Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewellery, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

1 Peter 3v3-4

Christmas List

17/12/2013 15:07

"You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it."  - Matthew 21:22

There's a week to go until Christmas. It's this time of year that people are constantly asking you what presents you'd like. Usually, I have a long list of things that I want, but this year I was struggling to find ideas as to what I'd like to have at Christmas. One evening, my parents asked me what I wanted that they could get me, and to my surprise the answer that came out of my mouth was, 'nothing really. I have stuff that I want, but only God can give those things to me, they can't be wrapped up and put under the tree'. As surprised as I was by my answer, it gave me an idea; if all I want this year are things that only God can give me, why not write Him a Christmas list?

So I did it. I've written down a list of 10 things that I really want God to do in my life, bless me with, do to the people around me, or provide for me. I wrote these things in the faith that one way or another, God is going to give me everything that I've written on that list. And so I've got a challenge for you; today, why not write your own list of things that you want God to give you? It doesn't matter how big or small they are, how seemingly unimportant or how life changing they are, how selfish or selfless they are - ask God for them. Whatever stage of life you're at, wherever you are in your walk with God, there will always be things that God wants to give to you and prayers that you want to have answered.

Here's an example of a few of the things on my list;

  • Healing
  • Prophecy fulfillment
  • Spiritual gifting
  • Salvation
These are pretty general headings, as the exact things I'm praying for are quite private, but even though I've only shown you guys a rough example, I hope you get the idea. These things are things that no-one else in my life can give to me, but that God has the power to give. He will 'supply all our needs' (Philippians 4:19) and 'pour blessings over you' (Psalm 85:12). Believe that, and give Him opportunities to display it to you.
 
How about it? Fancy writing a Christmas list? Writing 10 things on a piece of paper, keeping that paper, praying daily for each of the things on that list and having faith that one day everything you have on that list will be crossed off and completed? Jesus said that we can pray for anything, so don't be shy in what you ask for, and don't limit your requests to what you think God may be able to do. Limiting your requests limits the capacity for God to work in your life. God can do anything! He does 'exceedingly abundantly more than we ask' (Ephesians 3:20). Jesus also said that if we have faith, we will recieve that which we have asked for. Do you have faith that God will give you your Christmas presents? If so, then He'll give them to you! 'Be faithful in prayer'  . (Romans 12:12)
 
It's up to you how you do this - whether you set God a time frame in your praying, or whether you leave the list open-ended - and it's up to you whether you even do this. But I think that although this is such a simple idea, it is something with the potential to be life changing. I have faith that everything we write on these Christmas Lists will be provided to us, some may take longer to be given to us than others, but Jesus tells us that persistent prayer is effective prayer; "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7) Let's head into Christmas and the New Year eager, ready and expectant to receive things, find God, and have doors opened to us.

I'm excited to see what happens! I'm asking God to have at least one of the things on my list ticked off by Christmas, and at least another two ticked off by New Year. Unwrapping these presents is going to be so much more fun than unwrapping the presents under the tree. Plus these presents will be much longer lasting and beneficial!

 

Merry Christmas, enjoy your presents!

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