Shopping for the Ultimate Gift of the Year?

Shopping for the Ultimate Gift of the Year?
December 23, 2021 Lighthouse Network

December 23, 2021

Shopping for the Ultimate Gift of the Year?

Transformational Tip

Well, Christmas is just a couple days away. How are you doing with your shopping list? Living in a house with a wife and three girls who love to shop, I get no sympathy for my discomfort as I sit in a store and watch them try on clothes … clothes they aren’t even thinking of buying. Stores and shopping aren’t my thing … never were, never will be. Because I don’t like shopping, I delay buying gifts up to the last second. 

As a result, maybe you guessed it … I’ve become an incredibly efficient Christmas Eve shopper. Shopping on Christmas Eve is actually a lot of fun for me. Other shoppers are usually in better moods; excitement is in the air with less than 24 hours ‘till the magic of Christmas. There’s a party atmosphere everywhere you go. Try it next year, or at least save small part of your list for Christmas Eve.

Gift shopping is about finding something to fill a loved one’s need. For myself, I don’t easily spend money unless I really need an item, not just because I want it. When I put on my psychiatrist’s hat and think about “shopping” for something to help fill someone’s need, I realize these items can’t be found in any store. What people need are value, purpose, connection, identity, security, consistency, meaning, competence, ability, and love. Not one of these is for sale in any store. 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 intangible needs are available in every size and color in a specialty store … even on sale this time of year. But they’re not, not even close.

The beautiful and simple truth is this. The most important gift, the foundation to all those gifts we need that 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 daily … what we are all yearning for. We wish they could be bought on sale and received in a pretty package. But better than that, they came in a manger in the form of a baby, and they are totally 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 comes freely to us. It is the grandest gift ever given. We celebrate that blessing 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 exactly what you need. Stepping Stones is designed to help you learn how to use this gift to renew your mind, transform your life, and bring you the peace we all desire. If you haven’t received this gift, click salvation. If you have received His Ultimate Gift, consider who else needs this gift and pray about giving it to them during this “holyday” season. It’s more valuable than anything else you could consider buying, making, or giving from this world. Don’t be shy about sharing it, because you couldn’t give anything better. Whether you receive and give this great gift-message or you refuse to give it to a loved one is your decision, so 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

Comments (0)

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Get help now! Call (844) 543-3242