Fight for Joy During the Holidays

Many people struggle during the holidays for various reasons.  Here are some thoughts to help you fight off the winter holiday blues.

1. Read your Bible and fellowship with God.  Even if you are not sure whether anyone cares about you or likes you, God does, more than you can imagine, so hang out with Him.
2. Go to church.  You were created to worship God with other believers.   We get depressed and confused when we are not living out who we were created to be.  So get to a Bible believing church this Sunday.
3. Spend time with family and friends.  Even if you don’t like being around them.  They are your family, love them unconditionally with the love of Christ.
4. Don’t use your credit card.  Do you know who invented the Credit Card? Satan did, in order to ruin your life.  Money already causes way too much stress.  Your friends and family don’t need your expensive gifts that cause you to go into debt.
5. Listen to Christmas hymns more than goofy Christmas music.  Hey, I’ve loved Bruce Springsteen’s rendition of Santa Claus is coming to town ever since I saw it live in ’85 (that’s 1985), but seriously, it’s not pointing me to Christ.  Christmas hymns are rich and deep with theology that proclaims truth.  Listen, sing and enjoy.
6. Get out of the house and do some fun things: tacky light tour, watch “It’s a Wonderful Life”, Christmas pageants, play games with your family, etc.  I DVR’d a couple of classic Christmas shows so our family can watch them over the holidays.
7. Stop being so self-centered.  Take your eyes off your belly button and start looking at Christ and the mission He has for your life.  Remember, you have two main goals in life according to Matt. 22; “Love God and Love Others.”  God will take care of you and your needs, start reaching out and serving those around you and quit waiting for them to come to you.
8. Believe the Gospel. The truth is that your life is a total wreck and completely screwed up because you have rebelled against God, choosing to live life “your way”, and therefore you are hopelessly lost, now and forever.  But the gospel (which literally means “good news”) is that God has not chosen to leave you in your miserable state.  God chose to send His Son Jesus to come to earth as the God-Man, to live a perfect life and to die on the cross to take away your sins.  When you put your faith in Jesus, God puts His Spirit in your heart changing you forever.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is THE ONLY true and lasting answer to your holiday blues.  So go ahead, put your life in the hands of Jesus and celebrate His birthday with joy!

All for Jesus,

Fletch