Every year, the calendar flips to December, and suddenly the world starts spinning a little faster. Shopping carts fill up, lights go up, calendars fill up, but it’s our hearts that all too often fill up with stress instead of peace. It’s ironic, isn’t it? The season meant to celebrate the Prince of Peace so easily becomes one of chaos and hurry. Somewhere between the baking, the wrapping, and the parties, it’s easy to forget why we’re celebrating at all. But what if this year looked different? What if, instead of simply saying we want to “keep Christ in Christmas,” we actually lived it out intentionally, quietly, and beautifully? Keeping Christ in Christmas isn’t about rejecting all the fun, festive parts of the season. It’s about refocusing our hearts on the One who is the reason for it all. It’s about living the story of Jesus’ birth in a way that shapes our priorities, our homes, and our witness.

Slow Down to Remember the Story

Keeping Christ in Christmas begins with remembering why He came. Before we can reflect His love, we have to dwell on the wonder of His incarnation: God becoming flesh to dwell among us (John 1:14). This season, open your Bible before you open your to-do list. Read the Christmas story slowly, not just from Luke 2, but from the bigger narrative that leads to the manger.

Read these passages aloud, reflect as a family, or start or end each day with Scripture and gratitude. When we begin the season by remembering who Jesus is and what He came to do, everything else takes its rightful place.

Make Space for Worship, Not Just Activity

Christmas isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence. God’s presence among His people. So much of our holiday busyness comes from good things: church programs, school concerts, family gatherings. But even good things can crowd out what’s best.

Ask yourself:

• Have I left space to be still before the Lord?

• Do my traditions point my heart back to Him, or just fill my time?

Make room for worship moments. That might mean:

• Attending an Advent service with your family.

• Starting your mornings with a Christmas hymn and a prayer of thanks.

• Taking a walk under the stars and remembering the night when the angels sang over shepherds.

Don’t let worship be squeezed into the cracks of your schedule. Let it be the foundation everything else rests on.

Give with a Heart Like His

One of the most beautiful ways to keep Christ in Christmas is to give like He gave—selflessly, joyfully, sacrificially. Jesus didn’t come to receive gifts but to be the gift. He “emptied Himself” (Philippians 2:7), leaving Heaven’s glory to rescue us. That’s the model of giving that changes hearts. Yes, it’s fun to exchange presents with those we love. But don’t stop there. Look for opportunities to give where no one expects it.

• Pay for someone’s groceries or gas.

• Drop off a meal to a family that’s struggling.

• Send a note to someone who’s lonely.

• Give generously to missions or ministries that share the gospel.

Teach your children that giving is more than buying; it’s serving. Maybe you choose one “Jesus gift” as a family each year—something that blesses others in His name. When your giving reflects His heart, you’ll experience a deeper joy than anything that could ever fit under a tree.

Bring the Name of Jesus Into Your Conversations

Our culture has no problem talking about “the holidays.” But fewer people are willing to talk about the Holy One the holidays are about. Keeping Christ in Christmas means we aren’t afraid to speak His name—to share why we celebrate, to invite others into the story, and to shine the light of truth in a world desperate for hope. When someone says, “Happy Holidays,” smile and say, “Merry Christmas—Jesus really is the best part of this season.”

Tell your children why the shepherds rejoiced, why the wise men traveled so far, why the angels sang. Use your social media platforms to point people back to Christ—post a verse, a prayer, a reflection. You never know who needs to be reminded that Emmanuel has come. Let’s not whisper His name in December; let’s proclaim it!

Live Out the Message of Peace and Love

Jesus didn’t come to start a season. He came to save souls. And yet, His birth brought peace, hope, and love that still transform hearts today. If we truly want to keep Christ in Christmas, that transformation should be visible in how we treat others. The greatest testimony you’ll ever give this Christmas may not come from your words, it may come from your patience with your family, your kindness to a difficult coworker, or your willingness to forgive.

This is where the message of Christmas becomes real. When Christ’s love spills out of us into our relationships, the world sees something different. They see Him.

Create Christ-Centered Traditions

Traditions anchor our memories and they’re powerful tools for discipleship. Instead of abandoning holiday fun, reshape it around Jesus. Here are some simple, meaningful ideas:

• Advent Candles: Light one each week and read Scripture together, focusing on hope, peace, joy, and love.

• Nativity Conversations: Let the nativity scene spark questions and stories with your children. Move the wise men closer each day as you count down to Christmas.

• Birthday Cake for Jesus: Celebrate His birth with a family worship night or cake on Christmas morning.

• Family Prayer Jar: Each night, write down one thing you’re thankful for and pray together.

• Service Tradition: Volunteer as a family—deliver gifts, serve meals, or visit nursing homes.

Traditions like these don’t just make memories. They make disciples. They turn the heart of Christmas toward Christ.

Guard Your Heart from Comparison

Social media, Pinterest boards, and perfect family photos can create unrealistic expectations. But Jesus wasn’t born in a magazine-worthy setting. He came quietly, humbly, in a stable, reminding us that glory often hides in simplicity. If we’re not careful, we’ll spend the whole season striving to make things picture-perfect and miss the beauty of the manger.

Keeping Christ in Christmas might mean your house is a little messier but your heart is more peaceful. It might mean fewer decorations but more devotion. Don’t compare your celebration to someone else’s highlight reel. Just make sure Jesus feels at home in your heart.

Share the Gospel Story

The most Christ-centered thing we can do this Christmas is share the message of salvation. God gave His Son so the world could be saved (John 3:16). The baby in the manger was born to die on the cross and rise again, conquering sin and death forever. Every nativity points to Calvary. Every light points to the Light of the World. Every gift points to grace. You don’t need a microphone to share that story. You just need to open your mouth and your heart. Invite your neighbors to church. Write a Christmas card with a verse of hope. Pray before your meal, even in a public place. Tell someone that Jesus came for them.

That’s how you keep Christ in Christmas: by helping others find Him too.

Rest in the Wonder

After the shepherds saw Jesus, the Bible says they returned to their fields, glorifying and praising God (Luke 2:20). Their circumstances didn’t change, but their hearts did. That’s the power of Christmas! It’s not about escaping the world for a few weeks of sentimentality. It’s about remembering that God stepped into our world to redeem it. So pause this season. Breathe deeply. Look at the lights and remember the Light that darkness cannot overcome. Let the wonder of Emmanuel, God with us, quiet your striving and fill you with peace.

Keeping Christ in Christmas isn’t about slogans or protests. It’s about posture. It’s about bowing our hearts in awe at the manger, then rising to live as His hands and feet in a weary world. This year, we pray your celebrations be simple, your giving generous, your worship sincere, and your heart anchored in the One who came to save us. Because when Christ is at the center, everything else finds its place.