Devotionals for the Heart: 7 Ways to Keep Jesus at the Center of Christmas

How to Keep Jesus at the Center of Your Christmas Season
A devotional by Jamie De Silvia

“The Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory, glory like that of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.”—John 1:14 (CEB)

Decorating your house and home, shopping for loved ones, wrapping gifts, baking delicious desserts, and engaging in traditional holiday events can increase our Christmas joy—but they can also steal it! 

The holiday season often feels overwhelming and stressful. It’s easy to get distracted and forget what matters most. But we have hope! It is possible to have a joyful holiday season without experiencing too much stress.

Here are some ways to keep Jesus Christ at the center this Christmas season:

#1: Add an advent devotional to your daily routine. Begin at any time in December and continue into January if needed. We need daily encouragement that realigns our focus. Amazon has a great selection, with advent devotionals under $10. There are also free online devotionals from Lifeway, Focus on the Family, Proverbs 31 Ministries, and more!

#2: Fast from your phone during the first hour of the day. It's easy to jump on our phones first thing in the morning and start checking texts and emails, online shopping, or scrolling mindlessly. I've committed to keeping the first part of my day phone-free in December to spend time in Christ’s presence and experience His joy and peace.8

#3: Meditate on Christ’s birth by imagining yourself in the stable with Him. Perhaps God gave you an imagination for this very purpose. Consider picturing yourself with the baby Jesus, letting the Holy Spirit guide the interaction. Years ago, the Lord spoke to me through a nativity vision in my mind’s eye. I wrote about it on my blog in 2013 and the Lord urged me last year to record it as a guided meditation. I think it will bless you! Listen to my 15-minute message by looking up this episode “A Moment with Baby Jesus” on my official podcast (https://jamiedesilvia.com/podcast/).

#4: Release the desire or pressure to make everything perfect for the people in your life. Do you struggle with making others happy to the detriment of your emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being? Me too. Beware of doing things simply because they are expected. How many traditions are we keeping that won’t be missed if we let them go? Stick with the ones that matter. How concerned are we with perfection? We want the house to look perfect, the gifts to be perfect, and the event to unfold perfectly. What if you are wearing yourself out unnecessarily? Beloved, you are not responsible for the happiness of others this Christmas.

#5: Meditate on the lyrics of your favorite Christmas carols. Some of our favorite carols are rich with words we can use in prayer or for journaling. If you’re unsure where to start, search the internet for the lyrics of “Silent Night”, “Come Let Us Adore Him”, or “O Holy Night”, and write them down in your journal. Consider personalizing some lyrics or writing additional lines to express your worship! If you find a phrase that really speaks to you, write it on a sticky note or 3x5 card to keep it in sight throughout the day.

#6: Watch a nativity movie with family or friends. What a wonderful way to reflect on Christ’s birth. It’s perfect for all ages and readily available via streaming services. After the movie, have an informal discussion to hear what stood out to each person. What spoke to you? Did you learn anything new? Talk about which character you related to the most. Discuss what you are most grateful for.

#7: Explore this prayer or journaling prompt: “Jesus, what can I give You this Christmas?” What a valid question to ask ourselves this holiday season! He gave us the gift of Himself (John 3:16). Why not consider giving Him something in return? I hesitate to give examples because I want you to leave room for the simple request, the off-the-wall surprise, or the painfully hard thing He might ask of you. I don’t know what Jesus wants from you this Christmas, but I do know this—you will experience more peace and joy when you offer it to Him.

Are you ready to adjust your holiday trajectory? You and I have gotten in the habit of rushing and stressing, but it’s not too late to slow down and intentionally set Him at the center of the Christmas season.

Let’s Pray: Lord, it’s Your season. Turn my eyes toward You and the wonder of Your birth. Show me where You want me to conserve energy and resources. Open my eyes to see what expectations or unfruitful traditions You are calling me to let go of this year. Show me where I need to shift my energy into worship, rest, and connecting with others. I want to experience Your joy and peace. I want to walk in freedom this Christmas. I release the happiness of others to You, Lord. Guide my steps as I move through the rest of this season. Increase my awareness of Your presence so I can sense You walking with me. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “I Need A Silent Night” by Amy Grant. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Jamie De Silvia is an author and teacher from Southern California with a passion for helping women connect with the heart of God. 

She has hosted two seasons of the “Pressing In” podcast and authored two devotional books: Come Hear the Song of the Shepherd (a 30-day devotional journey through Psalm 23) and You Shall Be Praised (a 40-day devotional offering a fresh perspective on Proverbs 31).

Jamie offers encouragement on Instagram and Facebook to help you draw closer to Jesus. She is married with two adult daughters and a teenage son. Jamie enjoys oil painting, playing games with her family, and savoring a good chai latte.

~*~
Connect with Jamie:
Website: https://jamiedesilvia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamiedesilvia/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamiedesilviaauthor
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamiedesilvia
Email: jamie@jamiedesilvia.com

Devotionals for the Heart: The power of persistent and faith-filled prayers

When God Doesn’t Answer Your Prayers
A devotional by Jamie De Silvia

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”—1 John 5:14 (NIV)

I recently witnessed a breakthrough in one of my children’s lives that required nearly two years of daily prayer.

There were days when I was full of hope and days when I feared that God wouldn’t answer my prayers. It quickly became evident that the Lord was not in a hurry. He had a deep transformation planned for my child, not the quick fix I initially began praying for. I hope to share the story in detail someday because God did some truly amazing things! For now, can I share with you what I learned during that season of waiting?

Hang on to every word of encouragement God gives you while you wait. It’s important to consistently seek the Lord Himself and His Word, in addition to seeking answers to our prayers. When we read the Bible, a verse will often stand out as insight to help us continue trusting God and see our circumstances from His point of view. Write down the encouragement He gives you and savor it.

Give it more time. While waiting on the Lord, I am regularly reminded of Mary and Martha’s experience of losing Lazarus in the Bible story you can read by looking up John 11:1-44. Heartbroken, they thought Jesus Christ was too late in arriving to heal their brother. They believed that their circumstances were irreversible. But Jesus wasn’t finished yet! He allowed a delay for God’s glory to be manifest and for the sisters to grow in their faith. Your situation might be painful and messy for much longer than you’d like but keep trusting God to bring the answer in His time. He likely isn’t finished yet!

Consider whether God is answering another prayer that supersedes this one. We pray a lot of prayers! What if God is currently answering a request you made days, months, or even years ago, instead of answering the one you’re currently focused on? Allow Him to show you if this is the case.

Hold back nothing when you talk to God. I joke with friends and family that if you haven’t yelled at God while driving alone in your car, are you even a Christian? I call it “praying at the top of your lungs”. All joking aside, many believers stumble in their faith because they feel they can’t bring every question, fear, and emotion to God. Beloved, there's no need to censor yourself when you talk to Jesus. He can handle your questions and your big feelings, including anger. Releasing pent-up frustrations to God will deepen your trust in Him and help you continue to wait.

When I’m struggling, I look to the Psalms, where writers have written about every big feeling known to man. The Psalms give us the vocabulary for our griefs, fears, doubts, and questions! It’s perfect reading if you’re having a hard time waiting for answers to your prayers.

Watch what God is doing. Sometimes He answers our prayers, but not the way we expect Him to. Your Trust in the Lord should lead to expectancy but hold loosely to very specific outcomes. For example, I’ve seen deep emotional or spiritual healing happen in a person, but not the physical healing that was prayed for. God is good at answering the true need or desire at the root of a prayer, even if He does not grant the specific request. When God doesn’t seem to be doing what you asked, watch for what He is doing and rejoice in that.

Be willing to surrender and live without your answered prayer. We are powerless to change people and control difficult circumstances. This is what creates our great need for prayer! But let’s be honest. How often do we look to prayer as a means of control—to get the outcome we want? We must find the sweet spot of praying fervently for the matter at hand, but then saying, “Lord, have Your way, no matter what that looks like.”

Beloved, we may not understand why God hasn’t answered some of our prayers until we get to Heaven. Until then, we trust that He will always do what is best for us.

Let’s Pray:

Lord, I want to trust You more. Teach me to let go and let You have Your way in me, even when it’s not what I prayed for. Help me to understand You and Your ways more. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Don’t Stop Praying” by Matthew West. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jamie De Silvia is an author and speaker from Southern California with a passion for helping women connect with the heart of God. She hosts the “Pressing In” podcast. 

Jamie has authored two devotional books: Come Hear the Song of the Shepherd (a 30-day devotional journey through Psalm 23), and You Shall Be Praised (a 40-day devotional offering a fresh perspective on Proverbs 31).

You can find her on Instagram and Facebook daily, offering encouragement to help you draw closer to Jesus Christ.

Jamie is married with two adult daughters and a teenage son. She is also a homeschooling mom who enjoys oil painting, playing games with her family, and savoring a good chai latte.

~*~
Connect with Jamie:
Website: https://jamiedesilvia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamiedesilvia/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamiedesilviaauthor
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamiedesilvia
Email: jamie@jamiedesilvia.com

Devotionals for the Heart: True Beauty

God’s Standard of Beauty
A devotional by Jamie De Silvia

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”—1 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV)

I don’t have to tell you that the world values outward beauty. Society’s unrelenting standard of beauty slams against our self-image every day, making us feel self-conscious about our bodies and our age. We are surrounded by these worldly ideals and images in ads, music, television shows, and social media.

In addition, we often have people in our lives who can't stop talking about their bodies (and perhaps ours, too). Sometimes certain people in church who mean well may say that our bodies should be smaller to be worthy of God’s love and approval. Some people who also mean well, admonish us to care for our bodies by staying fit and slender because the Bible says that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). However, the context of 1 Corinthians 6 is not health, fitness, or physical beauty, but keeping our bodily temples free from sexual immorality! These verses cannot be used to imply that God expects us to maintain a certain body size, BMI, or physical appearance.

Consider God’s own words on the subject. “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV) The Bible clearly states where female beauty comes from in our anchor text above (1 Peter 3:3-4 NIV). Our beauty does not come from outward appearances. It doesn’t originate with our hair texture and style, creative and shiny accessories, or fashionable clothes because God intends for our beauty to come from within. It is worth noting that weight and body size are not mentioned at all in this passage either. If the Lord valued a particular body size, wouldn’t it be mentioned here, where the criteria for beauty are outlined so clearly?

The belief that our bodies must look a certain way to glorify God is completely inconsistent with His praise of inner beauty over outer appearance. It’s right there in the Bible. God values the unfading beauty of your inner self. He knows that physical attractiveness fades and bodies change over time, but inner beauty shines and becomes brighter as we are transformed by the Lord year after year.

God is cultivating a gentle and humble beauty in us as we become more and more like Jesus Christ who is the most humble and gentle One of all. God is also developing a quiet beauty in us, as we learn to trust Him more completely and have less need to complain, worry, or control.

Beloved, it’s time to let go of the world’s standard of beauty and embrace the inner beauty that God values. If He wanted you to pursue a smaller body without rolls or wrinkles, He would have said so Himself. Give yourself permission to live life and serve Him in the body you have today. Let Him cultivate an inner beauty in you that continues to shine in the years to come.

Let’s Pray: Lord, it’s easy to get caught up in the world’s standard for outward appearances and beauty. Help me to shift my focus to the inner beauty You’re cultivating in me. Help me to let go of the fears and insecurities I have about my body. Those thoughts dominate my mind and don’t leave enough room to focus on walking with You. My body is good because You made it and dwell in it with Your Holy Spirit, which shines forth with an unmatched beauty. Thank You, Jesus! In Your Name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Perfectly Loved” by Rachael Lampa featuring TobyMac. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jamie De Silvia is an author and speaker from Southern California with a passion for helping women connect with the heart of God. She hosts the “Pressing In” podcast.

 

Jamie has authored two devotional books: Come Hear the Song of the Shepherd (a 30-day devotional journey through Psalm 23), and You Shall Be Praised (a 40-day devotional offering a fresh perspective on Proverbs 31).

You can find her on Instagram and Facebook daily, offering encouragement to help you draw closer to Jesus Christ.

Jamie is married with two adult daughters and a teenage son. She is also a homeschooling mom who enjoys oil painting, playing games with her family, and savoring a good chai latte.

~*~
Connect with Jamie:
Website: https://jamiedesilvia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamiedesilvia/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamiedesilviaauthor
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamiedesilvia
Email: jamie@jamiedesilvia.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Surrender

The Way of Surrender
A devotional by Jamie De Silvia

“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”—Mark 14:36 (NIV)

I had very little church background when I gave my life to Jesus Christ on Valentine’s Day in 1988. With a great deal of curiosity and determination, I set out to learn all that I could about the One who had saved me. Oh, how I yearn to share with my 16-year-old self the insights and wisdom I've gained since then about walking with Jesus.

I would tell her not to worry so much about her sin, that Jesus went to the cross knowing she would make a million mistakes, both deliberately and unintentionally. I would assure her that our Heavenly Father is carrying her in His hands, not holding her at arm's length in disapproval. I would warn her against wasting years of her life trying to please God by performing in her own strength. I’d tell her that transformation isn’t her job—it’s the Holy Spirit inside her who will accomplish it. I would take her hand, look her in the eyes, and tell her that the answer to every problem and challenge is simply surrender.

Today, I understand what I could not comprehend on that special day 36 years ago: The most important thing for me to practice is letting go of control and putting my full trust in the Lord. It took me a long time to come to this realization because many things are easier than surrender. Worrying, performing, controlling, planning, and analyzing are all easier than surrendering. Jesus Himself showed us when He was pleading with God in the Garden of Gethsemane, how agonizing it can be to lay down your own will and accept God’s will instead.

Surrendering to the Father’s call to the cross was likely the very hardest thing that Jesus was required to do. Laying down His life and saying yes to God caused Him to feel “deeply distressed and troubled” and his soul was “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Mark 14:33-34). This agony was not just about dying. Jesus knew that saying yes to God meant surrendering control over the present moment and the outcome—as well as His body, His voice, His ministry, His disciples, and His life.

According to Mark 14:36 (NIV), Jesus called to “Abba, Father” because God was the only One who could help Him. He professed his faith and trust when He said, “Everything is possible for You.” He still asked for an alternate path when He whispered, “Take this cup from me.” And finally He surrendered with these words: “Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Knowing how difficult this was for Jesus gives us two helpful insights. The first insight is that He understands how hard surrender is to do. Jesus knows that surrender can feel like suffering, and even He wanted to suffer less. He knows it will take a lot of practice for us to learn to let God choose the cup that we drink from, surrendering all other alternatives as He did.

The second insight is that if true surrender pushed Jesus to His limit, how much more will it push us beyond our limits? I am here to testify that we absolutely cannot do it in our own power. We need Jesus to hold our hand and provide the willingness, determination, and power to lay down control of our lives and our will.

Beloved, Jesus sees how hard it is for you to let go. He knows the fear and grief that accompany surrender. He understands your questions and concerns. Share them! Invite Him into your wrestling and then ask Him to help you say, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

Let’s Pray: Lord, I confess to wanting my own way so much of the time. Open my eyes to see the daily situations that allow me to practice yielding control. Jesus, show me the way of surrender. Teach me to trust in the Father as You did when You were here on Earth. Have Your way in me. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “I Surrender All” by CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jamie De Silvia is an author and speaker from Southern California with a passion for helping women connect with the heart of God. She hosts the “Pressing In” podcast.

She has authored two devotional books: Come Hear the Song of the Shepherd (a 30-day devotional journey through Psalm 23), and You Shall Be Praised (a 40-day devotional offering a fresh perspective on Proverbs 31).

You can find her on Instagram and Facebook daily, offering encouragement to help you draw closer to Jesus Christ.

Jamie is married with two adult daughters and a teenage son. She is also a homeschooling mom who enjoys oil painting, playing games with her family, and savoring a good chai latte.

~*~
Connect with Jamie:
Website: https://jamiedesilvia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamiedesilvia/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamiedesilviaauthor
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamiedesilvia
Email: jamie@jamiedesilvia.com