“God be with you” is very common phrase used in the Ghanaian Akan culture when bidding a person goodbye. When I was a child I often heard adults say it but never really thought deeply about the essence of it. But now, I found myself being very purposeful when saying “God be with you” whenever I am ending phone conversations or saying goodbyes. I have come to find this phrase as an important prayer offered to God that His presence abides with us even as we part from each other but the presence of God never departs from us, it goes with us wherever we go.

Every Christmas season, I find the Spirit of God ministering strongly to my heart to remember God’s presence which is with us.  The Christmas messages that are preached and shared all around emphasize the Messiah coming to earth to be with us.

The word of God as spoken to Mary by Angel Gabriel:

“’She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which translated means, ‘God with us.’” (Matthew 1:21-23).

Matthew’s gospel makes the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy very plain  and clear to the body of Christ. In Matthew 1:21-23, the gospel shows us the fulfillment of the prophecy as spoken by Isaiah that the child that will be born of the virgin shall be called Immanuel meaning “God with us”.

This Christmas, may this revelation of God’s ever presence become so real to you that you will always have hope and joy at all times. The prophet Isaiah prophesied this to God’s people at a time when they had lost all hope that they going to be overtaken by their enemies (Isaiah 7). The hearts of the people were shaken, they did not know what to do, it was in such a time that the prophet prophesied that a son will be born of a virgin and he shall be called Immanuel. God’s presence that manifest to save and comfort the troubled hearts is assured to God’s people when they feel they have lost all hope. God cares dearly about all of us and He does not want to see us being encroached by the enemy but always want us to be strong and confident in the power of His might that is ever present to save and deliver us from the enemy.

In the fulfillment of time, Mary, a humble maidservant of God availed herself for God to use her to bring into the world our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

You shall call his name JESUS (saves His people from their sins), they call His name IMMANUEL (God with us).

God came to the earth, to SAVE and ABIDE with us to the end of the world.  The angel declared to Mary that His name shall be Jesus but they shall call him” Immanuel”. Jesus means he will save his people their sins and Immanuel that God is with us. Jesus Christ does not come to just save you and fly off, like we see in the marvel super hero movies. Jesus Christ is the one who saves and stays with us to keep us from falling. Jesus Christ is the Savior who saves and his salvation is assured to us for eternity. We are never to be afraid in our lives but to always trust that Jesus Christ is  ever present with us.

Give this gift to a friend this Christmas, maybe they may have forgotten that God presence is here to abide with us. They may be wallowing in puddle of misery and depression. Visit them, call them and remind them with this greeting ” Immanuel” “God is with you”. I  pray that we all are empowered and strengthened in our being that our Lord Jesus Christ  who saves us is with us to keep us to the end of time.

Have a wonderful Holy Spirit filled Christmas Celebration and always remember that Jesus Christ loves you so dearly <3.