"And what happened then...? Well...in Who-ville they say
That the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day!
And then the true meaning of Christmas came through,
And the Grinch found the strength of ten Grinches… plus two."
~Dr. Suess
I had spent most of my life dreading and hating (yes I said the hate word) Christmas. Others may have been singing 'It's the most wonderful time of the year,' but for me it was the most painful . Broken relationships seemed all the more unbearable in the light of the world's glossy facade of a merriment I did not feel" I was the angry bitter Grinch." "And what happened then...?" Well...in heaven they say this Grinch's heart grew three sizes as Paul prayed.
In the Book of Ephesians Paul Prayed a powerful prayer under the unction of God for the church; for you and me.
1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead
It is sometimes easier to believe in God's love for others than for ourselves. I spent my early years as a new believer very involved with evangelism, even traveling to 8 different countries on short term missions trips to tell others of the great love God had for them. I did believe God loved me but it needed to travel from my head to my heart.I didn't act loved. Paul prayed that the eyes of our hearts would be enlightened to know experientially of the great love God has for us..personally. As I got rooted in a really great bible study and began to hear what God was saying through His word for me, my heart enlarged. Like the Grinch my heart grew.
Ephesians 3:18
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
I began to really believe in God and have a deep rooted confidence in who He declared Himself to be. A confidence in how he acted on my behalf...and upon His lavish extravagant love for me. This love wasn't a fairy tale or a pipe dream. It was sure and true I could trust in this perfect love. I was loved by the maker of all Himself.. This enlargement of my heart changed everything in my life. I acted loved. God became my home. I was His valued daughter. I turned away more and more from looking to others and experience to meet the deep needs of my life. God was meeting me with Himself.
Job 42:5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you
Today Christmas lives in my heart 365 days a year. The hope of Christmas is that God comes to our humanity and saves us with Himself.
Prayer: O Father of heavenly lights in your light we see light. May your light fill every darkened place. May every heart be enlarged and prepare you room that your love may fill to the measure of all the fullness of God. Lord Thank You for the hope of Christmas. You came to a darkened world, to fearful hearts, to the hopeless, and you still do today. Come this Christmas to our hearts, to our homes.
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