It’s Christmas again, and our minds can become so busy with gifts to buy, special meals to prepare, loved ones to visit, new places to see, and everything else the season brings that sometimes we may even find ourselves wondering, “Have I even prayed today or this week?”
Learning how to keep Christ at the center of Christmas when life feels busy is really about making sure that, in the middle of everything Christmas brings, we don’t become so occupied with the celebration that we lose sight of Christ Himself. It’s very easy to spend so much time preparing for Christmas that we forget to pause and prepare our hearts for the One we are celebrating.
Is Your Christmas just about the season—or about Christ?
With all the shopping, meals, travel, family gatherings, church activities, and long to-do lists competing for our attention, we have to consciously choose what keeps drawing our hearts back to Jesus.
We see something similar in the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38–42.
Martha was busy with everything that needed to be done, while Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to Him.
Jesus didn’t condemn Martha for serving. What He did was point out what mattered most:
“Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” — Luke 10:42 (NIV)
Christmas will naturally come with things that need to be done, but somewhere in the middle of all those good things, we have to make sure we haven’t become so occupied with preparing for Christmas that we’ve forgotten to spend time with Christ.
Make Jesus First, Then Let Christmas Activities Follow
There’s hardly ever much free time during Christmas. The time we have for Jesus often has to be intentionally created.
Intentionality plays an important role in determining what—or Who—we prioritize during Christmas.
If we simply allow the season to determine how we spend our time, our attention can easily be consumed by everything Christmas brings with it.
But when we intentionally make room for Jesus, even simple practices can help keep our hearts focused on Him.
Here are 5 practical ways to keep Christ at the center of Christmas:
1. Start With Prayer and God’s Word
Feed your spirit before your body.
Even a short prayer, a few verses of Scripture, and a few quiet moments of meditation can help us begin the day aware of God’s presence before the day’s Christmas activities begin.
It doesn’t have to be complicated. The goal is simply to make room for Jesus before everything else starts demanding our attention.
2. Have a Christmas Family Devotion
Christmas gives families a beautiful opportunity to pause together and remember the story we’re celebrating.
You could read Matthew 1:18–25, Matthew 2:1–23, or Luke 2 as a family and spend a few minutes reflecting on the birth of Jesus.
It doesn’t need to become a long Bible study. A simple family devotion centered on Scripture can help keep Jesus at the heart of the celebration.
3. Worship With Other Believers
Christmas is also an opportunity to gather with other believers and worship Christ together.
Attending a Christmas worship service can help turn our attention away from the busyness surrounding the season and back toward the One we are celebrating.
There is something meaningful about hearing the Christmas story, singing together, and remembering with other believers that Jesus is the reason for our celebration.
4. Be a Blessing to Someone
Intentionally look for an opportunity to show Christ’s love to someone else.
It could be helping someone who is struggling, sharing a meal, giving to someone in need, visiting someone who may be alone, or simply offering practical help where it is needed.
When we allow the love we’ve received through Christ to overflow into the lives of others, Christmas becomes more meaningful.
5. Practice Daily Gratitude
We can never thank God enough for the gift of Jesus.
In the middle of everything Christmas brings, take time to remember what we are actually celebrating: God gave His Son, and that’s a big deal.
Gratitude turns our attention away from what we think the season needs to give us and back toward what God has already given us in Christ.
The more intentionally we cultivate gratitude, the more our hearts remain focused on Him.
Striking the Christmas Balance
With all the activities and long to-do lists waiting for our attention, we can still have a joyful Christmas with Christ at the center of it all.
We don’t need a perfect meal, perfect family gathering, perfect gifts, perfect photos, or even a perfect atmosphere.
Those things can be enjoyed, but they are not what makes Christmas meaningful.
The most important thing is making sure Jesus remains at the center of the entire Christmas experience.
That is the heart of the season: not simply creating a memorable Christmas, but making room to remember and celebrate Christ.
Related Reading: If you’d like to keep exploring God’s Word this Christmas or find more ways to make this season meaningful, you may find these Christmas reflections encouraging:
Shalom.
