A Heart for Christ: December 2025

Monday, December 29, 2025

Remembering the Lord During the Holidays

Around this time of year, when everyone is setting up their trees, buying gifts, and finishing work or school assignments, it can be hard to think of anything else because the holidays demand so much of our attention. But as children of God, we need to be especially mindful of what the holidays really mean. We need to take time each day to honor our Heavenly Father for the gift of Jesus Christ and all the many blessings we have received through His only begotten Son.

Titus 3:4-6 (NLT) says, “But when God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.”

This verse really shows us just how merciful God is. Instead of pushing us aside or leaving us to figure things out on our own, He sent His one and only Son as a sacrifice for us. Think about that for a moment—God cared enough to provide a way for us to be made right with Him, even though we don’t deserve it. Because of His mercy, we have every reason to be thankful, no matter what kind of struggles or success we have.

The thankfulness we show God isn’t just a good feeling in our hearts. It shows up in how we live, how we think, and how we choose to keep Him first each day. We have the privilege as His children to continue to pray and to seek Him, like Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 (NLT): “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” This means that we put our Heavenly Father first and let His way rule over our ways; His ways are always best and full of love.

To be close to God is not a chore. It’s a gift. Jesus Christ showed us what it looks like to stay connected to the Father who loves us so much. Even during busy and exciting seasons like the holidays, God is still near and ready to spend time with us. When we pause and remember Him, we’re not giving something up—we’re gaining peace, joy, and a deeper understanding of what truly matters. Remembering the Lord helps keep our hearts focused and reminds us that His love is the greatest gift of all.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Sunday, December 21, 2025

Finding Wisdom Through God

James 1:5 (NLT) says, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” This verse teaches us that whenever we are confused or unsure about something, we can go to God, and He will give us the wisdom we need.

Most of us can agree that being in a situation where we feel lost and don’t know what to do is not enjoyable. As Christians, we are very blessed because God is with us at all times. Without Him, it would be much harder to climb out of the difficult situations we sometimes fall into. Psalm 32:8 (NLT) tells us about God’s guidance and steady presence when we feel unsure or lost: “The LORD says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’”

As kids, we don’t always know what wisdom is or why it’s important. Wisdom isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about asking God to help you choose what’s right and doing it, even when you really want to do something else. Sometimes, wisdom just means stopping for a second and thinking before you act. That is why it is so important to seek God for wisdom when we are faced with problems, so He can guide us onto the right path. Proverbs 3:13–14 (NLT) says, “Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold.” This verse reminds us that wisdom is more valuable than anything money can buy.

It’s also important to remember that not all knowledge from the world lines up with God’s truth. 1 Corinthians 3:19 (NLT) says, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, ‘He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.’” Worldly wisdom can sound convincing, like, “Just do it,” or “It’s not that serious,” or “Everybody does this.” It might seem smart, but it doesn’t always lead to good choices. God’s wisdom, on the other hand, helps you pause, think, and choose what’s right—even when it’s hard or when you really don’t want to.

So in conclusion, we should always turn to God when we need wisdom. Whether it’s for school, work, or a difficult season in life, we should never allow the opinions of the world to convince us that God’s Word is wrong. He’s always right, and when we follow His wisdom, the results will always be worth it.

Monday, December 15, 2025

Keeping Your Promise

We have all probably made a promise to someone and didn’t follow through—like saying we would help with work or cook a meal for a friend. Even if it doesn’t seem like a big deal to us, it matters to God. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5:37 (NLT), “Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’” This teaches us to be honest and keep our commitments.

Numbers 30:2 (NLT) says, “A man who makes a vow to the Lord or makes a pledge under oath must never break it. He must do exactly what he said he would do.”

This scripture is another reminder that when we make a promise, even a small one, God cares about whether we keep our word—especially when we promise something to Him.

When it comes to our friends, loved ones, and others, we also need to think about how they feel when a promise is broken. When someone is counting on us and we don’t follow through, it can really hurt or disappoint them. God wants us to treat people with care and honesty. It’s what the loving example of Jesus Christ teaches us.

We should never make promises if we know there is a big chance we won’t be able to complete them, even if we are feeling pressure to say yes.

Ecclesiastes 5:4–5 (NLT) says, “When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.”

This verse teaches us that it is better to be honest and say nothing than to make a promise we know we won’t keep. The wisdom of this truth reminds us not to make empty promises to God, and it also applies to the promises we make to the people around us. We should never treat our Heavenly Father that way. He is loving and kind to us, and He has never once given a promise He didn’t keep. That is an amazing example, and He wants us to know that through His strength, we can become the kind of person who always keeps their word.

So in conclusion, we should remember to only make promises we are willing and able to fulfill. The Bible teaches us that having a good reputation matters. Proverbs 22:1 (NLT) says, “Choose a good reputation over great riches.” When we keep our promises, people learn they can trust us, and that honors God. It also helps us treat others the way we want to be treated and builds a reputation of being trustworthy and honest.

Monday, December 8, 2025

Being Afraid to Ask God Questions

A lot of us Christians have been afraid to ask God certain questions, and some of us are in that place right now. Most of the time, it’s because we think He won’t answer us. Thoughts like, “God isn’t going to answer me, so why ask?” start growing in our minds. Sometimes we feel this way about blessings too. We don’t think He’ll respond, so we don’t even pray about the things we really desire.

Sometimes when we pray for something we really want, we think God should answer right away. But praying isn’t like making a wish—it’s the start of a process. He begins to shape our thoughts, our choices, and even our desires so they line up with what He wants for us. In other words, He begins working on our hearts so that what we ask for lines up with His Will.

Matthew 21:22 (NLT) says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” That doesn’t mean God behaves like a vending machine that gives us everything instantly. It means He listens, He cares, and He answers in the way that’s best for us. Sometimes His answer is “yes,” sometimes it’s “not right now,” and sometimes He shows us something even better than what we asked for. He changes our hearts so we understand what we really need. So when we pray, we’re not just asking—God is also growing us and helping us trust Him more.

Even if we’re scared to ask, we should still pray—because asking is how we start trusting Him and letting Him lead us. Our Heavenly Father always wants you to come to Him when you have needs. He wants you to rely only on Him because He wants to bless you and make you happy.

So in conclusion, we should never be afraid to ask God any questions because He is our provider and protector. Trusting this means we have faith, and this pleases Him.

A Heart for Christ