Walking with Jesus through December
How would you describe a typical December? Busy? Frazzled? Fun? Depressing? Hopeful? Stressful?
Let’s face it - December is not like any other month. Life is more than ever filled with shopping, planning, running on empty, trying to fit in all the concert-goings, cookie-makings, and party-attendings (yeah, I know, that’s not a word) while somehow reflecting on the birth of Jesus.
Right.
For some, it’s a blunt reminder of those we’ve lost, the yearning for connections we’ve never had, or the desire for how we wish things could be. The stores are singing about “merry and bright” and we’re feeling rather sad and dark.
How do we walk through this season, with all the expectations, responsibilities, and activities, and remain close to Jesus?
1. Examine and re-evaluate your expectations.
Christmas, more than any other holiday, is full of expectations. Get everyone the perfect gift, make the kids’ experience magical, get a Christmas card out to everyone along with the professional family picture. It’s a people-pleaser’s minefield! I find that I become most critical and frustrated when my expectations aren’t met. So the solution in many cases is to adjust my expectations to be more realistic. Here are some questions to think about or journal through:
What is most important to you this season?
What is one word that best describes the posture you’d like to have this month?
What challenges do you face this month? Scheduling challenges? Difficult anniversaries? Financial constraints?
What is realistic to expect of yourself in light of those challenges?
What might you need to let go of in order to fulfill what is most important?
2. Maintain some structure and stability in your days through spiritual disciplines.
What are some routine “pillars” you can put into place or keep in place throughout your day to provide a sense of consistency even when regular schedules are out of whack?
Do you have a consistent morning routine that includes perhaps prayer, Bible reading, and journaling? Even something like praying for the day while taking a shower, or memorizing a Bible verse that’s printed on the bathroom mirror while getting ready for the day can keep us focused on God. Reading Scripture or a devotion during lunch or spending some time in reflection before bed are other ideas.
3. Don’t be afraid to use timers to remind you to connect with God.
When I first started doing this, I felt guilty. “I shouldn’t need a timer to remember to pray!” But alas… I do. I’d rather be honest with myself and take the necessary steps to keep my mind fixed on Jesus than go through my day in my own power, with no thought to God. So, setting a phone timer it is. I’ve talked before about taking a “pause” - a literal minute or two during the day to step outside (preferably) or at least away from the activity we’re doing, to pray and release our worries and concerns to Jesus. Remember that our relationship with Him is the most important thing.
What helps you to stay connected to Jesus through the month of December?
What DOESN’T work that you can let go of?