The first Christmas wasn’t just a peaceful night. It was preceded and then filled with inspired poetry and song from everyday people whose lives changed forever. The gentle strains of those early Christmas songs set the tone for a new way of living.

Isaiah sang his song into a world of chaos and cruelty, grieving the loss of a good king and staring at an uncertain future. In that darkness, God gave him a vision of a Child “whose name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” and on whose shoulders the government of all the world would rest (Isaiah 9:6–7).

Isaiah saw that real life begins by deeply depending on the rule of God in our own hearts.

Elizabeth’s voice broke with joy after decades of disappointment, long after she stopped expecting God to do anything new in her story. When the Lord graciously ended her barrenness, she testified, “Thus the Lord has dealt with me…to take away my reproach” and later greeted Mary with the astonished cry, “But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:25, 43).

For busy leaders who have prayed the same prayers for years, Elizabeth’s voice calls us back to a daily, childlike joy that God is still doing gracious things for us.

Mary’s song flowed out of a young woman whose life plans were lovingly interrupted by God (Luke 1:26–29). After asking, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” she ultimately responded, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:34, 38). Her song begins, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46–47).

When you and I fear what obedience might cost, Mary “sings” that when God redirects our plans, He is not ruining our lives… He is leading us into something better than we had planned.

The shepherds were ordinary men pulling another night shift when heaven’s choir broke into their lives (Luke 2:8–9). An angel declared, “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people…there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord,” and a multitude of the heavenly host praised God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:10–14, 20).

Those ordinary men went away “glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen,” reminding us that when He shows up in our lives, even routine tasks become wonder-filled moments (Luke 2:20).

Simeon and Anna sang their songs at the end of long, faithful journeys (Luke 2:25–26, 36–37). Cradling the infant Jesus, Simeon blessed God: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace…for my eyes have seen Your salvation,” while Anna “gave thanks to the Lord” and “spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:29–32, 38).

For those of us who feel tired, unseen, or tempted to “coast,” their stories encourage us to wait expectantly and serve faithfully throughout our lives, but especially during this Christmas season.

As you press through another crowded December, may you hear what those first witnesses heard: the sound of your own heart breaking into spontaneous praise! The same Christ who turned shepherds into worshippers and priests into poets is waiting to transform your routine into His song.

“Lord Jesus, let the childlike awe and poetic praise of that first Christmas rise up in me.”