Shopping, baking, family gatherings, traffic, gift wrapping, advent, Christmas concerts, cookie exchanges, tree trimming. Yes, that’s right, it’s Christmas time! We are all fa-la-la-la-la-ing, right? This is a great time of year. It is the time where we begin to see more family, eat tasty cookies and not feel guilty about it, listen to that Christmas music that moves us and helps us remember that God became man and dwelt among us, and give to loved ones. Or, that sometimes translates into baking for hours while breaking up arguments and screaming at your children, shopping with morons, driving among insane people, acting like martyrs because we have to spend time with old Uncle Creeps Me Out, and spending tons of money we don’t have. Anything sound familiar?
Tis the season to be jolly? This is the season where impatience, frustrations, anger, and bitterness (the Scrooge in us), likes to rear its ugly head. These sins come from the heart. The crazy shoppers, bad traffic, creepy uncles, and less than angelic children (unless yours are droids from another planet), just squeeze the heart a little and what is already there comes spilling out with the greatest of ease. This is the ugly side of humanity. The reason we need the Messiah that was promised all those years ago and the reason we do all the things we do around the holidays, remembering that the promise was fulfilled in God’s only Son, Jesus.So Ladies, how are we going to be purposeful this Christmas season to do battle against the sin that is waiting to come out? How are we purposing to be a blessing and a pleasure to our family, neighbors, fellow shoppers and drivers? We want Jesus to be exalted, right? We want our children to see Him as the greatest treasure of all, right? That is hard to do when you are cranky, irritable, frustrated, or flat out mean.
Here are just a few suggestions to help you be purposeful and cultivate a joyful, gracious, and giving heart that battles sin during the Christmas season.
- Remember the gospel. Steep yourself in the word of God. Let it wash over you, think about it, memorize it, talk about it, journal, read, read, and read. Do not let the busy hustle and bustle of this time of year steal time away from seeking to feast on God through His Word. As you approach His word in faith, He grows you, convicts you, and washes you with joy as you see all His promises and His love for you. Let the Word inform you, shape you, and control you. We cannot walk in a manner worthy of His calling if we have no idea what a worthy manner is and how God has called us and all He has done for us.
- Worship with your family. May I suggest that you pick devotions that will
focus your mind on God fulfilling His promise to save his people through His Son? There are advent calendars and devotional readings that are helpful in cultivating the discipline of remembering throughout the month of December what God has done for us. 
Blast the Christmas Music. You read right. Crank up the music and sing loud and long. Enjoy it! Think about the words and allow yourself to simply worship as so many of these songs tell us the story of the birth of God’s only Son and reminds us that God stepped into history and made the way to bring sinners to Himself.- Love your family. As you remember the grace given to you, the forgiveness you have received because God became man, died, rose again, and gave you life in His name, enjoy your family. Treat them like gifts from God because that’s what they are. Serve them like Jesus served you. Bake for them. Give to them. Hug them. Pray over them. Pray with them. Thank God for them. Include them in your activities and show them patience even when they do not do things the way you would.
Put people before your plans. You should have a plan. It really does help you get the shopping done, put up the tree, have consistent devotions, and conquer the baking. Plan when you will bake, when you will shop; schedule your tree trimming. Plan family activities and include friends; such as driving to see the lights, visiting a nursing home, and making decorations and gifts for others. But remember, everyone and everything does not have to fall in line with your plans. Sickness hits, trials do not get put on hold because it is Christmas, children need to be trained and cared for in ways that might not be a part of your itinerary, or a friend may need you. Be other oriented as you go about your plans.
As we bake, shop, drive, and celebrate; let us arm ourselves with the Word of God, walking in the Spirit, clothed in the apron of a servant, cheerful, patient and overflowing with kindness.
By Jasmine Aldrich
Follow Us!