15 Gifts You Can Give Jesus This Year

Have you noticed that we often show up to Jesus' Birthday celebration and forget Who the celebration is all about? How would you feel if you showed up to your own party and everyone had gifts for everyone but you? As you approach Christmas day, consider what gift that Jesus might want from you?

Sometimes our culture forgets that CHRISTmas is all about celebrating the gift of Jesus to the world. We are celebrating His first coming to the world, but also looking forward to His coming again. My Life Group leader challenged us with this idea. It was so good, I wanted to share it with you and expand on some of his ideas. The amazing thing about all of these gifts, they are a gift to the Lord, but they are also a gift to you - it's truly the gift that keeps on giving! Here are some ideas you might consider as a gift to give Jesus this year:

1. Christmas morning, meditate on the Luke 2 and the nativity scene. Imagine how Mary and Joseph would have felt. Picture the angels with their glorious singing and magnificent light. Imagine the humble shepherd, who quickly traveled to see the king after the astonishing announcement from the host of angels. Imagine the bright star and the cool night. Picture the simple and rugged surroundings which greeted our Savior and King.

2. During your morning commute to work, or your time driving kids around to and from activities, turn off the radio and pray.

3. Reinvigorate or restart a daily quiet time.

4. Forgive someone - you'll be surprised how freeing this is to you and to them!

5. Begin serving in an area in your church.

6. Commit to regular family devotions in your home - this will bless your entire family!

7. Fast from social media for a period of time - spend that time praying or reading His word instead.

8. Prayer walk around your neighborhood and pray for your neighbors as you pass houses. If you do this at night, you can also enjoy the Christmas lights.

9. Commit to tell someone you know about His love or them and how He took their penalty for sin. This is the greatest news I've ever heard - share it! Everyone needs the gift of eternal life! Romans 1:16 reminds us to not be ashamed of the gospel - it is the power of salvation for everyone who believes!

10. What sinful habit do you keep holding onto? Give it up for the Lord. And, remember, you cannot do that in your own strength. You'll need the help of the Holy Spirit.

11. Read a Psalm a day this year - there are 150 Psalms - this could get you through half the year, if you do it daily.

12. Dedicate a day to prayer - Find a quiet place where you can listen to some worship music, pray, mediate on Scriptures and just be with the Lord. This will also be a gift of peace and serenity to you. Whenever I do this, it completely renews my love and devotion to the Lord.

13. Commit to pray for a country with persecuted Christians - you can find a list of countries and prayer guide for each of those areas at: https://www.persecution.com/globalprayerguide/

14. Spend a day helping those less fortunate than you - Can you help out an elderly person with household chores? Can you babysit a friend's kids? Can you serve at the local soup kitchen or food bank? Can you reach out to someone who is lonely or grieving?

15. Consider the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) - which one can you ask the Lord to help you improve on? Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control.

Overall, consider and submit to what God would want you to do for Him. He loves you; He wants your time and your devotion. This too is the gift that gifts back to you in abundance. Whenever you say Merry Christmas - challenge yourself to be reminded of what you promised to give Jesus this year.

I pray you have a wonderful CHRISTmas and realize how blessed and full you'd be if you'd consider a gift for Jesus. He wants these gifts from you only because He loves you and wants your heart!