The Holiday Fast Lane

We are officially entering into the season that the world calls the “holiday season”.  Even more accurately, I prefer to call this the season of thankfulness; thankfulness to the Lord for His gift of family and friends and most importantly for the gift of His Son Jesus Christ. I have never been politically correct. I’m not even sure that I know what that means. What I do know is that for me this is a season that is marked by being grateful to God for His many blessings. I also believe that although we celebrate Christmas & The New Year during this time, the attitude of gratitude must remain with us all year long. This season is just a time to pause and remember that every good gift comes from God. (James 1:17)

Life in the Fast Lane

The problem is we end up in the wrong lane on the highway to holiness. We end up in the fast lane of shoulds and oughts during this season and as we race towards the season we forget the meaning of it all. So I decided to write to give us all tools to slow down; tools to get us off the fast lane and into the slower lane. The first tool is this: write down what is most important and meaningful during this time. Then write down all of the things that you think you should do or ought to do and cross them off the list. Start fresh by asking the Lord what He wants you to do. Ask yourself the question what do I enjoy doing? And take a pencil and scratch off all of the excess expectations. Put your list on your refrigerator and resist the temptation to do anything else.

Sit with Jesus

Now with all of that extra time on your hands, make space for God. Seriously, spend extra quiet time with the Lord. Learn to work from a place of rest. Learn to be like Mary and sit at His feet. Remember in order to be a better Martha you must first be a better Mary (Luke 10:38). Let me know how you do with your list (especially what you scratched off) and let’s encourage one another to find a better way to look forward to Christmas and the New Year.