Slow Down & Savor the Season: A Simple Christmas Guide

As the holiday season approaches, it’s easy to get swept away by the busyness and rush. But Christmas is ultimately a celebration of Jesus—His love, His gift, His peace. This season, let’s slow down and focus on what truly matters. One of the best ways to keep Jesus at the center is by committing to spending time in His Word daily, making space for devotionals, prayers, and moments of peace.

1. Commit to Time in the Word This Christmas

Decide now to carve out moments each day to refocus on God’s love. As the calendar fills up, let your daily time with God become an anchor that grounds you in peace and purpose. This time reminds us that Christmas isn’t about perfection or overcommitting—it’s about celebrating the greatest gift of all.

Beginning a Christmas devotional or Bible study now is a great way to stay connected to God’s truth and love. I had never done this before until I joined a Women's Bible Study at my church. We meet in the Fall and Spring for 8-10 week sessions, but take a break between for the holidays. During this time, our table picks a study or devotional to keep us grounded and connected! If you don't already have a quiet time routine started, I highly encourage you to do so! But I have really enjoyed having a book to follow along with during the Christmas season! There are so many to pick from!- Do a quick search on Google or Amazon for "Christmas Bible Study" or "Christmas Devotional"!

This season my table is reading the new Be of Good Cheer: A Christmas Devotional - Linked here I couldn't be more excited about it! We usually do an actual Bible study which are typically a little more in-depth, but our group decided that a devotional was more our speed this year! If you'd rather do a study, I highly recommend the ones from Daily Grace Co. They release a new one each year and not only is the content really well written, but their books are BEAUTIFUL!

2. Simplify Where You Can

When we overcommit, we miss out on the peaceful joy this season can offer. Consider simplifying some traditions to keep the focus on quality over quantity. You might find my Christmas card tips and simple cookie recipes helpful! A little preparation and simplification can make a big difference in managing the holiday rush, so you’re free to enjoy the time with family, friends, and God. Decide what means the most to you and what brings you joy. If the event or tradition is no longer bringing you joy (or maybe it never was!) then why continue going/doing it?! Don't be afraid to abandon something just because it's the way you've always done it! It's never too late to start a new, less stressful tradition!

3. Thoughtful, yet Quick Christmas "Happies"

Sometimes the simplest gifts are the most meaningful! If you’d like to share a little Christmas cheer with neighbors, coworkers, or teachers, check out my Christmas Happies post for quick, heartfelt ideas that show your thoughtfulness without taking hours to make or deliver and they won't break your budget! These are great when you want to give a large group something to acknowledge the holidays! I even have printable tags for you, so definitely go check out that post!

A Prayer for a Simplified Christmas

I hope you will incorporate these simply things into your holidays this year. Wouldn't it be amazing if we weren't all running around stressed to the max this Christmas?!

Here's a prayer for us all...

Heavenly Father,

We come to You with grateful hearts, remembering the gift of Your Son, Jesus. This season, help us slow down, simplify, and focus on what truly matters. Guide us to be thoughtful in our actions and intentional with our time, so we can experience and share Your love in meaningful ways. Let us cherish the small moments, hold tightly to Your Word, and find true joy in celebrating You. May our hearts be filled with Your peace, our minds focused on Your truth, and our lives a reflection of Your love. Amen.

Read that again. What changes are you going to make this year?

Wishing you a season filled with peace, purpose, and simplicity. Merry Christmas! 🎄