Devotionals for the Heart: When you're too busy to breathe at Christmas

Too Busy to Breathe at Christmas?
A devotional by Joyce M. Averils

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”—Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Christmas is supposed to be the season of joy, peace, and hope.

But if we’re honest, many of us enter December with good intentions only to arrive at Christmas Eve feeling exhausted, frazzled, and secretly counting down the minutes until everything is over.

Between decorating, shopping, family gatherings, church events, end-of-year deadlines, meal planning, and making everything “special", Christmas can become one big swirl of stress. And while we’re running around trying to create the perfect Christmas, our joy quietly slips away.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed this Christmas season, please hear this: You are not failing. You are simply carrying more than God ever asked you to. Even in the bustle of Bethlehem, God was creating a moment of holy stillness. And He invites you into that same stillness now.

Wondering what you can do when you’re too busy to breathe this Christmas? The key is to put your priorities back at the feet of Jesus Christ. Christmas often turns us into Martha as described in the Bible (Luke 10:38-42). She was busy, distracted, and convinced everything depends on us. But Jesus gently reminds us now as He reminded Martha then that “only one thing is needed.” Mary (Martha’s sister) chose the better portion because she chose to spend time with Jesus first.

When the Christmas holiday calendar starts to run you instead of you running it, pause and realign your priorities. Here’s a way to remember this important life lesson (See the “priority” acronym with descriptions for each letter below):

P – Pray

Ask God to reveal what really matters for this season. Every December is different; your capacity this year may not match last year, and that’s okay.

R – Review

Go back to Scripture. Christmas isn’t about perfection; it’s about His presence. What does God say should anchor your life right now?

I – Inventory

Look at the activities, responsibilities, and even traditions on your calendar. Which ones bring life? Which ones drain it?

O – Order

Put things in their proper place. Some tasks are essential; others are optional. Let God show you the difference.

R – Resist

Resist the “tyranny of the urgent,” the pressure to say yes just because something is happening.

I – Input

Ask trusted friends or family: “Is this something I really need to do right now?” God often speaks through wise voices.

T – Take Advantage

Use your time intentionally. There are only 24 hours in a day (even during the busy Christmas season). Ask God to show you how to use them with purpose.

Y – Yield

Lay your plans at His feet. Christmas belongs to Him. Your life belongs to Him. Yielding brings peace.

Still not sure of what you can do when you’re too busy to breathe this Christmas? Here are a few more points to help you (see headings in bold below):

Say “No” Without Guilt – Even During the Holidays

Some of the greatest gifts you can give this Christmas are the words: “No, not this time.” Saying no isn’t selfish. It’s stewardship. God’s grace teaches us to say no to anything that pulls us away from living with peace, joy, and self-control. That includes unrealistic expectations, overwhelming commitments, and traditions that no longer bless your soul. You don’t need long explanations or apologies. A simple, “I won’t be able to do that this year,” is enough. Remember: If God didn’t assign it, He’s not requiring you to carry it.

Let Go of the Unessential

There truly is a season for everything, but not everything belongs in this season. Maybe this isn’t the year to handmake all the Christmas gifts. Maybe this isn’t the year to host every gathering. Maybe this isn’t the year to try a new recipe, decorate every room, or attend every event. Sometimes Christmas requires the courage to let go. Ask the Lord what can wait until another time. Good things are not always God-timed things. Release what no longer fits the capacity, peace, and purpose God has given you for this moment.

No matter how full your life feels right now, God has not abandoned you to busyness. If you put these principles into practice, you’ll experience more joy, more peace, and more hope than you expected.

Remember this beautiful promise: God will never put more on you than He gives you grace to carry. This Christmas, may you choose the better portion, not the perfect holiday, but the holy One who came to bring you rest, renewal, and life.

Let’s Pray: Lord, help me slow down enough to see You in this season. Show me what to release, what to rearrange, and what to embrace so my heart can rest in You. Restore my joy, renew my peace, and let my Christmas be more about Christ than the chaos. Fill me with hope as I trust in You. 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:

Joyce M. Averils is an attorney by education and a retired judge who currently works as a Life Purpose and Business Empowerment Coach. 

She attended the University of South Carolina where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities and Social Sciences, with a concentration in Political Science in May 1981. Upon graduation from the University, she attended The Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, where she graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in June 1984. Joyce was admitted to the Georgia Bar in November of 1984.

During her legal career, she served as the legal advisor for an episode of the American television program “Designing Women”. She also successfully argued a zoning case before the Georgia Supreme Court.

Today, she is the founder of Averils Omnimedia, LLC, which includes Her RICH Life Coaching, where she helps high-achieving women of faith create a purpose-aligned life and business through coaching programs, workshops, and retreats.

She recently launched 26th & Alden Paper Design House which will release its first paper product in 2025.

Joyce believes that God created women to do extraordinary things by walking fully in their purpose, calling, and assignment. She knows that each woman has a unique calling that only she can fulfill, and if she doesn’t answer it, that work may never be done. Joyce is deeply aware that there are people waiting for the help only God can give, and He often chooses to work through His people to meet those needs. That’s why Joyce is committed to answering God’s call on her life and inspiring other women to do the same, so together, we can be of greater service to God and one another.

Her life verse is John 17:4 (NIV), “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.”

She makes her home on the coast of South Carolina.

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Connect with Joyce:
Website: www.herrichlife.com
Facebook Ministry: www.facebook.com/groups/thepurposealignedwoman
Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/coachlabforaspiringchristianwomencoaches
Facebook: www.facebook.com/@HerRichLife
Instagram: www.instagram.com/herrichlife
Email address: joyce@herrichlife.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Give your stress to God and watch Him work

Trusting God with the stresses of life 
A devotional by Hannah Benson

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

—Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)

I’ve got to be honest. Recently, I’ve found myself getting stressed out a lot for a variety of different reasons. Maybe you can relate?

So many times, I find myself getting easily distracted by either a project that overwhelms me or a looming deadline. Let’s face it. We live in a stressful world, and there are deadlines that approach faster than we’re ready for. In the midst of feeling stressed about some deadlines that I had to meet for a course I was taking, I felt God reminding me to trust Him. I feel like learning to trust God has been a theme for me this entire year as there have been a lot of situations out of my control.

Stress would come out of nowhere, about anything, and doubts would run through my mind. Will I be able to make this deadline? What if the project I’m working on falls through? Whenever I would start to panic, God would gently remind me to trust Him and to give my stress and worry to Him. After all, He can carry it better than I can. It is like a weight comes off our chests when we give our worries and cares over to God. We are not meant to carry that burden.

When we truly give our cares up to God, the result is a deeper trust in Him and a more peaceful life. I found, when the first stressful situation came and went, that God was right. (No surprise there!) Looking back, I realized that there had been no reason to stress out because He provided and met every single one of my needs when I trusted Him. Friend, there is freedom found when we trust in Jesus Christ, and we realize that even if things don’t turn out exactly the way we would like, God is still sovereign. He’s still in control, and nothing happens that God does not allow for our good.

Now, that’s not to say that it’s always easy for me to relinquish control of a situation. But it does mean that when I started to feel stressed again, this time about a project that wasn’t coming together the way I had planned and looked like it was going to fall through, I remembered God’s faithfulness to me. Despite my natural tendency to be in control, by God’s grace, I was able to give the situation to God, and again, He was faithful and provided everything we needed right on time.

Dear friend, if you give those stresses in your life to God, it’s not only a perfect opportunity for you to see His faithfulness, but it will also relieve your shoulders of the burdens they’ve been carrying for too long.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Father God, whenever there are stressful situations in my life, please help me to give them to You. You say in Your Word for me to cast my cares on You because You care for me. It is so hard, but I know that there is freedom in letting go of my stresses and concerns. Please forgive me for not trusting You enough to believe You can handle it. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Never Once” by Matt Redman. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Hannah Benson is a Jesus-follower who’s passionate about sharing the love of Christ with others. 

From the time she could hold a pen, she was writing. But it wasn’t until she was sixteen that she began to seriously follow God’s calling to write a novel. Hannah is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and has at least four novels in the works. For the past five years, she has been involved with her local Biblical theater company. She wants to show others the love of Jesus through the creative arts.

When she’s not acting or working on her upcoming novel, you can find Hannah laughing with her siblings, cuddling her little fluffy dog, or reading books (usually historical fiction or fantasy stories). You can read more of Hannah’s writings on her blog or on her Instagram where she strives to write content that leaves others feeling encouraged.

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Connect with Hannah:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahlynnauthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Hannah-Lynn-Writer/100073790792576/
Blog: www.loveunconditional.blog

Devotionals for the Heart: Connecting with God in the Wilderness

Reclaiming My Connection to God in the Wilderness
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

Have you ever been so emotionally exhausted you can’t really think straight, let alone relate well to the people around you?

With some family issues and a crunch of deadlines and a million things in between, I’ve been struggling this last month. I felt like that last miniscule piece of butter I’m trying to smear on a piece of toast, only it’s hard as a rock and just won’t spread right. That’s been me—spread thin, not enough energy or time or who-knows-what to go around.

It kind of crept up on me, too. I’d been fully aware of my stress level and trying really hard to combat it with proper self-care, getting enough sleep, eating well, saying no to nonessentials, that sort of thing. But sometimes, being spread thin for long periods of time just starts to take a major toll, and that’s where I was.

So last Friday morning my husband—perceptive and sweet soul that he is—told me I was way too stressed out and he was taking me camping, just the two of us, alone in the wilderness for about four days.

Now, I enjoy camping. But I think I’ve only been a total of three times, so it’s not exactly my comfort zone. While I like it and I love nature, I have to admit I wasn’t terribly excited about sleeping in a tent and roughing it when I was already feeling so emotionally and physically raw.

But Matt persistently got us all packed and prepared. I half-heartedly helped and we hit the road early Friday headed for the great unknown, somewhere in that no-cell-phone-signal zone nestled in the mountains where South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia converge.

Today, I literally feel like a new person.

We spent several nights in a primitive campsite, sleeping beneath the stars. We had bug spray and an awesome 12-volt camp refrigerator powered by a battery station and a very cool tiny trailer that towed our ground tent and a couple of folding chairs. While our air mattress had a hole and was worthless, at least we remembered to pack pillows this time. We saw waterfalls and slugs, rhododendron and mountain laurel. We sang along to a lot of John Denver and Johnny Cash, and even saw a rattlesnake on the road (no bears this time, much to Matt’s dismay). We went to bed early, gazing up at the moonlit sky, and woke to the chirping of birds. It was absolutely glorious.

Being away from all the distractions, even distractions we love—our kids and our cats and our dog and all the responsibilities of home and work and bills and life in general—drew us closer together as a couple.

It also brought me closer to God, and reminded me of who I really am at my core: God’s girl. Daughter of the king. Precious soul, loved despite all my flaws and baggage. One among countless points of light, all joined by the Holy Spirit in love.

Over the years, especially recently, I have learned one critical lesson that serves me better than almost any other kernel of wisdom I have gleaned in life: Whenever I have an opportunity to get outside and escape the noise, to just be still in creation, I feel so much more connected to my Creator. I am more focused on His voice and His messages, on all the important things I need to be thinking about instead of the petty or distracting swirl of everyday life.

Love looks like so many different things. This weekend it looked like me and Matt, sleeping in a tent beneath the stars, getting back to nature and the simple things in life, and connecting anew with God. It looked like me falling in love again with my true self, the best version of me, when my heart and mind and body are centered and true and more aligned with God and the wonders of this world.

Today, refreshed and rejuvenated by my wilderness wandering, I’m reminded of the words of the psalmist, and the comforting knowledge that God sees me in every moment, whether I’m deep in the serene woods or stressed out and frazzled on the interstate, whether I’m joyful or grumpy, whether I’m balanced or off-kilter:

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:13-17 NIV).

It's not just me—God knows you this way, too. We are all so very, very loved. May we never forget this.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for seeing and loving me in the midst of this sometimes-crazy world and reminding me of what it truly important. Thank you for refreshing my spirit and restoring my ability to focus on Your voice and Your way. Please help me tune out the noise and focus on You even when the chaos presses in thick and close and I feel the weight of the world heavy upon my back. Help me to love others better and truly in the midst of all of this. In Your holy and precious name I pray. Amen.

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Note from Alexis: Jessica's devotional message reminds me of Chris August's song "The Maker". Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach and the recipient of the 2018 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for her novel, The Memory Garden. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism.

Learn more about her fiction and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com.

She has a weekly YouTube devotional and podcast.

You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and more. She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed.

Devotionals for the Heart: Taking a moment to reflect on God's Creation

Creation Sings
A devotional by Christa MacDonald

“The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 

–Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

Not sure about you, but this week I think I finally reached peak media exhaustion. It seems as though the news cycle lately has been an unending supply of badness. I want to just say, “One thing at a time, please!” Like a lot of folks, I feel overloaded and overwhelmed.

If you’re an ‘80s kid like me, you may remember the comic strip “Bloom County.” When the news got to be too much for the characters they would take a “dandelion break” where they’d go off into a field and sit in a patch of dandelions. I loved that image so much that I used to draw little dandelion patches in my notebooks. It was a reminder to me that God’s creation was a place where I could go to find peace.

During college, at those times when it all got to be too much, I’d go to a beach near my campus where giant rocks formed a seawall of sorts. I’d climb to the top and lean into the wind with my arms outstretched. It seemed like leaning into Creation’s arms. At the time, I didn’t question why I was there or what I was getting from it. Now I understand that I was doing it to feel closer to God, to cast myself at Jesus’s feet. My faith was off in the weeds and seeking solace in God’s creation was a way to keep going and find my way back to the path.

In the verse above, the psalmist is reminding us that all of creation declares the glory of God. Romans 1:20 (NIV) says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Nature, the very earth, can’t help but preach God’s glory. It’s in every leaf, every creature, the air itself. That verse makes me think of the scientists whose journey to faith began by studying God’s creation and questioning their own atheism.

We all know that getting outside in the fresh air is good for us, but I’d suggest that for Christians, reflecting on the glory of God’s creation can do even more. It can call us out of our fear and anxiety and remind us just whose we are.

Think of the last time you saw a sunset so intense that the air around you seemed to have color. Or perhaps the ocean when a storm is brewing and the waves are high. For me, sitting in my back yard, leaning back and staring up at a clear, blue sky and seeing a pure white heron flying overhead is a soul-deep experience. For that matter, so is watching the progress of seedlings pushing through the dirt and stretching for the sun.

All of creation sings the praises of God. When things are getting grim, find a way to take a dandelion break. Get out in His creation and let it call your heart to praise. I pray that you also find peace and strength to keep your feet on the path, walking humbly with your God, to keep sharing the Gospel with this fallen world in the time and place that God has given you.

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Author Bio:

Christa MacDonald is a 2017 ACFW Carol Award finalist for contemporary Christian fiction.

A native New Englander, she was inspired by her travels through the north woods of Maine to write The Broken Trail, which would become the first in the Sweet River Redemption series published by Mountain Brook Ink.

Christa's writing focuses on the real-life challenges of the modern world, love’s sometimes crooked path, and the redemptive power of Grace.

When not working or writing Christa can be found ferrying her kids around, reading, or attempting something crafty.

She and her husband live with their three kids, two cats, and one dog along the coast of New England. Connect with Christa at www.christamacdonald.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Hope

Seeds of Hope
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” ~Lamentations 3:21-24 (NLT)

In the upper midwest of the United States, winter can often feel neverending. While the Black Hills where I live get a surprising amount of sunshine even in the winter, those gloomy days, cold temperatures, and biting winds can sap the strength of even the most ardent optimist.

But I know that spring will come, even if it’s still months away. Why? Because I live in hope.

Hope. Such a small word to hold such enormous promise.

Hope is the seed inside of me that says, “Tomorrow will be better.” Or “God’s got this.” Or “This journey won’t last forever.”

In the night, I hope for daylight.

In the pain, I hope for relief.

In the grief, I hope for joy.

in the chaos, I hope for order.

In the anger, I hope for peace.

Hope is not a wish or a dream. This is the foundational faith that the God I believe in will rebuild what is broken because in His Word He promised He would.

I find these verses from the book of Lamentations especially poignant. This poetic prophecy was written as a reflection on the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, and the subsequent exile of the Jewish people into Babylon. When the world crumbled around him from the turmoil of war, this man had a seed of faith allowing him to hope that the Lord would be merciful. He knew this would not be the end of the story for God’s people.

Jeremiah had stories from Creation, the Exodus, the conquering of Canaan, the life of David, which is a fairly short time-line compared to what we have. Today, with evidence from every book of the Bible and millions upon millions of stories from people around the world who continue to experience the presence, guidance, and faithfulness of God, how can we possibly feel hopeless?

So, the bulbs in my flower garden are currently buried under layers of frozen dirt, ice, and snow. But because every year the ground thaws, the sun comes out, and the birds come back, I have hope I will eventually see flowers bloom, even through the snow, if necessary.

Why can I say that?

God has never failed me yet. Great is His faithfulness.

My Prayer: Gracious God, I know You have always and will continue to show Your faithfulness to the world. In our darkness, sadness, brokenness, and mourning, have mercy. Remind us that even if it doesn’t happen today or tomorrow, Your Kingdom will come in all its truth and glory. Make us ready. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

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Author Bio:

Glynis Becker writes devotions and inspirational fiction, hoping someday to have a published novel on her resume. 

She has co-written several screenplays, including Sinking Sand, available on DVD and digital streaming.

Glynis, whose childhood was spent all over the country as an Air Force brat, has called South Dakota home for many years, along with her husband and two teenage children.

When she’s not writing or reading, she is watching more television than she should and crocheting. You can find her at www.glynisbecker.com.