One week from today, many households around the US will become beehives of activity with Thanksgiving preparations. Pies baking, turkeys thawing, and table decorating will fill our to-do list. But, unfortunately, chaos soon follows as we rush around, hoping to create a picture-perfect day for our family and friends.
Once we finish eating the meal and the cleanup complete, many of us collapse into a turkey comma as we watch our favorite teams on TV. Early to bed and early to rise for Black Friday sales to begin the Christmas season.
Preparations of Our Hearts
Sometimes, it feels like we rush through this time of year. This is because we spend so much time in preparation for the coming events. From Thanksgiving to Christmas becomes a blur of activity that leaves us exhausted as we enter the new year. This Holiday Season, I want to include preparations that fill my heart with the joy of Christ.
I want to tune out the noises and activities that the world creates during the holidays and listen. I want to be intentional about how I fill my time this season. Of course, preparations will still happen, but they will include a time of reflection and prayer so the Lord can prepare my heart for His purposes.
Preparations for Reflection
For my reflections during this Holiday season, I want to take time to remember these things about the gifts my Heavenly Father gave me:
- Forgiveness so I can forgive
- Love so I can love
- Grace so I can give grace
- Abundance so I can share abundantly
- Salvation so I can share my faith
I want my heart to focus on how God’s grace and love changed my life and thank Him for the many blessings.
Be Still
But, to fulfill this task, I must take the time to be still and listen. Here are a few quotes to help me remember to be quiet:
“In the rush and noise of life, as you have intervals, step home within yourselves and be still. Wait upon God and feel His good presence; this will carry you evenly through your day’s business.”
William Penn
“The quieter you become, the more you can hear.”
Ram Dass
And we also find many verses in the Bible to remind us to tune out the sounds of the world around us and focus on God:
- Psalm 46:10 (NIV): “He says, Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
- Psalm 37:7 (NIV): “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”
- Psalm 1:2 (NLT): “But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.”
And when we spend time with Christ, we find peace even in the craziness of a commercial Holiday season:
- Colossians 3:15 (ESV): “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
- Philippians 4:7 (ESV): “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
- Isaiah 26:3 (ESV): “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
So, as we prepare for the Holidays, I pray we focus more on our faith than on the season’s festivities. Our faith calls us to live a different life than the rest of the world. Romans 12:2 (ESV); “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Prayer of Preparation
Dearest Heavenly Father. Please help us make this Holiday season more about You. Please show us how to replace the season’s stress with Your peace and joy. Thank you for the Christmas gift of Your son to save us. Let us show the world how to celebrate the true meaning of this holy season. In Jesus’ most holy name. Amen.
Well said Ms. Yvonne. The most important thing we can prepare for the upcoming holidays is our heart. So very true ma’am. Thank you for this gentle reminder of what’s most important.
Thanks JD. I want to make sure I prepare my heart this holiday season and remember all my wonderful blessings. May your holidays be blessed also.
Amen. I pray I will focus on God and not on the “stuff” of the season. 🙂
Amen and me too. Keeping God in the holidays adds so much peace. Blessings
Thank you for this timely and critical reminder of the importance of not getting caught up in the temporary trappings at the expense of the eternal!
Thanks Ava. I see the consumerism slowly squeeze out the true meaning and importance of Christmas. Blessings
Thank you for focusing in on the Savior and all He has done for us. We must respond, changing our ways, loving one another, and starting over with acts of kindness as often as needed.
Amen. We must live more like our Savior in these darkening days. Blessings
Thanks for showing us the importance of not letting ourselves be consumed by the chaos and stress that can come with the season.
Thanks Nancy. Blessings
I love this post, Yvonne, as you have reminded us of why we celebrate. The best gift we can give to God is gratitude and praise. The best gift we can give ourselves is to be still and listen to His voice. Thanks for sharing.
He is the reason for the season and deserves our thanks always. Blessings
Well said. It is hard to be still, but it is so important to be still and prepare a place in our hearts for the Lord to reside. Thanks for the timely reminder.
It is hard to be still especially in our day and age. Thanks for visiting and commenting. Blessings
I agree wholeheartedly!! It’s so important we embrace stillness instead of rushing about in distraction as we turn to God and prepare our hearts.
It is important but we need to be so intentional about finding the time. I preach this to myself often. Thank Jessica. Blessings
Love these quotes! And the Scripture you share. Very timely reminders. You gave me a head start on preparing my heart. Thank you.
I need a head start and lots of reminders myself. Thank you Candyce. Blessings
A wonderful message for us as the holiday season is now upon us! It’s hard to find peace if we’re stressed aout cleaning, cooking, shopping, and the plethora of tasks that surround us as we prepare for a family gathering. The scripture you share helps us stay rooted in our Lord. Thank you
This holiday season I want to be more like Mary and less like Martha. Thanks Katherine. Blessings
Thank you for the great reminders, Yvonne. I need to intentionally plan my Christmas season to allow time and space to be still. It’s such a special time.
Thanks so much Annie. Blessings
Well said, Yvonne. I love your list of preparations and reflections.
Thanks so much Karen. Blessings