What Do You Want for Christmas?

You remember that question growing up — “What do you want for Christmas?”

Man, I used to cling to that moment every year. The minute my parents started asking, I’d light up. And now, as a dad, I see that same look in my kids’ eyes. The excitement. The anticipation.

So let me ask you – What do you truly want for Christmas?

I find it super interesting that Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” That verse fascinates me. On the surface, it almost sounds like a blank check for whatever we want — but that’s not really what it’s saying.

I’ve wrestled with this scripture recently, and here’s what I’ve learned: the center of our delight determines the direction of our desires.

When my parents asked what I wanted, my first instinct was to think about me — what would make me happy. And let’s be honest… When I asked you that question a minute ago, I bet your mind went there too. Trucks, guns, maybe some cash — nothing wrong with that (and let’s be real, a Bass Pro gift card still hits differently).

But the challenge of being a disciple of Christ is learning to shift that center — from us to Him.

When we delight in the Lord, the things we truly desire begin to change. Suddenly it’s not about stuff — it’s about substance.

• The desire to know Him better.
• The desire to lead our families well.
• The desire to love our wives as Christ loves the Church.
• The desire to cherish the moments He gives us with the people who genuinely care about us.

Those are the gifts that don’t fade. The ones you can’t buy or wrap.

So here’s something to consider this Christmas season: take the time to pause and reflect. Take inventory of what you truly desire. And if the focus has drifted back toward you — course correct.

Because when your family sees a man whose joy isn’t tied to what’s under the tree, but to the One who hung on the tree — that’s when they’ll see the real meaning of Christmas lived out in front of them.Stay grounded. Stay grateful.
Be free.