By Alicia Searl Alicia Searl is a devotional author, blogger, and speaker. Visit her website at aliciasearl.com and also connect on Instagram and Facebook. This article found at Christianity.com
How are we already at the end of the year celebrating Christmas? Did this season seem to sneak up on you as quickly as it did for me? The older I get, the quicker the years seem to slip away, and before I know it, I’ve blinked, and my children are all grown up! (sniff, sniff). As I ponder back on the days of old when our daughters were in that sweet stage when everything was magical and celebrating Christmas came with extreme amounts of giggles, I can’t help but get sappy.
Yet, as I begin to prep and prepare for this season, it not
only causes me to get a little sentimental, stroking those nostalgic memories,
but it also summons me to pause and reflect on this past year. I must admit,
each year, I am blown away at how God has moved behind the scenes, showcasing
His faithfulness. Even in the times when I was hanging by a thread (and those
have been many), I can see where He delivered and made true to His promises. We
sure do serve an incredible God!
So, with that, it may leave you wondering, what does God
want from us this Christmas? Furthermore, what could we possibly give to the
Giver of all things?
Maybe, like me, you are wondering how to honor and glorify
God for all the rich blessings and goodness He has so graciously given you and
long to truly thank Him for His unwavering and unfailing love. Even more, you
seek to give our merciful Father your whole heart, undivided attention, and
faithful love, placing yourself at His feet in adoration for the most beautiful
gift of all, His Son!
Well, my friend, I dare not say I know exactly what God
wants from us on Christmas, but what I can say is that there is some insight as
we dig into His Word and seek to understand the nature of His character and
heart. So, let’s gain a little clarity and strive to learn what gift (or gifts)
we can bring to our Heavenly Father and maybe even receive a precious gift from
Him in return.
God's Christmas List
What if God had a Christmas “wish list?” What do you think
would be on it? I believe that since He is the God of love, it would be fitting
for Him to want our genuine and authentic love. Maybe, just maybe, His list
might resemble this-
Love Him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength (Mark
12:30).
Love and serve others (John 15:12-13).
Love. The basis of the best gift! But not just any kind of
love; rather, the kind of love that is unconditional and comes with selfless
sacrifice. The love that flows from a heart that loves Jesus and longs to love
others through His shining example. The kind of love that is laid out for us in
1 Corinthians 13:4-8. If there is anything our world is lacking and desperately
needs, it’s love that brings joy, hope, and peace and is wrapped in mercy.
Love God with Your Heart, Mind, and Soul
Deuteronomy 6:5 and Mark 12:30 (along with other gospel
accounts) tell us we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind,
soul, and strength. Powerful verses that link the Old Testament and New
Testament remind us that God has always sought after all our hearts, minds, and
souls.
This commandment was given to Moses to share with the
Israelites, calling on them to lay down the foundation of their faith by giving
their full devotion to the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:5-9). Then, in Mark 12:30,
Matthew 22:37, and Luke 10:27, we see this verse as Jesus teaching in the
courtyards before the crowds, actively debating the Jewish and civil leaders,
sharing that this is the greatest commandment.
Loving God with Your Heart
As we apply this commandment to our own lives this holiday
season, we can love the Lord our God with our hearts by connecting to Him daily
through earnest and fervent prayer. This time of year brings forth such a sweet
opportunity to connect with our Father in an intimate and meaningful way.
Posture yourself in submission and thank God for His abundant love and grace,
then see where the communication leads as you pour out your heart. If you are
unsure where to start, try a Christmas devotional, journal your thoughts, or
just sit in stillness and silence, soaking in the wonders of His love as you
give Him your undivided attention.
Loving God with Your Mind
We can love the Lord with our minds by seeking truth and
digging into His Word. There are countless verses that reference the birth of
our Savior and can really make us ponder on the wonders and depths of God’s
love with the birth of Jesus. Read Isaiah 7:17 and 9:6, Micah 5:2, Titus 3:4-6,
and 2 Corinthians 9:15. The gospels of Luke and Matthew are also a good place
to start. As you read these verses, let them resonate with you as you come into
God’s presence. If there are lies you currently believe or misunderstandings
you are bending towards, ask God to replace them with His truth to set you
free.
Loving God with Your Soul
Loving the Lord God with all our soul comes with an action
step of giving Him all our thanks and praise in the form of worship and song.
There are so many beautiful Christmas songs that can truly capture and declare
the sheer magnitude of this season. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is one of my
favorites, and every time I hear it, the words simply penetrate my soul. So,
give God the gift of your worship this season and belt out those songs, letting
Him know how much you love Him!
Love and Serve Others
If the greatest commandment is to love God with our whole
heart, mind, and soul, the second greatest command is to love your neighbor as
yourself (Matthew 22: 39). Truth be told, Jesus didn’t have to add this
commandment when speaking to the Pharisees, yet He did so purposefully, as He
obviously thought it important and valuable enough for them (and us) to hear.
Maybe because these commandments cause us to act in an unnatural way and to
love selflessly; in other words, they provoke us to love more like Jesus!
When we love our neighbour, (or basically anyone that we
come into connect with), as ourselves, we treat them the way we want to be
treated. Oh, the universally dubbed” Golden Rule.” However, in going a bit
deeper with that thought, if we love God first, He prompts us on how to love
others well. So, now we see how these commandments naturally go hand in hand.
And, with that, let’s put it into practice this holiday season, shall we?
Spread Joy
Ever since a children’s pastor explained to our youth that
J.O.Y stands for Jesus, Others, and Yourself, it made me look at relationships
in a whole new light. God’s design for our relations with others can bring so
much joy if we just follow His plan and seek Him first, love others well, and
then tend to ourselves in that order. So, let’s spread joy to others this
season by letting God prompt us to share simple acts of kindness (1 John 3:18),
display an attitude of gratitude (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19), and place another’s
needs above our own (Philippians 2:3).
Be a Peacemaker
Matthew 5:9 calls for us to be peacemakers and, even more,
that those who promote peace will be abundantly blessed. It’s obvious that
God’s kingdom is a sanctuary of peace. And, let’s face it, we all long for
peace and unity, especially around a season that practically welcomes it around
the globe. We can be peacemakers this year by being patient with others,
listening intentionally, acknowledging the views and feelings of others, and
extending grace as needed.
Deliver Hope
Christmastime has a special way of bringing renewed hope in
all of us. It’s as if we can let go of the past and see a glimmer of light in
the future. There is nothing quite like the hope we feel during Christmas.
Isaiah 40:31 tells us that as we renew our hope, we essentially awaken our
faith and find new strength to persevere. Yet, for many, the holidays can spur
on pain and sorrow, and hope can become lost in the fog of grief. This holiday,
let’s be mindful of those who are hurting and reach out in love, delivering
hope by bringing a meal, sending a heartfelt card, or stopping in with a warm
cup of cocoa.
This Christmas, give God the gift of your love! Start now by
connecting more deeply to Him through your prayers, digging into His Word, and
praising Him through song and worship. Then, allow the Holy Spirit to help you
spread joy, bring peace, and deliver hope! What precious gifts we can both give
and receive!
Visit Christianty.com for other inspirational reads
Alicia Searl is a devotional author, blogger, and speaker
that is passionate about pouring out her heart and pointing ladies of all ages
back to Jesus. She has an education background and a master’s in literacy. Her favorite people call her Mom, which is
why much of her time is spent cheering them on at a softball game or dance
class. She is married to her heartthrob (a tall, spiky-haired blond) who can
whip up a mean latte. She sips that goodness while writing her heart on a page
while her puppy licks her feet. Visit her website at aliciasearl.com and
connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.
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