4 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.
How to Stay Focused on Jesus at Christmas
Let’s look at several practical ways to keep our focus on Christ as Christmas.
4 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. Focus on Jesus at Christmas by cultivating Christ-centered traditions.
Here are a few of our favorite Christ-centered Christmas traditions:
As I mentioned above, we light Advent candles at dinner and read from an Advent devotional together.
We prop candles inside doughnuts and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus on Christmas morning.
Some years, the kids complete daily Advent crafts.
We visit local nativities and talk about Jesus’ birth.
Many December evenings, we turn off the TV, gather around the illuminated Christmas tree, and listen to Christ-centered Christmas music.
We watch certain movies only in December.
One year, we made blankets for a local homeless shelter.
Another year, the kids colored pictures for people living in a local nursing home.
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:
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 for free on the Kindle Unlimited plan or for 12.99 in print right here. This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
Life-Changing Christmas Gifts for Mothers and Daughters:
Lastly, my teen daughter, Bekah, and I are passionate about helping moms and daughters grow closer while connecting with God. We have written two mother-daughter devotionals together. 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 after each devotion.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teen 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, purity, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. We will help you!
Multitudes of mothers, daughters, mentors, and younger women are being transformed by these books! They make thoughtful Christmas gifts. You can buy them as paperbacks or get your free Kindle Unlimited eBooks on Amazon right here.
