Yeah, we’ve all heard it before - Christmas is about Christ and not about material goods, blah blah.  While that’s right and all, there is something else deeper.  

Remember when you were a kid and had some unwrapped present that you knew was going to be awesome?  It would be life changing and you would be much happier once you had what you hoped for?  

That unknown present was hope.  

But we live our lives like that.  We hope for presents like: a girl/boyfriend, more money, a decent car, and nice laptop, a nicer job, getting your band signed to a major label, fame and fortune.  We end up hoping for something in the future.  

When we do that, we lose sight of something.  You know what that is?
    - Everything that God has blessed you with in the present.  

We need to be thankful for our present situation.  In all situations there is something to be thankful for.  You just need to look.  Sometimes it’s harder to find the good than in other situations, but nonetheless, that’s what we’re supposed to do.

1Thessalonians 5:16 Be joyful always; [17] pray continually; [18] give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

We can do this because we don’t have to hope for stuff - because our hope is (or at least should be) in Christ, and he’s already taken care of us.  

If your hope for happiness is in anything other than Christ, that thing you hope for is an idol.  

This Christmas season, celebrate Christ’s birth by placing your hopes for happiness in Christ by being thankful for the blessings He’s already given you (namely Salvation and His promise to take care of you; Rom. 8:28) and not placing your hopes for happiness in what you don’t have.

Merry Christmas,
Conrad