One More Reason To Put Christ In Christmas

 

 

My heart is broken for the parents and families that lost their children and loved ones in the horrific tragedy Friday. I mourn with them. I cannot begin to imagine their loss as its reality seeps into their lives shattering their normal and leaving a gaping hole in their hearts. This was a hideous act of violence straight from the pits of hell.

 

We don’t understand things like this. We can’t explain the why behind an act this horrible. We live in a broken,  sin polluted world. I don’t have the answer to the questions that people are asking. But the answer to the problem is still Jesus. It isn’t a trite answer. It isn’t an empty answer. It is more than something we just say in our Christian circles. He really is the answer in every situation and in this situation He wants to give comfort and peace. This horrible tragedy is just one more reason to put Christ back in Christmas. He is the healer of broken hearts. There is no comfort like His comfort. There is no healing like His healing.

 

 

Often in times of great tragedy He is shoved away and blamed instead of being received. My heart is grieved when people are so busy blaming God that they miss the real enemy–sin–satan–rebellion against God. When people blame God, they miss the hope and healing that only He can bring. Let’s put Christ back in Christmas and be His love extended to hurting people through deeds of kindness and through prayer.

 

 

For the church of Jesus Christ, this event should be a wake up call. It is time for us to pray. It is time for us to be the church God called us to be. It is time for us to be moored to a faith that shapes how we live. Wake up! Believers take your place on the front lines. Are you praying for your child’s school? Grandmothers, granddads, are you praying for your grandchildren’s teachers? Parents are you mooring your children to a faith that is deep enough to carry them in times of danger? Where are the Daniels that change the culture? Have we become so afraid of the culture that we would rather change the channel to something funny instead of moving to our knees and crying out to God for revival that changes the hearts of people? It time believers put Christ back in their Christmas.

 

I know it’s a busy season…gifts to buy…cookies to bake…it’s “Christmas” and our “To Do List” is longer than ever. We’ll put Christ back on our agenda after the last party, after the last gift is wrapped. We’ll pray after Christmas. Better yet, we’ll put it on our list of New Year’s Resolutions. But we don’t need one more New Year Resolution, we need a revelation of who Jesus is! We need to see Him for who He truly is…love…peace…joy. He offers forgiveness of our sins. He offers peace, but we must receive Him and live for Him. We need to put Christ back in the center of our lives and become people that pray God’s will into this country. God’s will is not being done, because we are not praying for His will to be done. Everything…Everything must be birthed in prayer. Simeon and Anna were in the temple praying for the Messiah to come.

 

Today is the day, to begin to pray like never before. Not little memorized prayers that put you to sleep, but bold God inspired prayers that flow out of your spirit. Use scripture to jump start your prayer and faith, but allow God to pray through you. Pour out your heart to God sincerely, earnestly and deeply. Pray that Jesus will not be ignored, but that a bright light would shine in our dark world so people can see who Jesus really is.

 

As believers, how should we respond to the heartbreak around us? We respond with prayer.

 

1. Surrender your heartbreak and questions to God. While we don’t understand why things like this happen, we know that God is not the source of it. We can trust Him. Ask Him to heal your heart and help you to trust Him.

 

2 Corinthians 1:3 All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

 

2. Pray for the families of Newtown, CT.

 

• Ask God to comfort them and give them strength.God is able to comfort them with supernatural comfort. He is able to give them peace that goes beyond understanding.
• That their hearts will be tender toward God and that they will not blame God.
• That families would come to know Him as their Savior.
• We have a blessed hope that these little children are with Jesus. Believers will see them again. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 KJV But I would not have you to be ignorant , brethren, concerning them which are asleep , that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

 

 

3. Pray for revival in our educational system. How can we expect God’s protection when we push Him away and ignore His boundaries and laws. Pray that teachers, principals and board members will be born again. Pray that they will be bold to share their faith.

 

 

4. Pray for revival in our homes. Pray that parents will train their children in the way they should go. Pray that believers will share their faith boldly, seizing every opportunity because the days are evil.

 

My prayer for you is: Father, help us to celebrate Christmas as His birthday. Help us to make Christ the focal point this year. Help us to see you more clearly and love you more dearly. Help us to reflect who you are to those we meet. Make us bold believers and prayers. Help us to be agents of change by bringing your light and life everywhere we go. Help me to do, say and be what will honor you the most. Then, as Pastor Wilder has taught me, Lord, would you say what I cannot say; would you reach, where I cannot reach, will you heal, what I cannot heal. Jesus be glorified in my celebration of your life and hope!

More Links:

 

Great Family Devotions for the Christmas Season at Focus on the Family  or https://www.thrivingfamily.com/free/resources