Merry Christmas! I hope you’re having an amazing season celebrating our Savior’s birth.
As you freely gather with your family and worship the Lord openly in your church this Christmas, please pause a moment, and pray for the many millions who still have never heard Jesus’ name….
… and for persecuted Christians around the world:
Lord, we ask You for Christians in closed countries, that You would hide them under the shadow of Your wings, and keep them safe from persecution and harm. Draw to them those who are true seekers, hungry to know the Living God. Empower and embolden them to share with those You’ve placed in their path to share with, and bring many thousands of lost to You this Christmas season, Lord. As Christians gather quietly in secret to celebrate Your birth, shield those meetings from the eyes and ears and knowledge of those who would mean them harm. Keep them warm and safe, bless them abundantly, and let them touch the depths of Your grace, love, glory, and felt presence. Perform miracles and signs and wonders to baffle their persecutors and draw lost people to You. May those who have stood so strongly against You for so long crumble now to their knees before You in surrender and worship. And may this coming year be a year of unprecedented growth in church plants, with both Christians and seekers craving to gather together to pray, worship, study Your Word, and grow together. Get Your Word into the hands of those who still have not read it in their own language, Lord. May Your Kingdom come to all the peoples of this earth! In Your glorious name. Amen.
As you tell God all the things you’re grateful for this Thanksgiving, is your present trial on that list? It is in times of hardship that we undergo significant transformation within ourselves for the better. And that is the greatest blessing of all — to be conformed to the image of Christ. Romans 12:1-2.
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:7-11 (niv)
One of the missionary women the Lord led me to mentor came over weekly for counseling and prayer. But on this occasion, just a few days before Thanksgiving, she came angry.
Her family had planned to spend the holiday with close friends, but she had just found out a certain missionary woman she didn’t like would be there also.
“She’ll ruin it!” my friend vented, pacing the room, and spouting off a tirade of things she didn’t like about the other woman.
Just because you believe something doesn’t make it true. Only what God says is true.If your eyes are on your problem, rather than how big your God is; or if your eyes are on how people aren’t doing what you want them to, then you’re looking in the wrong direction.
As I put on soft worship music in the background to help my friend shift her thoughts, I encouraged her to lay down her opinions and ideas about that woman at Jesus’ feet; and then ask Him for His. What does Jesus say about her? That’s what really matters. Only He knows a heart, and only He knew what He was doing when she was invited to Thanksgiving dinner.
A few moments later, my friend looked up, tears glistening in her eyes. “God showed me her pain. She’s been through so much. I can’t wait to put my arms around her and tell her I love her, and Jesus does too!”
In just a few minutes, the Lord had transformed bitterness into joy, anger into love… by giving her His viewpoint and plan.
The enemy had arranged a nasty dissension feast for Thanksgiving that year, but the Lord overcame it with His purposes, and gave those families one of the most beautiful holiday celebrations they would ever know.
The key is surrender. When we lay down our expectations, desires, opinions, judgments, plans, and agendas to ask God for His, He makes something beautiful of what the enemy purposed for evil. Romans 8:28. Especially within us.
What are you facing during the upcoming holidays? Is there anything you’re dreading about the next few weeks? A situation you’d rather avoid?
Lay down your schedule before the Lord, and let Him arrange it the way He desires. Forgive those you hold grudges against, and ask the Lord how you can be a blessing in others’ lives — a channel of love to draw those around you closer to Him and each other.
Don’t waste this trial. Look for what God’s doing, and follow Him there!
If you’d like a deep devotional Bible study to help you remove the barriers to oneness with Christ and others; or if you’re looking for transformational gifts for your loved ones this holiday season, visit MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com. Some suggestions below:
Delight to Be a Woman of Wonder (for her), and Dare to Be a Mighty Warrior (for him): Deep devotional Bible studies with practical, tactical strategies for overcoming the enemy in the battlefield of the mind, and walking as one with Christ and others
The Chronicles of the Kingdom of Light Christian fantasy series for older children and teens, to help them listen to God, follow His lead, forgive, fight for what matters most, overcome lies with truth, and break free from pride, fear, and other strongholds. Book 1: Rescue from Darkness, and Book 2: Sands of Surrender.
Merry Christmas everyone! I hope this finds you warm, safe, and welcomed by people who love you.
Where God has called our family to serve, most people don’t know who Jesus is, and those who have chosen to follow Him face the constant threat of persecution. So, as you snuggle up close to the fire with Christmas lights and carols playing in the background about peace on earth, breathe a prayer for those around the world who don’t have that freedom.
All proceeds this author receives go to shining Christ’s light in dark places of the world where few have heard His name.
This season, in addition to all the deep Bible studies, pure novels, and transformational prayer journals and children’s books at MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com, I’m excited to share with you a new 2019 day planner for worshippers the Lord inspired: May My Life Be a Love Song to You, God. Each month features soft worship themes with deep prayers of surrender, inviting God’s anointing through a lifestyle of worship.
2019 May My Life Be a Love Song to You, God Day Planner Diary
The lined version has time slots for detailed planning, with room to write what God’s showing you each day. But the unlined version has lots of wide-open space for you to write or draw anything you like.
Visit www.MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com to see all the available versions, as well as other Bible studies and books to make a difference in the lives of those you care about.
Also, I just launched a new blog specifically for Christian parents, Kingdom Culture Parenting, so if you’ve enjoyed the last few posts here, please pop on over and follow me there. And if you’re on Facebook, I hope you’ll join our Kingdom Culture Parenting group for Christians to encourage one another as we raise our children up to walk as one with Christ. We’re also doing a Bible study in that group, you are welcome to join.
I was talking with a friend the other day, and she was laughing about different pranks they’ve played on their kids, telling them they’re on Santa’s naughty list. But it got me thinking….
So many people see God kind of like a Santa up there writing down in a book all the bad things we’ve done; no matter how good we try to be, that list never seems to even up.
Do you ever feel that way? Do you run all day long from one task to the next, trying to please God and everyone else, but never quite making it there? Maybe others are quick to tell you what you’re doing wrong. Or maybe you judge yourself. Either way, that guilt pit is deep, and the lies so sticky, it will take Truth’s hand to pull you out of there so you can be free.
Our kids tend to lean on God the same way they lean on us. So, if we’re telling them all the ways they don’t measure up, they’re likely to see God as displeased with them, as well.
How are children respond is a good indication of what’s going on in their hearts.
The sweet thing about grace is it’s not about how great we are, but about the greatest Sacrifice paid for us. Because of what Christ has done, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1a kjv), because “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14 kjv.
So, this Christmas season, I challenge you to receive fully God’s grace for whatever Satan has been holding over your head your whole life. And to offer freely His grace to your spouse, children, and other loved ones around you.
After all, none of us is perfect; except through the One Who has made us so. Ephesians 2:8-9.
More Than A Conqueror 