Stepping Stones: Shopping For The Gift of the Year?

December 23, 2011

Transformational Tip

Well, Christmas is just a couple days away. How are you doing with your shopping list? Stores and shopping aren’t my thing … never were, never will be. Since I don’t like shopping, I procrastinate up to the last second. As a result, maybe you guessed it … I’ve become an incredibly efficient Christmas Eve shopper. It really is a lot of fun. People are in better moods, excitement is in the air, there are less than 24 hours till the magic of Christmas, and there’s a party atmosphere everywhere you go. Try it next year, or at least save some of your list for Christmas Eve.

But you see, shopping is about finding something to fill someone’s need. To me, shopping is for not just a want, but a need. As a psychiatrist, when I think about “shopping” for something to help fill someone’s need, the items can’t be found in any store. Value, purpose, connection, identity, security, consistency, meaning, competence, ability, and love aren’t for sale. But according to the world, and as a result of Satan’s trickery, after watching all the commercials and seeing so many ads on the computer or in the paper, you would swear these precious needs are in every store … and even on sale. But they’re not, not even close.

The most important gift, the foundation to all those gifts I listed earlier, is a relationship with our almighty Creator and Father, the one and only God. The most precious needs are what we all desire and thirst for …what we are all yearning for. We wish they could be easily bought on sale and given to us in a pretty package. But better yet, they came in a manger and they are FREE!!!!

This is the true and amazing story of Christmas. God gave us the most loving and unbelievable gift of all time to meet all our other needs completely. It cost Him and Jesus a lot … but it is truly free to us. Really, it is the grandest gift ever given. That is what we are blessed to celebrate on Christmas Day.

Today, think how you will receive God’s gift each day to affect the issues you struggle with … to address and meet all your real needs. God has given you what you need. Learn how to use it. WITHIN REACH can help you apply God’s gift to your areas of need. If you haven’t received this gift, go to our Spiritual Basics link and click salvation. If you have received this Ultimate Gift, consider who needs this gift and pray about giving it during this season. It’s more valuable than anything else you will consider buying, making, or giving from this world. Don’t be shy about sharing it, because you couldn’t give anything better. Your decision, choose well.

Prayer
Dear Father God, You are so amazing and awesome. Thanks so much for loving me and caring about my well-being. Not only do You care for me, You even sacrificed Your only Son and sent Him to die for me … not because I did great things for You, but because I am a wretched sinner. I am so happy You are the perfect shopper who gave me the perfect gift. I pray in the name of the one You sent to die for me, save me, and heal me - Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
John 3:16,17

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:31,32

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
Malachi 3:10

Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4