Daily writing prompt

Who are the biggest influences in your life?

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The biggest influence in my life is the living one behind the big winter holiday. Who might that be? His name is Jesus.

Let the good news that has caused great joy and disrupted routine religion in the hearts and lives of radical Christ-followers for more than 2,000 years, release great, ongoing life-changing joy in and through you: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord!”

The Jesus holiday that celebrates the Creator being born as a human baby grabs the world’s attention for weeks, but the reality of Christ’s presence and power is mostly unnoticed. Too many people have forgotten or ignored the living One behind the big winter holiday.

That winter holiday, established to honor Christ’s birth, has mostly shoved Him aside and become a day of obligatory sentimentalism. Look at all the characters that have replaced Jesus as the focus of His birthday: Santa, Rudolph, Frosty, the Grinch, the Chipmunks, NFL players, family members, and even Elves. Then let the winter day called Christmas call your heart to continually welcome the risen Jesus Christ with wonder, warmth, and worship, to daily follow and obey His way, and to always surrender your will to His.

If you’re a believer and Christ is in you, observe what He’s doing in there. Notice and obey the thoughts He’s putting in your mind, the instructions He’s giving your conscience, and the fruit of the Spirit He working to cultivate and release in your heart. Let Him reign in your brain, guide your conscience, and make you whole in your soul. The true white Christmas happens when your sins that are like scarlet are forgiven and become white as snow. (See Isaiah 1:18.)

If the Nativity of Christ was bigger in our hearts than our nationality, we’d have peace on earth and goodwill toward men. Unfortunately, there seems to be no room in the Christmas holiday for the risen Jesus to personally lead and prompt people to pray, testify, and worship from their heart.

It’s time for Christ-followers
To rise up and say
And to demonstrate
Night and day
How empowering
And healing it is
To have Jesus
As present-day,
Moment-by-moment
Lord, Master,
Savior and Friend!
Find Him today
And let Christ
Always lead your way.

Christmas is a winter day,
But Christ is bright and warm.
He’s the calm in life’s storm.
Let Him shape and form
Your heart to His holy norm.

Christ the Lord
Is risen
On Christmas Day.
He left the tomb
Always empty,
Alive to stay,
So he can be born
In your heart today.

What’s the Jesus holiday
Really about?
Read John’s Gospel,
And find out!