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"Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
(1 Thessalonians 5:14-18)
Holidays are a wonderful time of the year, but they can also be very stressful. If you are like me, you enjoy your routine, and when the routine gets knocked out of whack, well, you kind of feel the pinch. Some may think I am being a bit strict, but here it goes: Do not skip on your daily time with Jesus during the Holidays. I know it is tempting because you are off your normal schedule; you have family visiting; you may be out of town, sleeping in a different bed, etc. Rest assured, the Devil does not take a break from tempting you and me to sin just because it is the Christmas Break! In fact, I think he does some of his most destructive work this time of year. We can easily let our guards down and quickly fall prey to his temptations, whether they are sins of the body or spirit.
So, allow me to offer you some helpful hints during this time of year:
- Pray. You may not have the time to pray that you normally have, so you may need to be a bit creative or rise a little earlier.
- Read the Bible. You may only have time to read a few verses and not your normal study time, but I believe a little Bible reading is far better than no Bible reading at all!
- Witness. Share Jesus with your family and loved ones, both in your verbal witness and the way you live your life.
- Practice selfless love and patience. You will need both of these in large supply, especially as you interact with some family or friends who might irritate you.
- Go for a walk. Get away from the hustle and bustle and get some exercise, but be sure you walk back!
Yes, I am a proponent of spending time with the Lord even on vacations and during the Holidays. God is worthy of our worship, and the Devil is too fierce an enemy of our souls for us to face him any day ill-prepared. Let's admit it: as followers of Jesus, we need to pray every day and spend time drawing strength from His Word!
Let me offer this Holiday prayer for you:
"Lord, I pray for whoever is reading this devotional today that you would encourage them. Bless them with discipline and diligence during this holiday season. Give them courage to share You with their loved ones, and help them be strong in the face of temptation. May they draw their strength from You each morning as they spend time with You in prayer and the reading of Your Word. In Jesus' name I pray, amen."
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