Don't Waste Your Christmas

Don’t waste your Christmas.

Christmas often gets too wrapped up in hustle and bustle—shopping, gatherings, and endless to-do lists. What if you took a step back this year instead of rushing through the motions? What if you started a new tradition—one that centers your heart and family on God?

This Christmas, don’t let the joy of the season be overshadowed by stress and busyness. Slow down. Make time to reflect on God’s love and the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of Jesus Christ.

How to Make Christmas Meaningful
Here are some ideas to help you focus on Christ this Christmas:

1. Start a Devotional Tradition
Take time to read a devotional, either alone or with your family. For example, a few years ago, my family began reading A Jesus Christmas by Barbara Reaoch. Every evening during dinner, we would light candles and read together. This tradition has evolved over the years to include Better Than Anything Christmas and even Good Kind’s Advent blocks that guide us through the Gospel story leading up to Christ’s birth. 

We make it special by adding candles and oil lamps along with our devotional reading. As my kids have gotten older, they now do the Advent reading and prayer. It’s been really cool to hear them read, pray, and ask questions about the reading. It’s a good reminder that none of this is in vain.

2. Sing and Pray Together
This year, we’ve added songs like Joy to the World or Silent Night to your family’s evening routine. We find a youtube video of Christmas songs with lyrics and sing together. We know some songs very well. There are other songs we are just learning this year. It’s a lot of fun.
Praying together strengthens our connection to God and each other. Whether our devotional has a prayer or not, we slow down and make sure to pray together. It’s important to teach them to pray and support them when they make the effort. 

3. Join a Church Devotional
This year, our church is reading Everyday Gospel together. It’s a wonderful way to connect with fellow believers, knowing they are reflecting on the same scriptures and truths. It’s cool to see other church members sharing good quotes on their Facebook page! It brings me great joy to know that our church is on the same page, literally, for our devotional lives.

4. Use Reading Plans
Explore Advent reading plans in apps like Logos or the Youversion Bible App, or find one online. These plans provide daily reminders to keep Christ at the center of your thoughts. The readings each day don’t have to be long. In fact, shorter readings can be better for meditation.

The Importance of Slowing Down
Slowing down during the Christmas season allows you to focus on what matters most: Jesus. It’s easy to get caught up in the rush of shopping, gatherings, and activities, but making time for scripture and prayer helps us remember the joy, peace, and hope that Christ brings.
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Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus, who came to Earth to save us. It’s a time to reflect on the incredible gift of salvation and the depth of God’s love. If we let the season’s distractions overshadow this truth, we lose the heart of what we’re celebrating.

Resources to Get You Started
Here are some devotional recommendations to guide your reflections:
    •    A Jesus Christmas by Barbara Reaoch
    •    Better Than Anything Christmas by Barbara Reaoch
    •    Love Came Down at Christmas by Sinclair Ferguson
    •    The Dawn of Redeeming Joy by Sinclair Ferguson
    •    The Christmas We Didn’t Expect by David Mathis

A Season to Cherish
While Christmas isn’t a biblically mandated celebration, it is a wonderful opportunity to focus on the Incarnation—the profound mystery of God becoming man. Take time to reflect on the richness of Christ’s coming, not just during Advent, but all year long.

Don’t waste your Christmas. Use this season to deepen your understanding of Christ, nurture your family’s faith, and share the joy of salvation with others. By focusing your heart and mind on Jesus, you’ll find a sense of peace and joy that surpasses the chaos of the season.

Let this Christmas be the beginning of traditions that bring you closer to God.

Photo by Any Lane: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-a-person-s-hands-cutting-wrapping-paper-5727927/​