How are you planning to maximize these holidays? Are you being intentional about preparing Him room or just preparing for all the chaos ahead? We can get so overwhelmed by the effort involved in making this the most wonderful time of the year. It’s odd that we’ve chosen to work ourselves into a frenzy to celebrate someone who came to bring us peace.
I love so many things about the holidays, but this year, I'm determined to release some of the unnecessaries of the season. I think that will allow for a little more comfort and joy, and I definitely need more of that after a very challenging season. (🤚Raise your hand if you can relate.)
Ruth Chou Simons says, “How we enter this season affects how we will receive this season.” And, since I want to receive this season unburdened by the weight of extraneous things, I’m entering it by laying down the things that have been weighing me down*. These cares and worries are not serving me well. In fact, they are impeding my progress, clouding my view to the Father, and robbing me of joy.
So, as I lay these stresses and strains aside, I do so intentionally
—to make room for Him,
—to make room for celebrating Him,
—to make room for remembering why He came.
I do so intentionally, knowing that He is living among me—often in the middle of chaos—and He longs to remain there (so much so that He calms my fears and sings over me in the middle of the mess). And, rather than coming up with ways of complicating this endeavor, I’ll begin with a simple prayer,
Jesus, be near.
Stand here, between me and what troubles me.
Be near. Stay near.
*If you need some help with this, join my email list to get access to a powerful resource to help you overcome what overwhelms you.
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