Growing in faith during the holidays is something most people might not think about when Thanksgiving and Christmas come around. But Christmas time is the perfect opportunity to do just that: grow in your faith and trust in God.
I know for some of you the holidays could be a trigger because of past experiences. And dealing with a difficult family. I understand the holidays can be a challenging time if you have faced trauma in the past especially during this time of year.
Yet, that is why it’s also the perfect time for growing in faith and becoming more resilient.
For me personally, Christmas has not always been the best time of year. In High School my Father pasted away suddenly during the holidays.
Another holiday, I went and helped a family member escape an abusive relationship. For a while we would celebrate on different days just in the hopes that it would be peaceful.
But Christ was still the center of Christmas as well as our life.
Our trauma from Holidays past should never be the future for our present.
So I want to encourage you that even through the holidays are a challenge you still have an oppertunity to grow in faith.
Here are some of my secrets for making Christmas time a season for praise and growing in faith.
Number one way to growing in faith during the holidays.
Have daily time with God
This is probably one of the most important things you can do to grow in faith during a busy season. So make sure you keep up with your quite time or reflection time with God.
Here is my daily routine, which I started as a missionary decades ago. I first read my Bible, then I reflect on the verses I read. Write my observations, an application and a prayer. Then I journal-pouring out life on the pages after that I listen to the Holy Spirit.
This daily practice has helped me stay connected to God, my faith in Jesus and seen me through so many stressful situations.
Caring for a sister with cancer, walking along side someone to help raise children, and starting a business in the midst of it all.
Life is challenges that bring us closer to God or bring us away, and sometimes it’s just a season of walking valleys not knowing what is on the other side.
But growing in faith means seeking to grow and know God more.
The next way to grow in your faith during the holidays.
Be Gratiful.
Right now gratitude is all the rage. With study after study revealing the importance of a gratitude on peoples mental health as well as there physical health.
“In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18
For thousands of years the Bible has been our reminder of the importance of being gratiful. Growing in faith excellerates when we are grateful. I know it can sometimes be hard but if you practice gratitude it will get easier.
When I was in Bible school I had a roomate who was one of the most negative people I had ever met. We were both 18, and couldn’t have been more oposite. I was always laughing and smiling and she was frowning. She was a great person who was caring and thoughtful. But many people couldn’t see past her negativity to get to know her.
She wanted to change so we came up with a daily challenge, for ever one negative thing we had to come up with 10 positives, or things we were gratiful for.
After a month of doing this challenge we both changed.
So try the one for 10 rule. For ever one negative come up with 10 things you are gratiful for and I believe after a week you will start to see a change.
The next way to grow in faith during the holidays.
Go to Church
You might be an avid church goer, or someone who barely goes. But making time to go to chuch even if it’s online service can change your outlook and bring you closer to God.
I know that if you are alone or feel alone sometimes you go to church and it might make you feel lonelier during the holidays. But don’t let that stop you from connecting to God and hearing someone speak and encourage you and worshiping God during that time.
In the last couple of years I have had to go to church online due to caring for family. So online church has been a lifeline to our family and we attend together ever Sunday. Those messages have helped our family and transformed our lives.
Now with technology you can go to church in your own livingroom. Don’t get me wrong, I think going in person and connecting with people is the best way but I also know that life has challenges and it’s hard sometimes. So if you can’t connect in person don’t feel guilty and go online.
Make time for Prayer.
Taking time to pray and ask God to help you grow spiritually will make a huge difference in you growing in faith.
I know you have spent time read your bible, journaled, wrote what you are gratiful for and now “how do I make the time?” well.
Here is a something that I had to start doing, I set a timer and pray for the amount of time the timer is set. I do not pick up my phone, look at my emails or let myself get distracted.
I set a 10 min timer and pray the whole time that timer is running. I will not allow myself to do anything else. This is what has worked for me as I have gotten busier.
Here is a Bible verse that teaches us how we can be growing in faith during the holidays,
“Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.”
This verse litterally tells us how we can be growing in faith.
Here is my final tip for growing in faith during the holidays.
Give back or volunteer
I’m sure you have all heard the saying it is better to give than receive. There has never been an easier way to give back then right now. One of my favorite things to do during the holidays is creating a “Operations Christmas Child” from Samaritians Purse.
This could not be an easier way to give than making a box for a child. And I have worked with Samaritians Purse and it’s one of the best NGO’s in the world.
When I lived on the mission field the children I worked with received boxes ever year and it was such an incredible blessing.
There are two options, creating one online or you can make one and drop it off at a location center.
Every year my nieces and nephews make one and include a bible study for the children. They also have a tracking option and you can write a message as well. Its easy and sweet way to share Christ love to those around the world.
In conclusion growing in faith during the holidays is possible and if you can do all of these I believe your faith will grow. I would love to hear from you about how these tips might have helped you and anyway I could pray for you as well. Just leave a comment and let me know.
Here are some related articles you might be interested in as well.
Tips to make it through the holidays without fighting