10 Ways to Stay Focused on Jesus at Christmas
For the first year in decades, I counted winter as a gift this year: not a grueling season to survive, but a wonderous season to embrace. As I aim to give thanks for the colder weather and darker days, I’m also reminding myself to stay focused on Jesus at Christmas this year.
I tend to get pulled into the rush of my Christmas to-do list, making it tough to stay centered.
If you can relate, here are four ways I’m helping our family stay focused on Jesus at Christmas this year. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you stay focused on Jesus beyond Christmas as well.
How to Stay Focused on Jesus at Christmas
Let’s look at some practical ways to keep our focus on Christ as Christmas.
10 Ways to Stay Focused on Jesus at Christmas This Year
1. Commit to reading your Bible daily.
Whether you read your Bible regularly or not, December is a great time to cultivate this habit. Spend even one minute reading part of a Psalm each morning or follow an Advent reading plan.
Reading our Bibles always helps us stay focused on Jesus.
God renews our minds with his Word. I find that the more time I spend in my Bible, the more I stay focused on God throughout my days.
2. Intentionally spread kindness to others daily.
Christmas celebrates the day when the Light of the World broke into the darkness to save us all. From the overflow of his love, we are called to love others.
Why not focus on Jesus by committing to a random act of kindness daily during December?
Smile at a stranger.
Hold a door for someone.
Help a family member in your home by completing a chore you don’t normally undertake.
Write a note to an elderly loved one or send a text to a struggling friend.
Be the safe space where a loved one can open up about a difficult struggle without judgment.
When we extend kindness to others, we partner with Christ in his Kingdom work on earth.
3. Prepare prayerfully instead of hurriedly.
I’ve written about this in the past, but it bears repeating.
Imagine undertaking this year’s Christmas tasks with prayer instead of haste.
What if we prayed over every family who receives a card and every person who receives a gift? I believe our prayers would help us stay focused on Jesus at Christmas this year.
Try giving thanks for those you hope to bless with cards and gifts this Christmas. Lift them before God’s throne in prayer. Ask him to shower his presence upon their lives. Be attentive to any thoughts that come to mind. Write an extra note on the back of the card or add a personal and encouraging message to the gift.
Remember, this is not a call to add one more task to your list; instead, it is a call to be intentional as you bless others.
What if we prayed over every family who receives a card and every person who receives a gift? I believe our prayers would help us stay focused on Jesus at Christmas this year. #Christmas #ChristatChristmas Share on X4. Celebrate Jesus’ birthday with a party.
Light candles on doughnuts or muffins and sing happy birthday to Jesus on Christmas morning before opening gifts.
5. Light Advent candles at dinner and read from an Advent devotional.
Keep reading through this post for an Advent devotional below. Download it for free with promo code STILL.
6. Visit local nativities and talk about Jesus’ birth.
Remember why we celebrate by reflecting on what Jesus’ birth must have entailed.
7. Watch Christ-centered Christmas movies instead of TV.
Here are some movie ideas:
The Nativity Story
The Star
The Chosen: Christmas Special “The Shepherd”
The First Christmas
8. Turn off the lights, drink hot cocoa, admire the Christmas tree, and listen to Christmas music.
Our kids have loved this at every age.
9. Make blankets or donate canned goods to a local homeless shelter.
We keep Christ central by serving others.
10. Send cards or colored pictures to a local nursing home or soldiers overseas.
Blessing others keeps Christ at the center as well.
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These aren’t overly time-consuming activities, and they always help us stay focused on Jesus at Christmas.
As we all prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, let’s pray this prayer together: “Jesus, thank you for coming to dwell among us. We want to stay focused on you this Christmas, but the many activities and preparations often steal our focus. Please help us to slow down, enjoy the gift of this season, and keep our eyes on you. Thank you for your unending love for us. Amen.”
It’s Not Too Late to Start an Advent Devotional
Still My Soul will help you create space to connect with God in meaningful ways as you prepare your heart to celebrate the birth of Christ this month.
Every day of Advent, you will be gently invited to slow down, be more present within your moments, and cultivate gratitude instead of stress. Get your eBook right here for just $3.99. This payment will help offset the cost of keeping this blog running. I sincerely appreciate your support!
These Books Make Great Christmas Gifts:
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 14, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or grandparents to read with the children they care about.
Attention All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here. (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
A Free Devotional to Help You Connect With God
God is a good Father, and he wants us to experience his healing, deliverance, and replenishment. Most of us have learned that we cannot heal, deliver, or refresh ourselves; we need God to do this work within us. I invite you to create space for God to transform your life by downloading a free copy of my devotional eBook, The Lean Into Grace Devotional: An 8-Day Devotional for Healing, Deliverance, and Replenishment. Find it for free here. I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here! 
