It makes me sad to think about how Christmas for some is a sad and/or lonely time.  And it makes me mad to think how those very people are being victimized by fiery darts!!!!  The Christmas message that holds the promise of deliverance from such sadness and loneliness gets blocked by fiery darts and is kept from bringing the hope and healing its victims sorely need.

How about you my dear reader?  Are you dreading Christmas?  Have you reached a point in your pain where you are numb to every emotion?  Does the future look so bleak that you see no reason to rejoice or make merry?  Have you recently suffered the devastating loss of a loved one?  Are you dealing with problems that seem hopeless? Have you finally relented and given up on that troubled relationship? Because if you are caught up in all the suffering that accompanies these heart breaking moments of life, be assured almost every thought that pops into your head will be to foster your misery.  For some of you, your thoughts grow more hopeless, thus more dangerous by the hour.

PLEASE, PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO KEEP THINKING THOSE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS.  YOU REALLY DON’T!

BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU, YOU CAN FEEL BETTER!

First of all, I want to give you a little writing assignment. On page 21-22 in my book you will find what I call a “journal assignment.”  Here’s how it reads:

1.  Record some of the negative emotions you have dealt with this past week or ones that plague you often.

2.  Now, make a list of some of the negative thoughts that quickened those negative emotions.

3.  In describing the negative emotion(s) produced by the negative thought(s) you mentioned, identify the attitude and/or actions that resulted.

Please be open to the idea that the negative thoughts in your head are designed for your destruction.  If you continue to allow them free reign, they will destroy you.  Unless you bring them under control, they will prevent you from hearing or knowing how God plans to rescue you.  AND NEVER DOUBT FOR A MOMENT, GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR RESCUE!  His rescue plan starts very simply:

IF YOU WANT TO FEEL DIFFERENTLY, THEN YOU MUST THINK DIFFERENTLY!

Trust me dear reader, this writing assignment will help you take on a different perspective with all that you are dealing with and result in your being able to feel better!  How do I know that?  Something crazy happens when you put those negative thoughts, emotions, attitudes and/or actions in black and white on a piece of paper.  They become identifiable, less intimidating, less powerful to rule you and you begin to see them as the fiery darts they really are.  I guess until you put them where you can identify them you can’t feel you have any control over them.  This exercise enables us to stand back and get a different perspective on those manipulating thoughts. Being able to read them in black and white, you will finally can see them for what they are–tools for our destruction.

The next thing I offer to you is to read the following. This is the part where your thinking will be influenced to take a different course.

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”Luke 2:10-14 (NKJV)

Now, after reading the above account of the birth of Christ, pay close attention to the words that are in bold type and underlined.  Jesus’s birth heralds great joy, peace, and goodwill to ALL men.  That good news isn’t something to be afraid of either.  Would you like to feel joy, peace, and goodwill during this Christmas season, instead of all the negative feelings with which  you are wrestling?

You know, you can!  And added to joy, peace, and goodwill you’ll get a bonus–hope!  Because if you are a Christian you have accepted Christ as your personal Savior and you can take all your cares and burdens and lay them at His feet.  He will not only help you deal with these hopeless situations, but He will make your life richer because of them.  For you see, as you follow His plan in dealing with your struggles, you’ll find yourself becoming stronger in your faith,and developing a greater trust in God.  And all because you had been tried by these trials!  Hey, and if you’re not a Christian, then it just could be that these very trials will be what will bring you to Christ and turn your heartache into rejoicing. Now that will give you cause to celebrate!

Well, I think I’ve said what I wanted to say!  I pray you were able to read the whole wordy post and follow through with the writing assignment AND that you are able to break free of the bondage of fiery dart thinking.  I’m praying the Christmas message will bring healing and restoration for all of you who are going through difficulty and pain. You have to make a choice though: To reject the destructiveness of your fiery dart thinking and seek instead the  joy, peace, and hope of Christmas–just like the Wisemen!  Then,

YOU CAN HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!