3 Simple Ways to Keep Christ in Christmas this Year
Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s filled with shopping, presents, decorations, the possibility of snow (yes, please!), fun movies, family traditions, hot chocolate, and most importantly…..celebrating the birth of my Savior.
Jesus, the Reason for the Season.
The Hope of the World sent from heaven to rescue and restore us.
However, with all the excitement I can get caught up in the busyness and fun, leaving Jesus last on my list.
How can we keep Christ at the Center of Christmas?
I’m asking God that question.
Why? Because honestly, I know it’s not easy.
All things Christmas are vying for my attention and let’s face it, I can get a little sidetracked by it.
If it’s not the celebrating, it’s the busyness. The to-do list gets long and Jesus gets pushed to the bottom.
That is so not my heart, y’all!
I want to cozy up on my couch, open my heart and my Bible, and commune with the One who gave me life.
The One who set me free from bondage.
The One who loves me unconditionally, even when I’m not lovable.
It can be so easy to forget all He’s done. But this year, I don’t want to forget. I want the constant reminder to focus on Him. After all, isn’t He the reason we are celebrating? Here are three ways I plan to keep Jesus, the Reason for the Season.
How to Keep Christ in Christmas this Year
Visit with Christ all throughout the day
I like to wake up early and start my day reading the Bible.
But the truth is, some days it’s just not possible.
I wake up late, someone loses a shoe, the dog runs wild around the house….not every day is utopia in our house.
In the past, I’ve gotten irritated by the disruption in my morning routine. Yet I’m realizing that I need to be more flexible with myself and the change in schedules.
If I don’t spend 30 minutes with Him in the morning, He’s not offended.
In fact, He invites me to commune with Him all throughout the day— for any length of time. I don’t have to be locked into a fixed schedule for a set amount of time.
Do I love my normal routine? Of course! But it doesn’t have to be the only way.
I find visiting with God throughout the day helps me to stay more connected to Him.
I ask Him the questions I would usually ask myself.
Lord, what should I make for dinner? God, how do I handle this situation?
It becomes more of a relationship than a checklist.
This simple step will not only help us focus on Christ during Christmas but all year long!
Be grateful every day
There have been many days where I wake up with a sense of frustration about the day ahead.
Rather than seeing what God can do, oftentimes I only see what I can do.
I compare my strength against the obstacles ahead, which usually leads to complaining.
I grumble about the way things are going, the laundry I haven’t completed, the dishes that are in the sink, and the dinner I still need to cook. My negative attitude can quickly lead to self-pity and ungratefulness.
He can change my circumstances in a matter of seconds.
My attitude, on the other hand, requires a surrendering of my will.
When I choose an attitude of gratitude, I’m drawn into God’s inner courts, where I find peace, wisdom, love, and rest.
I find everything I need to get through the day.
Read a scripture a Day
I tend to be an overachiever.
If I read a scripture I feel like I need to read the entire chapter.
I’m quickly learning a beautiful lesson: God is much more concerned with my heart than my performance.
I picked up a tip from Lysa Terkeurst in one of her online teachings.
She suggested picking one verse to read, rather than trying to tackle an entire chapter. So I began a habit of choosing one verse a day and digging deeper.
I found that during that time, I gained so much insight from God…not just about that scripture, but how it applied to my life.
Now that you have a few tips to get you started, I want to share one more resource that I think will help you this Christmas!
This year I’m encouraging all my friends (that includes you!) to join me for a 25 Day Challenge to Keep Christ in Christmas. I’ll share daily scriptures, encouragement, and practical tips to help prepare our homes for a Christ-centered atmosphere. We’ll start on December 1st and go all the way through Christmas. Once you sign up, everything will be delivered straight to your email. I can’t wait to begin this journey with you!
