The Mirage of Perfection {Prepare My Heart for the Holidays}

Welcome to Day 6 of Prepare My Heart for the Holidays, an 8-day heart boosting prayer experience, just before the Christmas crazy. 

My hope:  Complete holiday flawlessness: cozy candles, contented hearts, Christmas music everyone agrees on, delicious, festive smells wafting from my kitchen, beaming people gathered in my home, gifts purchased far ahead of time and beautifully wrapped, and joy. Lots of joy.

Pure holiday bliss.

My reality: Pure holiday crazy: forget to even light the candles, family members  who can take or leave Christmas music, baking only once in December because frankly, I can’t find the time, family I won't see because they live in another state, unexpected sickness, and gifts yet to be purchased (the list isn't even started!).

Our challenge? Face reality with grace and peace. This year, both of our sons are deployed far, far away; A precious uncle is in the hospital; A sweet friend's husband is battling end-stage cancer.

Just because it's Christmas doesn't mean our lives are suddenly perfect. THIS is why I pray, why we pray. Because it is HERE, in the far from perfect, that Jesus meets us.

When our dreams for a perfect holiday dissolve before us like a shimmery mirage on hot pavement, we can panic or we can embrace reality while breathing in God’s grace. His grace recalibrates our hearts and helps us lean on Him while facing our not so perfect lives.

The beautiful truth is perfection isn’t necessary for us to  enjoy the holidays. We can choose to be in high spirits by allowing more of His Spirit to dwell in us all throughout the season. We can ask Him to infuse our hearts with grace. We can praise Him not because our lives are perfect, but He is.

{A Holy Pause to Pray}

Lord,

Forgive my ridiculous expectations of perfection during the holidays. I don’t want to set myself up for disappointment. You are the only perfect thing in my life! Help me to let go of my goal of the perfect Christmas season, and instead by Your grace accept my current reality, doing my part and trusting You for the rest.

Please give me grace to be cultivate gratitude, peace, joy, and Your presence, not because everything is going smoothly, but in the face of stress, sickness, and the unpleasant realities Let the richness of Your Spirit dwell in me so that my heart radiates authentic peace from Your presence to my family and all those around me. 

Thank you for filling my heart with Your grace and joy. Give me a merry heart that doesn’t demand perfection and rejoices in You always. Right now I am choosing to be in high spirits and sing praise to Your name, all holiday season long. I will choose joy. Not because my life is perfect, but because You are. In Jesus's name, Amen.

I will rejoice in You and be in high spirits; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High! (Psalm 9:2) (AMPC)

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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