Marriage Monday: For my wives who can’t wait until the holidays are over – when the stress of the season brings new stress in their marriage. Many people report the Christmas holidays are the most stressful and the most lonely time of the year. Is that you? Here’s a personalized Scripture prayer to start each day. We’ve got about two weeks to go – you can make it!
Spirit-filled meditation renews Christmas spirit
I remember the days when I just “got through” the holidays. It seemed as if I was overloaded each year with all the expectations for having a jolly Christmas. In reality, the expectations were really mine, not anyone else’s. I thought it was my responsibility to bake, clean, decorate, shop, wrap, and make it all so fun. If you’re going through some rough spots in your marriage right now, all this stress can really add strain to your relationship. How in the world will you keep your focus on the “reason for the season?”
Our church marriage ministry has a hotline number and email on the website. Bruce and I receive emails and phone calls from those couples seeking marital help at our church campus. We don’t usually get many calls during the holidays, but early in January, there is a flood of people asking for help. Once the holidays are over, and the kids go back to school, that’s when the calls come in.
This year, let’s commit to making the season a healthy one for marriage! I’ve written out a personalized prayer based on Philippians 4:4-9 to pray each day between now and Christmas. Come on, join us! I’ll create a PDF in the next day or two and post it here so you can have a pretty copy to pray off.
WIll you join me?
My Daily Prayer for a Spirit-Filled Christmas
“God, it seems like everyone else is cheerful and celebrating in this season except me. I love You, and I want Your joy to fill me up so it overflows!
“Please help me to show Your gentleness in my marriage during this stressful season. I want to be aware of Your nearness every day. Even though I’m pulled in so many different directions, help me not to worry so much.
“Remind me to come to You when things get overwhelming or I feel like I’m going to lose it. I want this season to be saturated in prayer. I’m so grateful I can ask You for these things, I can already feel the gratitude bubbling up inside me.
“Your word says when I come clean with You about the details of my life, I will experience Your wonderful peace. Your peace will clear away the cobwebs and everything will be clear as a bell to me.
“So help me to keep my thoughts continually focused on what is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. Help me notice Your fingerprints on every day, I don’t want to miss even one God-wink. Then remind me to be polite and say Thank You!
“Guide me to live this prayer daily so Your peace will flow out of everything I do during this Christmas season. Amen.”
Based on Philippians 4:4-9 TPT
For More Help with Christmas Spirit
My new devotional book, Mindful: Meditate & Color Your Way to Life-Giving Relationships is available on Amazon now. Grab a copy and start digging in to engage all your senses and enjoying the richness of God’s word each day. The beautiful coloring doodles were created by Macy Simmons.
I am also having a fun coloring contest, with a chance to win a 12 x 12 original masterpiece by Macy, pictured here. To enter the contest, visit the top post on my FB Page for details. Contest ends December 20!
…because U count, deb