In this season of giving & getting gifts, have you stopped to ask God what He wants to give you for Christmas?
Sometimes He gives, when we don’t ask, and other times, He wants us to intentionally ask.
For me, I am constantly asking the Father, “Who do You want to be for me?”
This question has put me in a position to receive gift after gift of His nature. It’s been instrumental in my growth, as it has been the doorway for the fruits of the Spirit to grow in my life.
Not sure what you want to ask for this Christmas? Perhaps you could start by reading through my “wish list” below. You may even recognize it from somewhere!
LOVE is exclusive affection. Love is about cherishing and treasuring. Love is the tangible favor and goodness of God. Love demonstrates loving-kindness. It’s about having a regard for someone with benevolence attached.
JOY is about an intensity of gladness. Joy is about delight! Joy is bigger than you, and it’s bigger than all your circumstances. Joy is about rejoicing over something. Joy is who God is. Rejoicing is our response to who God is. Joy is about elation. It’s about having a sense of wonder. It’s taking absolute pleasure in someone or something. It’s being jubilant. It’s being cheerful, triumphant, celebratory.
PEACE is a state of being quiet. It’s about learning to be calm, to be restful. It’s a freedom from disturbance. It’s an ease of mind. It’s about stillness, having an inclination towards calm so that walking into a troubled situation, you bring the peace of God with you. Peace is about being undisturbed, untroubled, content, composed, free from strife.
PATIENCE is the quality of being able to persevere under pressure with a good heart and mind. It’s about endurance without complaint, not easily provoked, having a calm expectation, being even-tempered, a quiet persistence in the nature of God.
KINDNESS is about being considerate. It is about being thoughtful towards someone, being benevolent, compassionate, generous, loving, showing superior qualities of grace.
GOODNESS is about looking after someone’s welfare. It involves acting with honor, being favorable towards someone, blessing them, lifting them up, giving them a divine advantage.
FAITHFULNESS is about being consistent, constant, and unceasing. To means to be firm in your promise, loyal, reliable, unwavering, keeping your word, being trustworthy.
GENTLENESS is really about having a powerful humility, being meek. You understand that meekness is not weakness, it’s strength under control, being merciful, sweet-spirited like a dove, tenderhearted, overcoming.
SELF CONTROL is about being restrained, having a good frame of heart and mind, exercising discretion. It is believing the best about someone, being composed and disciplined and even-tempered, having a moderating influence on people and situations.
As you meditate through the fruits of the Spirit, did any in particular stand out to you? Perhaps, that’s the area of your next upgrade, your 2016 Christmas gift you’re about to receive.
Merry Christmas!
PS from the editor: This article originally spelled “Santa Claus” as “Santa Clause.” My mistake! I obviously grew up on Tim Allen Christmas movies. 🙂 – Graham’s editor
