What Matters Most

December has arrived, and the Christmas season is upon us. The pressures of the holiday season began building months ago. Before Thanksgiving, store shelves where stacked with Christmas paraphernalia. I know I am not alone, when I share my concerns that Christmas has become over-commercialized. First Santa, now the Elf on the shelf, presents, and parties. Oh, I love the Christmas season as much as the next person, however, it’s important to keep what matters most a top priority.

For the next several weeks I will be posting gentle reminders to help us stay focused on the real meaning of Christmas. The celebration of the greatest gift to mankind, the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Let’s be intentional this Christmas season to keep our hearts fixed on this truth.

A gentle reminder; take notice of the lyrics of the songs being played during this season. I can vividly remember, the first Christmas after I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior, the Christmas songs that I heard my entire life, took on a whole new meaning as I intently embraced the words. They became more than just  familiar melodies, but rather a true worship of the Savior’s birth. I never before considered Christmas songs a form of worship. All too often, the world’s musical influence overshadows the focus of Jesus’ birth, with songs about everything from a talking, walking, and dancing snowman, to flying reindeer. Fun as they may be, when this is all that is heard, we become distracted and enticed away from focusing on Jesus.

The song, Oh Holy Night, was sung at church throughout the Christmas season while I was growing up; but it wasn’t until I became born again, that the true meaning of this song resonated with me. Go look up the words. It is a precious song. It speaks about the holiness of the night Jesus was born,  why He came, and the hope He brings to a dark and lonely world. Meditate on those words for awhile, and see if a tear of gratitude doesn’t well up within your soul.

Let’s embrace this Christmas season with a heart turned towards Jesus. Let’s talk about Him more than we talk about the other intricacies of the holiday. Sit with your children and tell them the Christmas story over and over again this month, and relive this story for yourself. Take a proactive step towards preparing your heart and not just your home for Christmas day.

-Lucy Ann

Challenge:

Write in the comments below something you are intentionally going to do to keep your heart fixed on what matters most this Christmas season.

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