How to Really Come Home for The Holidays

Christmas is the time to come home. Whether we are 4 years old or 40, we all like to surround ourselves with family and friends during the holiday season. Something happens to our hardened edge as Christmas approaches. The remains of arguments or disagreements that may have taken place earlier in the year often melt away during the nostalgia and warm fuzzy feelings that overtake us during Christmas.

If you are reading this, saying, “Yea, right” to yourself, then maybe you need a bit of defrosting of the heart. Run down to your nearest video store and grab a copy of A Charlie Brown Christmas. After watching, see if you don’t have a little more clarity on the whole Christmas season. Charlie has a way of bringing it all into perspective.

Sometimes we lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas, but only for a little while. God is faithful, and the truth is that He really wants us to have a relationship with Him and come home for the holidays (to Him) much more than we could ever imagine. That’s why He is constantly calling us home. What? Did you say you haven’t heard him calling you? Maybe you should think a little harder.

God has spoken to all people (the lost as well as those who have received salvation) in their inner consciousness. We are created with an inner void, a longing that can only be filled through a healthy, active relationship with God. He is the only one who can fill the void.

How does God speak to us?

Maybe you are reading this and you weren’t even aware that you could actually hear God’s voice or develop a personal relationship with him. In John 17:2, Jesus said, “This is eternal life–that they may know God.”

So, how does God speak to us? Here are four simple keys of wisdom that will teach you exactly to hear God’s voice and how to develop a relationship with Him.

• God’s voice is heard in your heart. It often sounds like a flow of spontaneous thoughts, visions, impressions or feelings. Elijah described it as a “still, small voice.” If you are driving down the road and you are suddenly impressed upon to pray for someone, that is the voice of God.

• God will speak to you through the Word. Often, as you meditate upon the Word of God, He will reveal direction or ways in which you can apply the Word to your own life. You will feel a clarity as you read, as if the Word has been “opened up” to you. Guess what, that’s exactly what is happening.

• God will speak to you in dreams and visions. God often spoke to Joseph in dreams. He will speak to you the same way, and often does. There is a Christian worship song called, “Open the eyes of my heart Lord.” It is very fitting. God will open the eyes of our heart so that we can have a clear understanding of our dreams, visions and impressions.  The spirit realm is very real and active, and it is all around us. The only reason why we don’t see more clearly on a spiritual level is because of our own unbelief. Daniel said that he kept looking and looking when he saw a vision in his mind (Daniel 7:2, 9, 13) If you desire to walk with God and develop a deep relationship with Him, all you have to do is believe and pray that He will open the eyes of your own heart.

• Journaling as a way to hear from God. Often, when visions or dreams come to us, we are tempted to reject them, thinking they are just made up in our own minds.

God told Habakkuk to write the vision and make it plain. (Hab. 2:2). When you are praying or meditating upon the Word, keep a journal beside you. As you are impressed, write down your thoughts and impressions. By doing so, you’ll be able to look back at the things God has spoken to your heart and see that it really was God speaking to you. This will greatly increase your faith and help you to build an even deeper relationship with God. The more you seek Him and find Him, the more of Him you will desire. A relationship with God is a wonderful, fulfilling thing.

Follow those four keys and your 2010 will be beyond what you could ever imagine. Your destiny, your prayers, wisdom, and answers to everything in your life can all be found once you develop a relationship with your heavenly Father. Start now and you’ll really know what coming home for the holidays is all about….Merry Christmas.