A Holy Pause {Prepare My Heart for the Holidays}

Welcome to Day 1 of Prepare My Heart for the Holidays, an 8-day heart-boosting prayer experience! Weekdays from today through December 8th.

What if, at the very brink of the Christmas crazy, before we drag out boxes of tangled lights, sift through the ornaments, and tenderly unpack nativity sets, we allow ourselves the luxury of a holy pause? What if instead of allowing the briskness of the season to scoot us forward on its endless current, we stopped and bowed our hearts before the One who stepped out of heaven, in awe and wonder of all He has done? 

What if we lifted to Him the issues that concern us and often steal tiny bits of joy from our hearts during the holidays? What if we allowed our hearts to marvel at the Lord’s unfathomable journey from eternity into an unassuming, most unroyal manger? What if we pondered the miracle of His birth and the reason behind it? What if we asked Him to fill our hearts to overflowing with the reality of the priceless gift of His presence?

And what if that made all the difference? What if making time to be with the One Christmas is all about changed the very atmosphere of our hearts, making this season more peaceful and joy-filled than ever?

Here’s the challenge: Let’s make the decision to engage in a holy pause each day this holiday season and pray about issues that concern our hearts this time of year. 

A simple pause. 

An exquisite shift of perspective, as we lift to Him the burdens and expectations and issues of our hearts, and we can then experience more of His amazing presence...and that changes everything. It changes us!

Ready? 

{A Holy Pause to Pray}

Lord,

You are awesome and mighty, and I bow my heart before You. Lord, I always long to be near You, but I especially long to experience meaningful moments with You all throughout the Christmas crazy.

Please help me to make time for a daily holy pause all throughout the holidays, so that my heart can relax and focus on You…so that I am not overwhelmed, stressed, scowling, or cranky. Lord, shift my perspective. Change the atmosphere of my heart and fill me with Your peace and joy.

Help me to lift my burdens to You daily. Help me ponder Your willingness to step out of heaven to walk on earth, recognizing that You don’t always do things the way we might expect, as Your humble birth proves. Help me to turn my heart toward You in the good and stressful moments. Thank you for filling my heart with Your abundant, overflowing love, Your grace, and Your peace. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

GIVEAWAY: On December 8. I will randomly choose 2 WINNERS who will each receive a signed copy of BOTH of my books, some super cute, unique Christmas cards courtesy of Smiling Sticks, and a few other goodies. 
TO ENTER please leave a comment and include your email (so I can notify you if you win). 
Winner will be notified via email on December 8^th. So sorry, contest open to continental U.S. residents only. 

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