Ever find yourself complaining – in a rascally fault-finding spirit – over the people, events, and circumstances of your life that you requested from God years ago? Resenting the answer to your prayers?
Tis the season. Family to visit, house to clean, clothes to wash, food to prepare, car to maintain, health to manage, packing, unpacking, and work to be squeezed in-between. So many blessings. So why do I want to cry?
When frazzled, it’s like a chink in our armor. “Tired” and “cranky” slither in through the cracks. Become our bunkmates. We allow room for their words in our head: criticism, self-pity, excuses to snip at those who are here in answer to our prayers.
So when I whined to the Lord this morning: I’m tired, and Spirit promptly whispered back: You don’t have to be, I had to sit with that a bit.
Apparently we have a choice this holiday season. The option to lay down the story that “tired” and “cranky” would have us believe. Ban these unholy visitors – perfectionism, insecurity, resentment, dread – from our holiday fare.
Instead, let’s gather with hearts, tables, and thoughts centered round a heaping platter of gratitude. For each person and blessing that has come in answer to a prayer.
During this season meant to honor the bounty of faith, family, and friends, let’s break the habit of becoming a nervous wreck. By focusing on all we have to be grateful for.
No matter where you find yourself today, there is always reason to give thanks. And it has nothing to do with turkey or a shopping mall.
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ~ Phil 4:8 NLT
Amen.
QUESTION: How can you focus on the blessing of answered prayers this holiday season?
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