Inspirational: HOLIDAY STRESS

Daily Inspirational Encouragement

HOLIDAY STRESS

By: Linda Kirby/WGON

Does the start of the Christmas season fill you with excited anticipation, or dread? Well, if you do celebrate the holidays, most people are filled with dread. Why? Because they put too much on themselves and participate in a more worldly fashion rather than in a spiritual fashion. The world has taught us that this is a holiday of shopping, gifts, parties, decorating, dinners; but not one moment is spent in communing with the very Person the holiday is about! Jesus is the reason for the season! We should not be celebrating as the world does. If you are going to celebrate this holiday, do it in a spiritual way. Spending time with the Lord is the way to go. Bring family and friends over for a prayer meeting. Have a dinner with family and make sure to say grace. Don’t fall into the worldly way of celebrating. "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light“ (1 Peter 2:9). In other words, we do not act like the world, we behave as Christ did . . . that’s why we are called “Christians” or Christlike. So, slow down and receive the peace that is given freely by Jesus. Enjoy family and friends by sharing the Lord. Spend more time in the Word than in the world this holiday season. Isaiah 9:6 reminds us that we can have hope and joy this time of year, no matter how the world celebrates. ”For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."