What Is the Best Birthday Gift for You?

My boyfriend’s birthday last month became a special moment for both of us, because it was also our anniversary. At first, I wanted to give him something special, but it was actually I who received a surprise. That day, he asked whether I would be his girlfriend, and I answered, “Yes!” We were so happy and grateful because our prayers and fasting over the years were finally answered.

Do you know that the day you were born is precious in God’s eyes? How do you celebrate your birthday each year? What special gift can you give yourself on that day?

Here are some things we can do to make our birthdays even more beautiful and meaningful.

1. Be Grateful for God’s Goodness and Mercy

For You formed my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret and woven together in the depths of the earth; Your eyes saw me when I was yet unborn, and in Your book were written all the days that were formed for me, before one of them came to be.

– Psalm 139:13-16

As the saying goes, “You cannot love what you do not know,” the first one who knew us was God. He is the One who loved us first, more than anyone else, even more than our parents. God sees us as special and precious in His sight.

God not only knows us deeply, but He also has plans of peace for our lives. Out of millions of sperm striving to reach the egg in the process of fertilization, one succeeded, and that means we are the  best. No one knows in detail how we developed in our mother’s womb, but God knows.

So, should we not be grateful for these wondrous things? Should we still fail to value the life God has given us, for example by doing things that are useless or destructive to ourselves?

A birthday is the best moment to reflect on and give thanks for all of God’s goodness and mercy. If you are grateful for the life God has given you, you will surely value yourself. And the best gift you can give yourself is to keep becoming a better person over time. Have you given that gift to yourself?

2. Evaluate Yourself

Mahatma Gandhi said, “If Christians truly lived by the example of Christ, the whole world would be Christian today.” This quote reminds me to continually examine myself. Have I followed Christ’s example in my words and actions? What should be different when Christ is truly present in my life?

Test me, O LORD, and try me; examine my heart and my mind. For my eyes are on Your steadfast love, and I walk in Your truth. – Psalm 26:2-3 

A birthday is the right moment to evaluate yourself. What character qualities have grown, what achievements have you reached, and what things must change? As you grow older, you deserve to become a better version of yourself.

Write down in a notebook what you were like last year and how you are now. By doing this every year, you will not only know yourself better, you will also be amazed to see how God keeps working to transform your life.

3. Set New Goals

For which of you, wanting to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? – Luke 14:28 

God wants us to be able to make plans for our own lives. Do not let year after year pass without planning something meaningful in life. For that, you can use the guide SMART Goal.

Specific (what do you want to achieve?)

Meaningful (why do you want to achieve it?)

Action-oriented (what steps will you take to achieve it?)

Realistic (is the goal realistic to achieve?)

Timely (when is your target time to achieve it?)

Besides applying the method above, do not forget to involve God through prayer, as well as other people who are more mature, both in thought and spiritually. In that way, you can continue to be guided and directed toward the best things in life.

Remember that you are very precious to God. A birthday is an important and extraordinary occasion that helps you feel God’s love more deeply throughout your life. A birthday gives you the opportunity to evaluate yourself and keep growing through new goals. Amen, and happy birthday to those of you celebrating today!

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