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.
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.
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 8th. So sorry, contest open to continental U.S. residents only.
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 8th. So sorry, contest open to continental U.S. residents only.

4 comments:
Love this reminder to face the day with peace and grace! jenn56093 @ yahoo.com
This one is just sooooo special! Thanks!
So true need to keep focus on the Reason for Christmas not what I can't do azhlh7@gmail.com
This is truth: His grace recalibrates our hearts and helps us lean on Him while facing our not so perfect lives.
Thank you!
Anita.r.marble@gmail.com
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