What's on your Christmas List?

The big day is fast approaching, soon we will be opening the cards, tearing off the wrapping paper and tucking into that fantastic dinner. We aren't there yet though and there is still so much to do. Perhaps you are an organised person who has already finished the shopping, wrapping and Christmas card sending and is currently relaxing before the manic day arrives; or maybe you're like me, haven't wrapped a single present, still have a ton to buy and as for Christmas cards... maybe next year?

I have only just written out my Christmas list; it may seem a little late but at least it's not as bad as the year I wrote it out on Christmas eve (sorry mum...) So I sat down and wrote out a list of presents I wanted; some DVDs, some games and some gift cards nothing majorly expensive or extravagant. As I got to the end of the list I frowned, it had exactly what I wanted on it but there was still something not quite right about it, I walked around all day trying to figure it out until I saw my Bible and it hit me. Jesus. It didn't have Jesus, it didn't have God; It had nothing to do with faith on it at all, not one single thing. I instantly felt terrible as I ran back to my list to add some devotionals and studies to the list. I decided I wanted to pray and ask the Lord what I should get, what ones would teach me what he wanted me to learn but none came to me. I prayed for almost an hour about it and still nothing. I was confused, did God not want me to put something faith based on my list?

For the next few days, I prayed morning and night asking Jesus what he wanted of me. I found myself heading home from shopping one afternoon just after school leaving time, the bus was overflowing with children and parents. I had my headphones in trying to block out the sounds of the world when my battery died, I was frustrated by this because I was sure it still had enough charge to get me home. There was so much noise I was considering getting off a few stops early and walking. Just as I was about to get up, over all the noise on the bus, one child's voice was crystal clear as she showed her who I assumed to be her sister what she had done at school. "Mrs Ellis let me make two Christmas lists, one for toys and one for books!" I started praying on that bus almost immediately and all the way home, thanking God for that child because I finally knew why I was so stuck. I needed a separate list, a list that was specifically for my faith rather then earthly possessions. The moment I got home I threw my bags down and set to work writing a new Heavenly Christmas list of everything that my soul needed at that exact moment. I had written three full pages without even realising it. Here are just a few things from the list.

This Christmas I would like;

• To put Him first,

• A stronger desire to draw near to Him,

• A passion for learning from Him and the Bible,

• To hear Him as He guides and educates me,

• To praise Him increasingly each day,

• To further develop my knowledge of the Bible,

• To give Him the reigns so that He may have full control over my life

• To live each and every day in accordance with His will,

Those are just a few of the prayers on my Heavenly Christmas list. As I reread the list I noticed that there was not one material possession on it, every single one is a prayer rather than a physical item. When I was done I tried to turn on my phone and on it came with 30% battery; there is nothing that will convince me that God wasn't behind my phone mysteriously having no power right when I was blocking out something I needed to hear.

I am so thankful to God for all he has given me and all he will give me throughout this Christmas period and beyond. I have been praying each item on Heavenly Christmas list daily (all three pages) and I have already seen the Lord move in my life and strengthen my faith since doing so. I have decided that this is a tradition that I am most certainly keeping next year.

Do you think a Heavenly Christmas list of prayers is a good idea? Would you make one? What would you put on one if you did? I would love to know what you think about it.