One of the most challenging things for me during the holiday season is being able to create margin to take time to reflect on what the Christmas season is all about.

There’s a word that for many conjures up a lot of misconceptions and that’s the word REPENT. That word might make you think of a street preacher shouting at people through a bullhorn. We might even think of repent as something we did the first time we trusted in Christ.

For the Christian, however, repentance is a daily and continual act. Repent means to change your mind. In the gospels, when Jesus told people to repent, he was telling them to change the way they thought about something. They may have had a wrong view about their sinfulness before God and need of a savior, or their misunderstanding about the kingdom of God.

We may need to repent when it comes to the Christmas season if we’re consumed with activities and running around in a hectic and frenzied pace. We might have a distorted view of Christmas and we may need to change our way of thinking, s-l-o-w down and remember what all of this is about.

You have my permission to say “NO” to some things during the holidays. Create that margin in your life so that you’re focused on Christ. It will change your life and you will grow in your love, admiration and affection for the One who gave Himself up for you.

This is a good day to practice repentance, change our minds about the Christmas season and reorient our ways after what it’s really all about — Jesus!