Episode Details

In this special Christmas episode of The Crosswalk Devotional, we take a moment to pause and reflect on the abundant blessings God has given us, especially during this holiday season. Christmas can often feel like a whirlwind of activities, shopping, and expectations, but it's essential to slow down and appreciate the many gifts God has already provided in our lives—His presence, His love, and the beauty of the relationships we share with others.

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We’d love to hear how you take time to enjoy God’s blessings during the Christmas season. Share with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or via email. What blessings are you most grateful for this year, and how do you make space for joy and gratitude during the holidays?

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Full Transcript Below:

Take time to Enjoy God's Blessings This Christmas

By: Laura Bailey

“ A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,  for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” Ecclesiastes 2: 24-25 NIV 

“Are you getting my calendar invites?” I asked my husband over dinner. 

“Which one? The one about the Christmas play at school? Or the Sunday School Holiday potluck? How could I miss the multiple invitations to celebrate Christmas with our families, friends, and people we barely know?” My husband’s voice was playful, but I still sensed his aggravation over our packed calendar.

It is a recurring disagreement in our household; I enjoy a calendar filled with activities, hosting people, and hustle and bustle, while my husband prefers a more relaxed schedule of events, i.e., sitting in his pajamas watching a Christmas movie with just our family. Both ways of celebrating Christmas have their drawbacks and perks. 

My over-scheduling can lead our family to feelings of exhaustion and a desire to just “get through Christmas” so they can have a chance to relax. Yet, on the flip side, by hosting events at our home, we’ve had the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with others and invite people to have a seat at the table who didn’t have anyone to share the holiday. If our family engaged in Christmas the way my husband prefers, we would often miss out on supporting our friends in their plays, attending church events, and celebrating time with family. However,  it is nice to rest and simply enjoy the gift of each other’s presence without constantly thinking about the next event on the calendar. 

This tension of knowing when to take action and when to  rest is often addressed in the pages of Scripture. The Bible is replete with invitations to the weary to come to Jesus for rest ( Matthew 11:28) and to abide in Christ ( John 15:14). Conversely, Scripture charges us to go and make disciples ( Matthew 28:19) and to make the most of every opportunity because the days are short ( Ephesians 5:15-16). So then, what’s the answer? Do we go and do, or stay and linger this holiday season?

Solomon in Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 offers insight into how we should approach Christmas time. He writes, “ A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,  for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” For someone whose holiday plans involve a lot of eating, I am grateful that Solomon encourages us to enjoy our food! And