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Be Present This Christmas

God has made a way for us to do that with the help of the Holy Spirit. Just ask Him

Have you ever felt forgotten? As if you were to disappear no one would immediately notice?

In the busyness of life as we dash from chore to chore, it’s easy to overlook the pain and silent cries of those around us for our love, attention or even an acknowledgement, that you see and hear them.

Children withdraw into their own worlds. Wives retreat to their ‘closets’ and husbands get lost in their work and hobbies.

Underneath our ‘urgent priorities’ and treasured ‘me time’ we each crave for real intimacy. The type that says, I see you, I have time for, you are valuable to me.

This Christmas season, will you pause to acknowledge your loved ones? Make the extra effort to let them feel valued—not just with expensive material gifts, but with the gift of your time.

Just be present. Be attentive. Be in the moment with them.

Do the same for your neighbors, friends and co-workers. Greet someone with a radiant smile. Make eye contact. Wait for their response after you’ve asked, “How are you?” Then bless them with your reply.

A kind word spoken at the right time is described elegantly in Proverbs 25:11 to be “like apples of gold in settings of silver.” In essence, they are precious to the hearer. They deliver healing.

Being present doesn’t have to take much, but it sure means a lot in helping each other feel valued, loved and appreciated.

If this is uncomfortable terrain for you, I’ve got good news! With the Holy Spirit’s help, you will know just what to say or do and when. Just ask Him.

“He will guide you in all truth and remind you of everything I’ve taught you,” Jesus promised in John 14:26 as he explained the advantage the Holy Spirit gives those who accept and believe in the Lord Jesus.

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper who will be with you forever. That helper is the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it doesn’t see or know him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17).

On our own it can be challenging to put someone else’s needs first, but that’s exactly what being present demands. Thank God! He has made a way for us to do that with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Now let’s get practicing on being present so no one in our circle feels invisible or forgotten.

Tune in to CHAYIL Conversations with Pat Francis on Facebook Live, Tuesdays at 7pm EST for powerful and interactive discussions that feature real stories of solutions and hope. #ChayilConversations 

About CHAYIL GLORY

CHAYIL glory is the all-powerful, great glory of God manifested in and through his believers in the earth. The CHAYIL GLORY blog is published every Monday with insights to understand and apply God’s perspective to everyday life.