One of the most amazing things about writing for God is how what I write about comes to me. Sometimes He places something on my heart the night before or the morning of, but most often the messages come piece by piece over several days. Usually I don’t even realize that what I am hearing over those several days is all part of the same message but then I write and somehow everything all fits together. It’s a beautiful thing!
During prayer time this morning I was meditating on the fruits of the spirit. I was reflecting on my life and how the fruit does or does not exist in how I live. Can you guess what ‘random’ Bible verse my phone showed me after my prayer time? Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” If you believe in Jesus and you bear this fruit you know your destiny. How can we know our destiny? Because of the gift that was given to us over 2000 years ago. Christmas is the story of this gift from God.
The God of the universe took Himself from living in a place with no tears or pain, and came to live among us in a messy and hurtful world. Do we even realize how amazing this is? How can we not be motivated to give of our time when the omnipotent creator God was motivated enough to leave perfection and live among us? How can we not be motivated to really love those around us when God loved us enough to be tortured and slaughtered? God didn’t have to feel pain, or cold, or hunger. He wanted to. God didn’t have to be poor and homeless. He chose to be. What creator would suffer for their creation? What kind of God would die for dust?
During prayer time this morning I was meditating on the fruits of the spirit. I was reflecting on my life and how the fruit does or does not exist in how I live. Can you guess what ‘random’ Bible verse my phone showed me after my prayer time? Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” If you believe in Jesus and you bear this fruit you know your destiny. How can we know our destiny? Because of the gift that was given to us over 2000 years ago. Christmas is the story of this gift from God.
The God of the universe took Himself from living in a place with no tears or pain, and came to live among us in a messy and hurtful world. Do we even realize how amazing this is? How can we not be motivated to give of our time when the omnipotent creator God was motivated enough to leave perfection and live among us? How can we not be motivated to really love those around us when God loved us enough to be tortured and slaughtered? God didn’t have to feel pain, or cold, or hunger. He wanted to. God didn’t have to be poor and homeless. He chose to be. What creator would suffer for their creation? What kind of God would die for dust?
WHO WOULD TRADE A SUNNY BEACH FOR A HURRICANE? WHO WOULD TRADE PARADISE FOR CALAMITY? JESUS WOULD AND HE DID FOR YOU!
Have you ever wondered how Christmas can be so wonderful for some people and so painful for others? What is it that we feel during Christmas that feels so amazing? It’s an abundance of love, joy, peace, forgiveness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The spirit of Christmas is the Holy Spirit. Why do we feel this way during the Christmas season? Because when we draw nearer to God, He draws nearer to us. Is it any wonder that Christmas is being attacked by the world?
So why do some people struggle with Christmas? For many it’s a time of depression and loneliness. Feelings of loneliness, depression, bitterness, anger, greed, and the addictions that usually accompany these feelings make us withdrawal and are from evil spirits. There is a spiritual battle that takes place every day in your life but perhaps satan pulls out the big guns during the Christmas season. Suicides are always highest this time of year.
Why do some people feel an emotional letdown after the holiday is over? Maybe because the emptiness they feel inside can never be filled with parties or gifts; once the high is over they crash. They crash because they don’t have the Christmas spirit inside their hearts. Whether they realize it or not they have a longing for God.
No matter what team you are on, there is no getting out of this life without being influenced by the spirit world. We either ask Jesus into our hearts and allow His spirit to control our lives or we choose a life and ultimately an eternity without Him. We are not in control of what happens to us on earth but we do control our destiny by the choices we make.
If Christmas is hard for you, you can change that. Those feelings of depression and loneliness can leave you. You can have peace and joy every day. Ask God if He is real. Ask Him to open your eyes. The Christmas gift has already been given. You just have to accept it. For those that love Christmas, if the Christmas season feels so good because of God, imagine what it will feel like to be in His presence forever. Come quickly Lord Jesus.
So why do some people struggle with Christmas? For many it’s a time of depression and loneliness. Feelings of loneliness, depression, bitterness, anger, greed, and the addictions that usually accompany these feelings make us withdrawal and are from evil spirits. There is a spiritual battle that takes place every day in your life but perhaps satan pulls out the big guns during the Christmas season. Suicides are always highest this time of year.
Why do some people feel an emotional letdown after the holiday is over? Maybe because the emptiness they feel inside can never be filled with parties or gifts; once the high is over they crash. They crash because they don’t have the Christmas spirit inside their hearts. Whether they realize it or not they have a longing for God.
No matter what team you are on, there is no getting out of this life without being influenced by the spirit world. We either ask Jesus into our hearts and allow His spirit to control our lives or we choose a life and ultimately an eternity without Him. We are not in control of what happens to us on earth but we do control our destiny by the choices we make.
If Christmas is hard for you, you can change that. Those feelings of depression and loneliness can leave you. You can have peace and joy every day. Ask God if He is real. Ask Him to open your eyes. The Christmas gift has already been given. You just have to accept it. For those that love Christmas, if the Christmas season feels so good because of God, imagine what it will feel like to be in His presence forever. Come quickly Lord Jesus.
THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENTS ARE NOT FOUND IN BOXES. EVERYONE COULD USE MORE LOVE.
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