I interrupt your holiday festivities to bring you this message…

…it is time for a break before the seasons break you. Friend, it is time for a time out, a refreshment of a little coffee and a whole lotta Jesus before your holidays become a holidaze.

I’m not talking literal coffee, although, that would be a delight, too. What I’m referring to is spiritual coffee.

You know how coffee acts as fuel for our physical bodies, very much like exercise, good nutrition, and sleep? Well…

Time in God’s Word and walking alongside His Son is the spiritual fuel our bodies not just need but also crave.

We tend to need this spiritual “pick-me-up” right about now – in the midst of the holiday season when the busyness has begun to overwhelm us and the anxiety of completing the to-dos or entertaining the to-whoms runs us dry and depletes our spirit. Our souls feel empty, underwhelmed and without much energy, enthusiasm or joy when they should be experiencing the exact opposite – fullness in Christ, spiritual awakening and the wonderful present of experiencing God’s presence.

We need the power of the Holy Spirit to fuel us forward and navigate us through a world that vies for our time and attention. Because the world will tell us to keep going and will lead us to believe that hitting the “pause” button on life will make us weak. Likewise, saying “no” to yet another invitation or commitment makes us feel guilty that we are either missing out on something or are not capable of handling everything the world throws our way.

It’s all lies, of course, but we easily buy into them (intentionally or sub-consciously). It’s comparable to the allure of a Black Friday sale – 

Do you really need ___? Will it make your life more complete or fulfilling? Or, are you enticed by the shininess and newness and potential to have ___ or become ___?

I am inspired to write this little PSA today because I am very much like how I described above. I hate saying “no,” missing out, and pressing “pause.” I believe I am capable in my own strength to manage many things at one time but I always end up tired, weary, drained, and regretting my previously-scheduled commitments.

So I’m taking this moment to purposefully step back, sit down, and examine my current situation. I’m taking a “coffee” break to replenish my soul and perhaps reorganize my motivations and mindset.

Christmas is about Christ and not about the mas (which is Spanish for “more” if you didn’t catch the pun).

It’s about remembering His first coming and anticipating His return. We are to spend this time honoring our Savior and celebrating His birth by seeking more of Him and less of the world. It is a time to hit the reset button and slow our pace down to the speed of peace. It is a time to love and a time to serve. It is a time that should be overflowing with giving, goodness, grace and gratitude.

So take the coffee break – take it several times a day if you need to but keep coming back to the fuel that will propel your soul and make your cup runneth over.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

Psalm 51:10-12