For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭9:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This verse is one we normally lift during Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Christ and receive Him, yet again, into our hearts. He’s called Wonderful and Counselor, among other things, in this verse, but I’ve come to know our Savior as my “Wonderful Counselor” (as it reads in other versions like the ESV), in a new way right here in September.

I’ve shared before how the Covid season has brought, for me, unparalleled closeness and time spent with God the Lord. I never imagined the level of intimacy available to me as what I’ve experienced over the last two years—all it took was God’s knock and His own stirring to lead me to yes. And that work of surrendering and worship continues. What a mighty God we do indeed serve.

In recent months, God has led me to a place of just being redeemed and healed, really. Out of places of hurt, shame, and rejection, He has taught me truth through His Word; allowed me to see more fully what matters and what I need to focus on; the joy of being the creation He made me to be; and more. Through it all, He’s been my steady hand, the One giving me comfort and peace, gentle guidance, and unspeakable, wonderful counseling. I don’t knock therapy and professional counseling, but there’s nothing like the presence of God, seeking His face and finding Him just where you need Him.

In my dig deep of the Wonderful Counselor titling, I found this passage from Got Questions:

That Isaiah calls the Messiah the “Wonderful Counselor” indicates the kind of character this coming King has. The word wonderful in this passage literally means “incomprehensible.” The Messiah will cause us to be “full of wonder.” The word is much weightier than the way it’s used in normal conversation today—we say things are “wonderful” if they are pleasant, lovely, or the least bit likable. Jesus is wonderful in a way that is boggling to the mind. (You can read the full article here, and I encourage you to do so in your personal study time.)

Considering the times in which we live, we need a (or better, the) Wonderful Counselor. If He was needed back in Bible days, surely He’s needed now! And not just when things are hard or bad, but in our joyous seasons as well. He’s to be our ever-loving guide, counseling us through His teaching and ways, and we should receive His instruction for full healing and wholeness. In need of a healing—that’s where I’ve been. And from so much. You just never know where you are—how much restoring you need—until you spend the time with Him.

On 8/21, my forever pastor preached on Pressed Down, Shaken Together, Running Over, taken from Luke 6. At the end of his sermon, he simply said: “This week, let Him bless you. Let the message and the Word resonate deep within your heart, and watch God restore to you everything the enemy tried to destroy.” So powerful. Let Him bless you. That’s what God wants to do for you. He wants to save you, He wants intimacy with you, and He wants to be your Father and King. In your ups and downs, joys and trials, your hurts, hits and misses, let Him be your Wonderful Counselor. Not just on Christmas Day, but every day.

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The doors of the church are open! If God is calling you to salvation—to a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—please answer yes! Life abundant and life eternal await. We’re praying for you!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬