Lord, Help Me to Focus on the True Purpose of the Christmas Season

My mom and I have been through our share of holiday baking disasters. One year, we made a yellow cake with chocolate frosting. As we were preparing the cake, we watched a video of a talented home baker create the dessert we were trying to replicate. At the end of the video, she smiled, her perfectly frosted cake laid carefully on delicate china, as she proclaimed, “and your done!” My mom and both laughed, knowing that our dessert would be far from that perfection. One of our cake layers was burnt and the other was missing chunks because parts of it got stuck to the pan. Still, we made it work. Covered in frosting, it was hard to see all of the imperfections. 

Christmas Time is for Celebrating Christ with Our Loved Ones

This Christmas memory still makes me laugh today.  It also reminds me of the true purpose of the Christmas season—that it is a time to celebrate the salvation that Jesus purchased for me with my family and friends (Ephesians 1:7-10). 

We often get distracted from embracing the true purpose of Christmas. We feel the need to be perfect as we host parties and dinners, buy gifts for loved ones, and decorate our homes. When we over emphasize these things, we often turn the Christmas season into a chore instead of a celebration. 

As we pray this week, let’s ask God to help us focus to the true purpose of the Christmas season. Let’s ask God to gently remind us to take time to celebrate Christ and treasure the time we have with our loved ones.

Prayer of the Week: Asking God to Return Our Focus to the True Purpose of the Christmas Season.

Dear Lord, I thank you that I get to celebrate what Christ has done for me. Help me to remember the true purpose of the Christmas season this year. As I’m making preparations, please help me to let go of perfection and hold onto you. Give me wisdom in how to prepare for the holidays this year. Open opportunities for me to pour into my family and friends. Show me how I can represent you to others this Christmas season. Let your joy fill my heart and may the love of Christ be felt through me so that my loved ones will be reminded of the gift of salvation that Jesus purchased on the cross. In Jesus name I pray, amen!

Do you have a favorite Christmas memory? A memory that reminds you of the true purpose of the Christmas season? I hope you do! Please share your favorite memory below!