Pause At Christmastime – Advent #4

I remember one Christmas years ago – I almost missed Christmas! That experience was a “wake-up call.” In my busy life, filling roles and carrying out responsibilities – all the Christmas preparations pulled me off track. I asked God to show me what happened and how to avoid it in the future. That’s when I learned how to pause at Christmastime.

And it works! Now, I use a “pause” all through the year.

Do you need to pause a bit more this Christmas?

 

Pause At Christmastime

In the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it’s challenging to pause at Christmastime! But it’s critical if you want to –

• Prepare your spirit.
• Ensure the most important elements of Christmas are celebrated.
• Enjoy peace in your heart.
• Grow your relationship with Jesus and worship Him.
• Assist others to do these things, too.

 

Let’s look at what a pause is. Plus, we’ll explore why a pause is so important at Christmas.

What Is A Pause?

Have you noticed life has a tendency to speed up? Try as you might, time slips through your fingers. Sadly, sometimes the “main thing” gets skipped as you work to manage your life. Actually, to be a healthy person, you need to pause – regularly.

A pause is stopping in any moment to engage activities often skipped over. Oddly, we often skip a pause – because we’re too busy.

Nevertheless, in a pause you can –

1. Think more deeply.
2. Breathe deeply . . . take in your surroundings with your senses.
3. Engage in hopeful thoughts.
4. Realistically identify life areas to work on.
5. Enjoy a moment, a conversation, a friendship, a blessing.
6. Reflect on Scriptures God impresses on your heart.
7. Recall promises God has kept over your years.
8. Release tensions that build up.
9. Talk to God about what’s happening in your life.
10. Thank God that His Spirit lives in your soul and body.
11. Remember the gift of salvation and thank Jesus for the manger and the cross.

 

Pausing is a technique healthy, vibrant people practice for well-being.

• A pause is a moment of rest, a droplet of joy, a breath of fresh air.
• Also, a pause provides necessary space and time to grieve life’s losses.
• Additionally, a pause is opportunity to connect with God to receive guidance.
• Further, a pause is artful, nurtures creativity, and increases joy.

 

Learn To Pause

So many things in life are learned. Very few things just come naturally. So, you must learn to practice the most beneficial habits.

Incidentally, God wants you to know Him better using a pause. In essence, He also helps you grow into the person He designed. Plus, He wants you to connect with Him as a friend each day. Jn. 15:15 talks about this.

• Know God.
• Be you.
• Enjoy God as your friend.

 

Interestingly, when you habitually practice a pause, you also become a person of peace. So, you are healthier.

Therefore, be healthy. Practice a pause.

Pause – Part Of Life’s Rhythms

A person of peace practices pauses. In fact, this builds healthy life rhythms. Afterall, life moves along too fast. However, in a pause, you –

1. Become aware of and reflect on what’s actually happening.
2. Explore creative options to manage issues.
3. Multiply moments to rest and regroup.
4. Most important, nurture your relationship with God.
5. Also, nurture your relationships with others.

 

If you deprive yourself of pauses, you become emaciated in the very things that promote personal health.

Let’s develop those five principles of a pause.

1. Become Aware And Reflect

Have you ever looked back over your life and wondered where the years went? Perhaps you regret certain decisions. Too often, you may not have even been aware of things happening around you.

However, when you focus in a pause, you become aware. Plus, you gain moments to prayerfully reflect.

You need to be aware at Christmas to reflect on God’s gift of Jesus. 

2. Creative Options

Often, it’s during a pause that options “pop” into your brain –

• How to solve a problem.
• Exploring creative ways to build relationships.
• New ideas and fresh approaches to life events.
• How to pursue your friendship with God.
• Plus, how to use limited resources to accomplish a goal.

 

You need creative options at Christmas – so practice pauses.

3. Rest And Regroup

Realistically, a pause helps you rest and regroup. Often, you don’t have time to nap. Interestingly, a purposeful pause does refresh you. Additionally, a restful pause helps you regroup to finish a task, a day, or a life season well.

When your life gets too full, pause to rest and regroup.

Certainly, during the Christmas season, you need to rest and regroup.

4. Nurture Your Relationship With God

Share every pause with God. Actually, this nurtures your relationship with Him. “Be still and know that I am God.” (Ps. 46:10a) Or listen to this Scripture. “Jesus is not ashamed to call me His brother/sister.” (Heb. 2:11)

Essentially, God is invested in your relationship with Him. So, invest back in the greatest Companion you’ll ever have.

Essentially, Christmas beckons you to nurture your relationship with God.

5. Nurture Your Relationships With Others

Use a pause to notice, enjoy, and encourage others. A pause provides opportunity to –

• Notice what someone needs.
• Encourage others.
• Offer a timely word of hope.
• Challenge someone to do better.
• Pray for a hurting individual.
• Simply enjoy a dear relationship.

 

There’s nothing more important at Christmas than to share the joy of Emmanuel with those around you. So, nurture your relationships with others.

Silence and Pauses

A good pause is filled with silence. Just “be.”  Rest in the moment. Cease to labor. Be aware Jesus is with you. Enjoy His presence. Relax in His friendship.

Interestingly, even with lots of noise and activity around you, you can purposefully pull away – either physically (relocating) or just in your heart (focus where you are).

Essentially, in a purposeful pause, choose to “stop.” Choose deliberate silence in the face of everything life throws at you.

This kind of silence in a pause nurtures –

1. Being aware to reflect.
2. Exploring creative options.
3. Multiplying moments to rest and regroup.
4. Your relationship with God.
5. Your relationships with others.

 

There’s our list again!

A pause is good for your soul, body, and mind. It slows the pace of life and restores you as you focus on God’s goodness.

When pauses become a pattern, they nurture your spiritual life.

Spiritual Benefits Of A Pause

Let’s look at some spiritual benefits of a pause.

1. Think in agreement with Scripture

This first step connects you with God and His promises. Scripture protects you from being deceived. It also centers and refreshes you. That only happens in a purposeful pause.

How will you agree with God’s Word in a pause this Christmas?

2. Be honest with God

The next step is to be fully honest with God. You may be afraid to open up and express what’s inside you. However, God wants you to be real with Him. He already knows what’s inside you. Plus, God wants to –

1. Help you live well.
2. Give wisdom for every situation.
3. Invite you to know and enjoy Him more.
4. Share your joy, sadness, losses, fears, frustrations, anger, excitement, helplessness – everything.
5. Empower you to live in His healthy ways.

 

God loves you! How can you be honest with God this Christmas?

3. Be resolved

It takes resolve to do anything of value in your life. Consider:

1. To believe and obey Scripture when your feelings are going a different direction takes resolve.
2. Additionally, it takes resolve to stop and reflect in a moment.
3. Of course, you should also be resolved to fully enjoy a moment.
4. And remember to be resolved to your commitments to change.

 

In essence, resolve is something you need all the time. Particularly, you need resolve at Christmas – so you don’t miss the purpose and fellowship of this celebration.

Resolve to accept a “wake-up call” to pause this Christmas. 

Application Thoughts And Questions

1. How can you remind yourself to pause more through your day – especially this Christmas?
2. Have you made a pause part of your life’s rhythm?
3. Contemplate how much you are aware and reflect on what’s actually happening.
4. Do you explore creative options to manage issues?
5. Have you learned to pause so you can rest and regroup?
6. What do you do to nurture your relationship with God?
7. Additionally, what practices have you found to nurture your relationships with others?
8. What area(s) do you need to change to think in agreement with Scripture?
9. Are you honest with God in all your life situations – including how you get ready for Christmas?
10. Are you resolved to not miss the purpose and fellowship of Christmas?

 

* Portions of this content come from my book – Reach Back: Intentionally Reaching Back To God.  This is a study book that covers various topics like –

• Pausing in life.
• How to handle feelings.
• Loneliness.
• Boundaries.
• Forgiveness.
• Gratitude.

 

You can find this book in our bookstore: www.aliveandactivelife.org/store.

 

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