to the fact that HER GOD was awesome yesterday when her life was going good. AND HE was still awesome when her world was crumbling. Although our circumstances change our GOD never does!!!! You are not alone. Praying that God reveals himself to you.
Diane, I’m sory for your pain. My prayer is for you to feel the love of Jesus, He will never leave you or forsake you. I know how you feel because I lost my husband nine years ago. Remember God understands and grieving is part of death. It feels like your in a dark tunnel and you will never see the light but you will. Someone said to me it’s not anything you get over, you just learn to adjust. Just allow yourself to be encouraged in your faith.
Jesus was my husband until I got married at the age of 35, and now at 55 I am reminded that he is always to be my husband as humans disappoint us. I lost both parents and both dogs (children) within 18 months of each other a few years ago. Sadness still wafts over me, but the anxiety that plagued me was fought off with Psalm 23. Try saying it out loud three times to really mean what it says. God will not disappoint us, but we do have to adjust to the new circumstances and that takes time and it is not ever a perfect process. Lifting you up to the Lord today. May thinking on Him bring a smile to your face.
I pray that God will Bless each of you this season of love remembering to keep Jesus Christ the most precious gift of all as the most perfect gift to give. May God continue to bless and strengthen each of you is my prayer.
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. Psalm 138:8