Friday, December 29, 2023

The Christmas season is one of the busiest times of the year. Sometimes, it seems like we have such a long to-do list that it is nearly impossible to finish. Having family and friends come to town to celebrate the holidays, finding gifts to give your loved ones, and trying to make Christmas the best it can be for your family can be mentally exhausting. While Christmas is a time to reconnect with others and spread joy, it can also be draining. 

As an introvert, I can admit that when the holiday season is over, I breathe a sigh of relief and cherish the quiet moments that God gives to us. I am no longer pressured by things that need to be done, and time finally slows down. The time to reflect and reconnect with God is an often-overlooked gift that is beneficial to both our spiritual and mental health.

The week after Christmas offers us the perfect opportunity to reflect on our year and reconnect with Jesus. It is so easy to get caught up in worldly things and stressors around Christmas that we forget to take a moment to breathe. 

The calm after Christmas provides us with quiet moments where we can let go of our burdens and take them to the Lord. It gives us time to focus on God, meditate on his Word, and reflect on the trials and triumphs of the past year before we begin a new one. It is spiritually cathartic to intentionally spend time with God and listen to what he is telling us, whether that be through Scripture, prayer, or godly conversations with other Jesus followers.

Psalm 62:5
Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.

As the holidays come to a close, many of us will start a new semester at school or return to work after the holiday break. So let’s use the remaining time we have this week to focus on clearing our heads and letting go of the stresses and pressures of our daily lives in preparation for 2024. This quiet time will renew our strength to begin the New Year spiritually and mentally refreshed. 

Questions:
How can you use the quiet moments to connect with God?

What is your favorite way to reflect and rest during this time of year?

Next Steps:
Set aside 15-30 minutes each day this weekend to spend alone with God. Use this time to connect with God through prayer, worship music, Scripture, or just by sitting still in the quiet moments.

Take time to journal about 2023 and write down your hopes and wishes for 2024. If you did something similar last year, go back and reflect on what you wrote.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of the holiday season. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my daily life that I forget to reflect and rest. Let me use this time to center my heart on you and to surrender any burdens that I have carried this past year. Thank you for giving me this time to reflect and recharge after the busy holiday season. Please bless this new year and help me to grow in my walk with Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.

This post was written by Isabelle Billnitzer, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut.