How to Have an Awesome Christmas Break

So...for our last NavNight last night I gave a little mini-talk on how to have a good Christmas break. It wasn't exegetical or anything...indeed I mentioned the Word only in passing. It was just some practical advice.

1. Have a plan

No one goes on Christmas break and says, "I hope I have a terrible time and accomplish nothing." Most people want to have a relaxing and productive break where they grow closer to God. Yes? What is the difference between desiring this and attaining it? A plan!

Some time before finals are over, carve out 2 hours and sit down and plan out your Christmas break. What do you want to do? How do you want to grow? I always make a list of personal goals (read some books, see some people, organize bookshelf) and spiritual goals (prayer, the Word, memorization).

2. Spend time in the Word everyday

Best way to have a bad break: disconnect from God. Even on Christmas day and New Year's, get into the Word. Try to spend more time in the Word than you normally would. If you normally spend 30 minutes with Jesus, try and get an hour.

3. Serve your family

View going home as an opportunity to serve your family. Do the dishes. Help your dad with a project. Clean up the family room. Try to spend some time every day serving.

4. Try to engage spiritually with your family

For some people this is easier with others. Some ways to do this:
--Ask your parents about their spiritual heritage
--Ask your parents their experience with God during college
--Do a quiet time with a sibling
--Share some things you've been learning with your parents

Asking questions and listening is the best way to do this!

5. Share the gospel with one person

A family member? An old friend? This is a great goal and can be an object of prayer over the course of your break.

6. Disconnect from technology

Nothing will hinder you more from accomplishing what you want to accomplish than excessive time on the internet, watching TV and movies, or glued to your phone! Don't complete disengage, and obviously sometimes TV and movies are involved in our family traditions. But try to limit the time you spend on these things and instead seek to engage with God and with your friends and family.

7. Make a list of New Year's Resolutions

I started this practice several years ago and have found it to be a great discipline. On New Year's Eve I take about four hours to think back over the year. I ask myself three questions:

--What did God teach me this year?
--What hindered my spiritual growth?
--What helped my spiritual growth?

Then I apply these questions to the future:

--What do I want God to do in my life next year?
--What will help that?
--What will hinder that?

From that I draw a list of New Year's Resolutions.

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There you have it. To these seven, I will mention one more which I wish I had said at the time...

8. Find someone to help you!

Share your plan with someone else and keep each other accountable!

No more fear

Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation
Who shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life
Of whom shall I be afraid?

Obs.

1. The Lord guides our path so that we may be led to a sure salvation.
2. The Lord secures this salvation from all external powers.

Doctrine:

In both the attaining and the securing of our salvation, we are led and empowered by the strong hand of God working in us by his Holy Spirit.

No external power can threaten our future because the Lord has secured it.

Application

1. You should not be held back from any act of obedience by fear.

2. All powers that inspire fear in us are counterfeits.

3. If God has called us to an action, he will guarantee our safety in the performance of it.

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Some few personal notes:

1. Here is what I wrote on my 28th birthday post:

Fear is the great enemy! Fear holds me back from so much, from so much depth of fellowship, so many moments of potential joy and pleasure! I look forward to the day when fear will be no more.

Sadly, it is still true.

2. I want to let this question address me, to buffet me, to strike me in the chest like a fist. Whom shall I fear? God is on his heavenly throne, how can I fear men?

3. Later in the Psalm, David says, "One thing I ask of the Lord, and this is what I seek/that I may dwell in the house of the Lord forever/And there behold your beauty." What causes us to fear? That we cannot say that "one thing" I seek. We say, I seek this, but I also seek other things, and those things must be secured by my own strength, and I prefer them to your presence.

4. I seek approval of man, success in what I do, the respect of those around me, a reputation for competence. I seek this insatiably. God has never guaranteed these things to me, and so I must find them in my own strength, and finding my own strength inadequate, I fear that which can deny me these things.

5. But one thing is all I need, his presence. I find it in obedience, in the Word, in prayer, in turning from the World and to his presence. One other place where I must seek it Paul writes about: I want to know Christ, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of sharing in his suffering. You will know Christ in entering fear.

6. But sometimes I feel so helpless, so paralyzed by it, so thrown about by my fear. I need help in conquering fear.