Five Ways to Quit Doing Christmas and Experience It
I’m on a Christmas mission. I want to tune out the commercialism that threatens to obscure the sacred story of God choosing to be born among us with itty bitty fingernails and baby’s breath. I want to walk through the season with fresh eyes and sensitive ears, relishing the miracle. Full disclosure? This mission of mine is not new. I’m years in, and ever learning. Progress isn’t always steady it’s a worthy goal, this living Christmas instead of doing Christmas. And here we go, again. Want to join me this year? I’ve prepared five ways we can approach advent that will position our hearts to meet with Jesus in the holy wait. Drop me a message and let me know you’re with me. I’ll pray for both of us! In the meantime, here are those suggestions.
- Find a like-minded friend to hold you accountable.
The world may say the (rat) race is on, but let’s take a pass. Just admitting that the way we worshipped Jesus last year and the year before isn’t enough for us any longer will set us up to experience His Presence more intimately than ever before. Tell someone you’re looking to keep Jesus at the center of your Christmas preparations and activities this year, and then muster the courage to ask them to check in on your from time to time for a progress report!
- Give off the top.
Most of us have a limited amount we can spend on Christmas, but we want to be a blessing to those who are less fortunate while still giving to our own family and friends? So, here’s a radical idea. Give, first. Let’s give first and buy second. Let’s abandon our preconceived notions of what we can do with what we have and give Jesus room to be more than we need. Today, make a list of people or non-profits whom you know need resources and ask God to show you where and how much to give. Let’s give before the budget gets any more strained and watch God move. “…and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35
- Practice swapping while shopping.
We know it’s coming, those overwhelming thoughts about trying to squeeze Christmas shopping into our crazy schedules and how to keep it from busting the budget! Rather than entertaining that familiar anxiety, let’s remind ourselves that God broke the bank (so to speak) to give eternal life to the whole broken mess of us. In Jesus, we have God’s all. Let’s ask the Lord to alert us when we’re having Christmas “anxiety”, so we can purposefully exchange it for a praise-worthy thought about Jesus.
- Nourish the gift of faith.
As we spend this time watching and waiting for Jesus, I imagine us looking something like Mary, growing in expectation as she watched her body grow with child. This Jesus-seeking, God-honoring Advent we’re looking to live is a worthy and holy mission, as was Mary’s. And just as she needed more nutrients and not less as sweet baby Jesus formed in her, we’ll need the ongoing nourishment of Immanuel, God with Us, to live Christmas. Let’s write out a verse of Scripture every morning to pack in our hearts and in our purses. Throughout our work days, shopping trips and school parties, as we sip our favorite beverages, and nibble our snacks or meals, let’s revisit that verse and feed our faith on the feast that is Jesus. My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you. Galatians 4:19
1.Trade the countdown for a starting place.
Let’s remind ourselves this commitment to live Christmas with Jesus is a starting place, not a finish line. We’ll need courage from the abiding presence of Immanuel to ask Him to keep showing up in our lives– without setting conditions for what that will look like, but we can do it and He is a worthy goal. Let’s seek Him together, forever. This God Man isn’t meant to be a part of our lives, He is our life. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 26:3
