With the coming of the last Sunday of November, we are officially into the Advent season, that ancient tradition of preparing our hearts to celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas. The first week of Advent focuses on hope, and that will be our focus all week here at “Change Begins in You.”

We read in Isaiah 9, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.”

Seven centuries before Bethlehem, God spoke these words into Israel’s darkness. His people faced invasion, exile, and uncertainty—yet God gave them a promise to hold onto, a promise that would fuel their hope. A child would come. A kingdom would have no end.

This is how God’s people have always lived: anchoring their hope in His promises as they wait.

They didn’t see the fulfillment immediately. Generations lived and died still clinging to these words. But God’s promise didn’t fade with time—it grew stronger, more detailed, more certain. Every prophet added another brushstroke to the picture of the coming Messiah.

And then, in the fullness of time, the promise became flesh. Hope was fulfilled. The child was born. The Wonderful Counselor arrived. The Prince of Peace entered our chaos and came to save the world, just like He had promised.

Today, in this season of Advent, we celebrate the hope of promises kept. But we also live like our spiritual ancestors—holding onto promises not yet fulfilled. Christ came once and promises to come again. And in this, we have unshakable hope as well because God always keeps His promises. Have a blessed Advent!

Change begins in you!