I have a confession to make to my FB friends. I have been engaging in hypocrisy this past week. As I was encouraging you to experience a #stressfreeholiday, I myself was feeling overwhelmed. I didn’t recognize it because it wasn’t from the usual holiday stressors. It was my publisher’s deadline, preparing for the upcoming women’s conference, and non-holiday related family stuff.

But when I realized it, I repented (changed my mind) and went back to the basics – the Word & Worship.

1. The Word. As I am writing my book, of course I was reading the Word but for informational purposes. But I need to read the word for transformative purposes. With blogging for #nostressholidays, I had strayed away from my morning devotionals, where I just read the Word and allow God to speak to me. God and I have great conversations during those times. When I strayed away, stress took its place.

2. Worship. I have the privilege of listening to worship music during my planning period. But because of meetings and circumstances, I haven’t been able to this past week. I quickly realized that my midday worship time is valuable to my soul. It changes the atmosphere in my room and in my heart. Yesterday, circumstances tried to once again prevent me from worshiping but I found my wireless headphones and worshipped with Christmas hymns. Peace entered my classroom and my heart.

The keys to a #stressfreeholidays are Worship and the Word. I encourage you, from my personal experience, to not allow the busyness of the season to distract you from reading His Word & Worshiping. Make this a priority in your life. Nothing is more important this Holiday than spending time with the One True Gift – Jesus.

#nostressholidays