As we approach this Christmas holiday, God spoke to me while in prayer that He loved the world so much that He gave His only Son as a sacrifice and redemptive gift to humanity. For that purpose, He sent His most precious gift through His Son to give us the gift of eternal life.
He sent to us the gift of life through His Son Jesus Christ that many, even today, have rejected. Gifts are to be valued.
Whether the gift is big or small, expensive or inexpensive. The point is, it’s the thought that counted. Moreover, Christmas is a reflection of the birth of Jesus, but more so what He represented as the sacrificial gift sent from heaven to earth. Those who feel like they didn’t get what they wanted on Christmas day should think about that. However, the most important thing is the gift of life that we are given through Jesus who died and was resurrected.
The Lord reminded me that He loves giving good gifts to His children who ask. His gift is more than expensive—it’s priceless, invaluable and perfect. I love what James 1:17 says: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no change or shadow of turning.”
Every good and perfect gift you will ever receive from the Lord is given because of the Father’s love. It’s not just on a special holiday like Christmas—it’s every day. My mother used to say when I was young that Christmas is every day in her household because every day, she’s providing for us because she loves us and it’s her responsibility. The Lord’s love for you is so great that He looks for every single opportunity to give you a gift and to answer your prayer request.
The Father wants to let you know that you are valued and loved by Him daily. You were the reason the Father sent His only Begotten Son in the first place. Jesus is the joy to the world. He is the reason for the season—whether we don’t receive what we may be longing or asking for on Christmas. The point is that Jesus Christ is the greatest gift ever given to man and the Father is the gift-giver. He wants you to know that He is not distant from us, but, rather, is working in our midst to lead us to abundant joy, peace, righteousness and life in the Holy Spirit daily and not just on Christmas day (see Rom. 14:17).
While I was in prayer the Lord spoke to me and said that He is releasing and activating more spiritual gifts on the inside of His people. There are those who were born with specific gifts, talents, abilities and supernatural graces to fulfill their calling. However, they have not tapped into their full potential. He stated that He desires for them to seek Him not for material things, but for spiritual gifts that will fulfill His divine purpose in the earth. The gifts the Lord is referring to are not something found under a beautiful Christmas tree but within each and every believer.
In Matthew 7:11 it says, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
Father God longs to bless you the way a loving Father would. And at the same time the heavenly Father loves and knows each of us more intrinsically, intimately and deeply than any earthly parent ever could. The Father is the greatest example and by far outworks, outthinks and outdoes any earthly father or parents. Like a loving and knowing Father He will even give us things we didn’t even pray for (read 1 Kings 3:13).
What gift are you longing for today? Do you long for companionship? Do you want to grow and operate in the supernatural gifts of God? Do you desire to understand the gifts that are within you? Is there a sense of longing to be loved, accepted and understood? Do you just need to know that the Father is with you? What are the spiritual gifts you need from the Lord?
God’s gifts may not look like a beautifully wrapped gift you opened for Christmas last year, but they will be exactly what you need when you need it. God is love, but, oftentimes, people believe they didn’t receive anything for Christmas. The truth of the matter is, it’s not materialistic things, but spiritual things that matter.
Father God passionately desires for you to know the depth of His love, demonstrated by Him sending His only Son to die for you! He’d love to pour His love out on you right now as you are reading this for the holiday season. The greatest present is not what is under a Christmas tree but the purpose of the One (Jesus Christ) who broke the curse and willingly became a curse who later hung on a tree (cross) for you and I.
Galatians 3:12-14 explains it: “But the law is not of faith, for ‘The man who does them shall live by them.’ Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by being made a curse for us—as it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’—so that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Jesus was the promised present that we are now justified by faith. The “present” we want to ask and long for each day is the “presence” of God to manifest. What specific gifts are you asking the Father for? Unfortunately, we have those who would rather have the gifts instead of the gift-giver—the Father.
Ask the Holy Spirit today to give you eyes to see all the ways He is working in your life. Do you need financial breakthrough and provision? Ask God for the leading of the Holy Spirit in your finances! Ask the Father to provide specifically in the area of need. Whatever gift you need from God today, His Word promises in 1 John 5:15: “So if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have whatever we asked of Him.” The Lord does hear us and will respond immediately because His will meets our every need.
This holiday season, reflect on some of these powerful scriptures to understand the heart and nature of God who is a gift-giver:
—”Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the elders” (1 Tim. 4:14).
—”As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Pet. 4:10, ESV).
—”For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).
—”Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith” (Rom. 12:6).
—”For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8).
—”For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Rom. 11:29).
—”Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15)
—”But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way” (1 Cor. 12:31).
—”Therefore it says, ‘When he ascended on high, he led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men'” (Eph. 4:8). {eoa}
Dr. Hakeem Collins is an empowerment specialist, respected prophetic voice, apostolic leader, governmental minister, life coach, and sought-after conference speaker. He is known for his keen accurate prophetic gifting and supernatural ministry. He is the author of bestselling books, including Heaven Declares and Command Your Healing. He’s been featured on many television shows: Sid Roth’s It’s Supernatural! The Word Network and Cornerstone TV, to name a few. He is host of Prophetic Breakthrough podcast on the Charisma Podcast Network. Follow him on: facebook.com/drhakeemcollins/ and hakeemcollinsministries.com.
Joyce Meyer 
Stephen Strang 
Charisma Media Staff 
