Tag: prayer

8 Ways to Enjoy Christmas as Couples

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8 Ways to Enjoy Christmas as Couples

Introduction

 Every Christmas has always been what every family looks up to. As a family, you prepare for this day, get foodstuffs, and new wear for your children, plan vacations and places to go, to have fun, according to your capacity. It’s always a season full of excitement as everyone will be off work a few days to this day which will give couples enough time to connect.

Christmas is a season of love, joy, and reflection. For Christian couples,  it is an opportunity to strengthen their bond and honor the birth of Jesus Christ in ways that glorify God and deepen their relationship. The Bible reminds us that  “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). Keeping Christ at the center of your relationship can make your Christmas celebrations more meaningful.

As beautiful as this day is, some families still find it difficult to enjoy their Christmas, some prefer to go to friends’ houses rather than spend their day with their spouses. To them, Christmas isn’t exciting and they prefer to go away from their own house and spend time with others due to marital issues. Also, most couples that stay together during Christmas might not recognize that the connection during this time might have a positive effect on their union, instead, they spend the whole time cooking alone, chatting with friends on social media, and a lot more. Some couples are even far away from each other during this period.

Recognizing this, this article will focus on 8 ways to enjoy Christmas as a Couple.

1. Pray Together and Reflect on the Birth of Christ

2. Decorate your Home with a Christ-centered theme

3. Serve Others Together and Create a Tradition of Giving

4. Attend Christmas Service Together

5. Host a Christ-Centered Christmas Dinner

6. Reflect on Your Year Together

7. Set Goals for the New Year

8. End the Year with thanksgiving

1. Pray Together and Reflect on The Birth of Christ

During every Christmas, in my family, we wake up praying together and instead of stepping off the bed to prepare the kids after the morning prayer like we usually do, we stay back and reflect on the Birth of Christ before we prepare the kids and also take our bath in preparation for the Christmas service. In marriage, Prayer is of great importance and is the foundation of every Christian relationship. Begin the Christmas season by praying together, thanking God for the gift of Christ, and seeking His guidance for your plans. The Bible tells us to “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4:2). Make your prayer time special by dedicating moments to reflect on God’s blessings throughout the year. Spend time reading and meditating on the Christmas story from the Bible. This will help you focus on the true meaning of the season. Take turns reading the scriptures aloud to create a spiritual atmosphere in your home. This, when practiced, bonds you together as a couple in unimaginable ways.

2. Decorate your home with a Christ-centered theme

Every child admires the radiant color they see on the streets during Christmas and couples should create one for them in their homes. Choose decorations that reflect the biblical significance of Christmas, display nativity scenes and Christian ornaments.  Get a Christmas tree, lights, and flowers, and make your home colorful and welcoming. This should be done by both of you and as you do it, play together with your kids, if you have any. Use your decorations to remind each other and your visitors about the Savior’s birth.

3. Serve Others Together and Create a Tradition of Giving

During Christmas, follow Christ’s example by serving others.  Volunteer at a shelter, donate to charity or visit the less privileged. The word of God reminds us that whatever we do to others, we’re doing all unto God (Matthew 25:40). Sharing acts of kindness as a couple will strengthen our bond and glorify God. Celebrate Christmas by exchanging gifts that reflect your love for others and your faith as a Christian. Consider giving others devotionals, Christian books, symbolic items, and food items as much as you’re capable of. All you have is from God and should be shared with your neighbors having nothing (James 1:17). Extend this tradition by giving to friends and family, emphasizing the joy of giving over receiving, and expressing the love of Christ to people around you.

4. Attend Christmas Services Together

Christmas services are usually beautiful and no family should miss it. Participate in your church’s Christmas events, such as carol services, Christmas Eve worship, or special programs. The word of God emphasizes the importance of fellowshipping with other brethren “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing” (Hebrews 10:25). Use these services to renew your commitment to God and each other, by so doing, you’re expressing your love for God and at the same time, celebrating the birth of Christ with your family.

5. Host a Christ-Centered Christmas Dinner

During Christmas, you can invite family and friends to a dinner focused on fellowship and faith. This may not necessarily be an elaborate dinner, it may simply be between you and your siblings with their families, like a family reunion. During this dinner, share testimonies and pray together. Also, it may be with strangers in your neighborhood, they can be called and as they come, you witness Christ to them. The Bible says “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers” (Hebrews 13:2). Ensure that your gathering highlights gratitude for Christ’s love and ensure it’s also a means to win more souls.

6. Reflect on Your Year Together

At night, when activities with others cease, use the time to review your year as a couple. Thank God for the milestones you’ve achieved, reflect on all you’ve acquired in the year, the challenges you have overcome, all that God added to your lives and home in the new year, your spiritual life, and commit your plans to Him (Proverbs 3:6). After doing this, write down your reflections and prayers as a couple.

7.  Set Goals for the New Year

The Christmas season is also a time to set new goals for the new year approaching. Set spiritual and personal goals for your relationship and align them with God’s purpose. Set goals on your spiritual walk with God, your finances, your career, your business, your vision and assignments, and all you desire to achieve in other areas of your life. After doing this, place it before the Lord and commit all into His hand (Proverbs 16:3). Pray over these goals and ensure to hold each other accountable and remind each other regularly.

8.  End the Year with thanksgiving

This season comes with a joyful feeling, reminding us that the new year is close. This alone clothes us with a garment of thanksgiving and gratitude to God for seeing us through a whole year. Conclude your Christmas celebrations by expressing gratitude to God for His blessings and faithfulness throughout the year. The Bible tells us to “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Create a list of blessings and thank God together as a family and this should not only be done during this season but should become a tradition in your home.

Conclusion

Christmas is more than just a holiday; it is a sacred celebration of God’s love through the gift of Jesus Christ. By embracing these 8 ways to enjoy Christmas as a couple, you both will strengthen your relationship, glorify God, and share His love with others. The Bible says “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:17). My prayer for you is this, may this season bring you closer to God and each other as you celebrate the birth of our Savior in Jesus name. Merry Christmas!

Praying for others impacts our spiritual life

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YES, this statement is true because praying for others has a way of also impacting our own spiritual journey in ways we can never imagine. When we lift up the needs, struggles, and joys of others in prayer, we are exercising empathy, compassion, and selflessness. This act of putting others before ourselves is a reflection of the love of Christ and His teachings, which places emphasis on the importance of caring for and praying for one another.

 

One biblical example I would like to point out is the story of Job. Despite facing immense suffering and loss, Job prayed fervently for his friends, even though they had not been supportive or understanding of his own trials. In Job 42:10, we read, “And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” By praying for others, Job not only demonstrated his faith and obedience to God but also experienced restoration and blessings in his own life.

 

Another example is found in the book of James, where we are instructed to pray for one another so that we may be healed. James 5:16 states, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” This scripture emphasizes the interconnectedness of praying for others and receiving healing and restoration in our own lives.

 

Furthermore, the act of praying for others can also cultivate a spirit of gratitude and humility within us. As we reflect on the needs of those around us and bring them before God in prayer, we are reminded of the abundant blessings and grace that we have received. This sense of gratitude can deepen our relationship with God and increase our awareness of His presence and provision in our lives. Philippians 4:6 encourages us to present our requests to God with thanksgiving, acknowledging His faithfulness and goodness.

 

Also, praying for others can lead to a greater sense of unity and community within the body of Christ. When we pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are strengthening the bonds of fellowship and mutual support that characterize the Church. Galatians 6:2 urges us to “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Through our prayers for others, we are sharing in their burdens and joys, demonstrating our love and commitment to the family of God.

 

Praying for others is not a waste of time. It is a beautiful way to love your neighbor and be a full partaker of the blessings that come with obedience.

A child of God doesn’t need to pray for God’s love

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Yes, A child of God doesn’t need to pray for God’s love

 

Biblically, a child of God does not need to pray for God’s love because God’s love for His children is an established and unchanging reality. There are several reasons to support this assertion:

 

  1. God’s Unconditional Love:

    The Bible repeatedly affirms that God’s love for His children is unconditional and everlasting. In Romans 8:38-39, the apostle Paul declares that nothing can separate believers from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. This love is not based on our actions or merits but on God’s character and nature as a loving and compassionate Father (1 John 4:8, 16).

 

  1. God’s Initiating Love:

    Scripture teaches that God’s love is not something that we must earn or merit through our prayers or actions. Instead, it is God who first loved us and initiated a relationship with us (1 John 4:19). Before we even knew Him, God demonstrated His love for us by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins (Romans 5:8).

 

  1. God’s Abundant Provision:

    God’s love for His children encompasses every aspect of their lives, including their spiritual, emotional, and physical needs. Jesus assured His disciples that their Heavenly Father knows what they need before they even ask Him and that He is eager to provide for them (Matthew 6:8, 32-33). Believers can trust in God’s loving care and provision, knowing that He desires their well-being and flourishing (Jeremiah 29:11).

 

  1. God’s Faithfulness to His Promises:

    Throughout Scripture, God has made numerous promises to His children regarding His love, faithfulness, and provision. These promises serve as a source of assurance and confidence for believers, enabling them to rest securely in God’s love (Psalm 136:1; 2 Corinthians 1:20). As the apostle Peter writes, God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness (2 Peter 1:3).

 

  1. God’s Relational Presence:

    Prayer is not primarily a means of earning or securing God’s love but a means of communing and communicating with Him. Through prayer, believers deepen their relationship with God, express their love and gratitude to Him, and align their hearts with His will (Philippians 4:6-7). While prayer is an essential aspect of the Christian life, it is not a prerequisite for experiencing God’s love, as His love is already freely given and abundantly available to His children (Ephesians 3:17-19).

 

In summary, a child of God does not need to pray for God’s love because God’s love is already assured, unconditional, and abundantly available to all who have placed their faith in Him. Prayer is a means of communing with God and expressing love and gratitude to Him but is not a requirement for earning or securing His love.