5 Ways Gratitude Can Keep Us Close to Christ over the Holidays
Share
The holiday season really is wild! For many of us, the excessive expectations we place on this season of celebration can feel like more of a burden than a gift. We are so inundated with doing, buying, giving, and all our rituals that are associated with this time of year, we can miss the purpose behind all the frenzy.
Gratitude can help us stay grounded as we engage in holiday activities. When we approach each interaction, holiday party, and gift exchange with a grateful heart, we can recapture a bit of what it’s all supposed to be about. James 1:7 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” As Christ followers we are invited to see it all as joyful gifts for us to savor and enjoy!
Isaiah 9:6 says, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” The holidays are a chance to express our great gratitude for the child that was given to us, so we might have hope. We may not enjoy every part of the holidays, but we can remind our souls that the gift of salvation is worth being thankful for every day.
1. Gratitude Reminds Us that Each Day Is from the Lord
Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Not every event on our November and December calendars is something we are excited about. There are family members that are more difficult to see, there are children's events that maybe feel tiresome, and work parties that aren’t a favorite. When we practice daily gratitude, we are able to enter each situation remembering that it is a part of a God-given day that we are called to rejoice in.
Daily gratitude prompts us to be present each day for our people. We cannot experience the joy of each day without pausing to see it. Make space to be thankful for all that you have been given.
2. Gratitude Give Purpose to Every Task
Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” As adults, a lot of what we have to do for the holidays feels more like work than play. Seeking out the right gifts, baking, cooking, planning, packing, wrapping, dressing, and preparing! It’s a lot. So much of what we do for the holidays is serving our people, in hope that they are able to experience some of the magical joy that comes from lovingly giving and receiving.
All we do is for the Lord! Even that last-minute Christmas Eve panic shopping trip for that person you forgot is done for the glory of the Lord! When we take this view, we begin to see our tasks as less mundane and more as worship. We can pray over those carefully chosen gifts. Offer encouragement in the kitchen with your brother, sister, or mother-in-law. Smile as you frantically dress the kids for the Christmas Eve service. All we do is for the glory of the Lord!
3. Gratitude Leads to Peace
Colossians 3:15 tells us, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” A thankful heart is one that is able to cling to the peace of Christ. Discontentment, second guessing, and worry takes our peace.
When we are tempted to worry if our efforts are enough, pause and give thanks for what God has given you! He provides abundantly for his people. We can proclaim his goodness in both abundance and in scarcity because we know we have the ultimate gift of eternal salvation through Christ. When the narrative that more is more wants to steal your peace, lean into thanksgiving! Letting God know he is enough and his peace is present in every circumstance.
4. Gratitude and Thanksgiving Leads to Insight
Psalm 50:23 says, “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” As we give thanks, God brings order and insight to our lives. Maybe we are unsure how we should be celebrating this season as a family? Maybe we are walking with grief while others appear joyful. We could need wisdom on how to share the holidays with different parts of our family.
When we approach God with a posture of thanksgiving, humbly asking for him to order our ways, he begins to show us what is best for us. Salvation is a gift, and we must always be willing to see God as our greatest gift as we approach him to meet our needs and guide our steps.
5. Gratitude Reminds Us We Are Loved
Psalm 118:28-29 states, “You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” Christmas and all that goes along with it is supposed to be a grand reminder of God’s great love of us. All the giving, the services and gatherings are an opportunity to express God’s love to one another. When we are bitter, overwhelmed, or stressed out we cannot experience the love of God in this season.
Pausing for gratitude helps us to see that in the busy there is love. Our bodies so easily get overrun by doing that we become numb to the people around us. Rest, reflection, and giving thanks prompts us to check into the moment and see the love of Christ poured out on us in our lives.
Let the love of Christ compel you this season. Don’t just take the status quo that tells us that joy equals more stuff, more done, and more on our schedule. The invitation of Christmas is to pause together, with holy gratitude for God’s love and the love that he allows us to generously share with each other. Be intentional about being present and purposeful in how you engage with the season.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Choreograph
