Christmas Stressed

Saturday, December 7, 2013
Listen to this devotional:
Listen while you read: "Child In The Manger"1 (Lyrics)

Don't you love that Christmas gives us at least a month of stress-free eating and spending, followed by at least three months of stress as we try to lose the pounds and the bills we gained over the holiday?

Stress is caused by our reaction to a thing, rather than by the thing itself. Everything can cause stress. In fact, we often cause our own. Christmas is a good stress, but if we eat or spend too much, we will eventually experience the bad after-effects.

We have an opportunity to "good stress" our December. If we don't overindulge in food, spending, or anything else but Jesus, then we won't have to endure weeks of stewing over past failures.

Mark 4:18-19 – The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it. (MSG)

Prayer: Father God, thank You for the delight of Christmas! Help us to choose You over all the other stuff calling our name. Amen.

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About the author:

Brenda Wood <brenda.w@nextcom.ca>
Sandycove Acres, Innisfil, Ontario, Canada

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1 Comment

  • PresbyCan Feedback says:

    Well said Brenda. Have a wonderful Christmas.


    Dear Brenda: Thank you for your encouragement today.


    Sometimes much more is said with fewer words. Your message today is a prime example. Thank you and thank God for you.


    Brenda,
    Thank you for pulling us back from regret and reminding us what we need
    more of, Jesus!


    Thanks for this devotional, Brenda. I pray that our readers will take to heart what you have said here. May God’s richest blessings be upon you this Christmas season.


    Hi Brenda! Lovely devotional. Yes, knowing the reason for the season sure keeps us in touch with His original plan. May you enjoy a blessed worry free Christmas with loved ones. Mine will be quiet this year, just the way I want it.


    Dear Brenda,
    So that others will see it and rejoice too, I pray that you will have overflowing joy regarding the birth of your Savior and mine.
    Please push the negative stress so far away that it cannot return. And relax sometimes in the Spirit of our Lord who gives peace.


    Thank you Brenda for reminding us all that there is good stress and bad stress. Thank God that he sent his son Jesus to help us through it all. I am so thankful we have Christmas in our calendar. It tends to open up hearts & pocketbooks. One needn’t worry about opening up the heart too much, but must always be vigilant on opening up those pocketbooks to the wrong things. Merry Christmas Brenda.


    Perfect length for a devotional to maintain the thought.

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