In preparing for advent, my church is reviewing Isaiah 9:2-6.  This is such an amazing passage of scripture because it is the Prophet Isaiah foretelling the birth of Jesus around 600-800 years before the birth.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

So this week of advent I’m studying what it looks like for Jesus to be Wonderful Counselor in my life.

It doesn’t take long for me to identify that I view my husband, colleagues, close girl friends, and even my own voice of reason as the primary counselors for my life. So I decided to look at times throughout scripture to shape what this concept looks like.  Since Jesus is God (Matthew 11:27), I looked in the old and new testament to find these attributes.

• Knows us by name Exodus 33:17
• Helps us speak Exodus 4:12
• Gives us purpose Genesis 3:23
• Pursues us Genesis 16: 7
• Hears our cries Exodus 2:23
• Changes us (Saul –> Paul, Abram to Abraham, etc)
• Delivers us 2 Samuel 22:1
• Disciplines us Deuteronomy 8:5
• Teaches us: Mark 11:20
• Challenges us: Mark 10:21
• Is patient with us: Mark 4:40