HEY SISTER, The season of savoring is upon us. As I bask in the comfort of the glowing, dancing embers of an inviting fire in our hearth, as I imagine the twinkling lights donning the Christmas tree, and as I breathe in the scent of spices wafting from a cup of hot apple cider, my heart warms with gratitude. There’s something different about the Christmas season that causes us to pause and be present, to bring out the best plates for guests, and to bake extra goodies for family and friends. All of these things, though wonderful in themselves, are merely a hazy reflection of the greater reason for savoring this season. The sweetness of our Savior beckons us to slow down and remember his life on earth. There would be no Christmas without Christ. There would be no enjoyment without the gift of his grace (see 1 Timothy 6:17). He’s the Creator of this world and the Giver of the senses that help us delight in it. True Christ-centered savoring is rooted in knowing, seeking, and praising him, and this overflows into every aspect of life. As you strike a match to light an evergreen-scented candle, plug in the lights strung down your front porch, or stir a batch of spicy ginger cookies, seek to savor Christ in it all. November and December can become overloaded and busy if we are not careful. I’ve spent far too many Christmas seasons hurrying and scurrying from one thing to the next, completely missing purposeful time spent celebrating Christ. Begin this season putting Jesus first, and keep him there. As you work, shop, fellowship, decorate, and bake, here are three methods to help you savor your Savior:
First, rehearse the true reason for Christmas as you go about shopping for meaningful gifts or attending holiday get-togethers. The gift-giving and receiving, the decorating and creating, the laughter and celebrating—these are all gifts from our Father made possible through our Savior (James 1:17). Jesus’ birth, the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a Messiah to rescue his people from sin, is the reason we pause to celebrate. Rehearse the reason for this Christmas season often.
Next, remember what he has done and feel the weight of longing and anticipation for his return (see 1 Corinthians 1:7; Romans 8:23; 1 Thessalonians 1:10). We are a forgetful people, and it takes discipline to remember God’s faithfulness, knowing he will also be faithful tomorrow. Remember what he has done, but also remember his present promises of provision, sustaining grace, and future hope.
Finally, rediscover the joy of seeing him in all things. The apostle Paul describes Christ as Creator of all things and the one who holds all things together (Colossians 1:16–17). Creation reflects his glory and splendor, pointing us to who he is. Let the candles you light be a reminder that he is the Light of the world (John 8:12)! Let the bread you bake fill your senses with the truth that he is the Bread of life (John 6:35). Let the gentle snowfall be a visible reminder that his spotless blood has cleansed your soul (Isaiah 1:18). Look to Christ in the Word, and then look for him in the world, seeing and savoring him right where you are. This Christmas can be different. Let this December mark a turning point in your life as you savor the Savior, Jesus Christ, and exalt his name above every other name.
SAVORING C HRIST THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON,
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SETTING ASIDE TIME
to savor
Christmas is a season when everyone is telling us to slow down, but all of life seems to speed up. Although this season may look different this year, as the days grow shorter our list of activities will still likely grow longer: extra church, family and friend gatherings, decorating and baking, buying and wrapping seem to fill up every extra moment until each day is bursting with to-dos. Then we're told to slow down—to savor—and we're tempted just to laugh it off as impossible.
Sister, it may not be easy to set aside time to savor your Savior, but it is both possible and essential to your experience this Christmas season. This isn't about checking off our good Christian woman to-do lists, it's about choosing a few opportunities each day to reorient our minds around God so we can walk in relationship with our Savior.
One concrete way to savor our Savior is to make a practice of meditating on Scripture. According to Robert J. Morgan, “Biblical meditation is the powerful practice of pondering, personalizing and practicing Scripture.” To meditate on Scripture is to hammer truth into your heart, soul, and mind.
Set aside 5–10 minutes when you can be alone without any distractions. Read through the verse or passage you will be meditating on. Think through the text word by word, praising God for who he is and praying for the grace to believe and live out this truth. Youʼll notice that as you set aside time to meditate on the truth of Scripture, youʼll have various thoughts come to mind (to-dos, worries, etc.). Turn these thoughts into prayers of surrender and petition and then bring your mind back to the verse you are meditating on. Dwelling in Godʼs Word in this manner will calm your soul as you spend time delighting in the promises of God all made yes in Christ.
You can incorporate Scripture meditation into your daily life during this busy season by choosing one of these methods:
Tie it to another activity: This could be time in the car, showering, walking the dog, brushing your teeth, or eating breakfast or lunch. Set a daily alarm: Use your phone to remind you mid-day, whether it's lunch time or an afternoon break, or when your kids go down for a nap or watch a TV show. In bed each night: Wouldn't it be sweet to spend time savoring your Savior before you go to sleep at night? Cast your cares on God in prayer, then meditate on a Scripture that reminds you of the Gospel and go to bed with your mind at peace and steadfast on the promises of God (Isaiah 26:3).
This is far from an exhaustive list. Use some of your God-given creativity to come up with a plan to make savoring your Savior part of your daily life this season.
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SAVORING Christ in the SEASON’S SYMBOLS
E V E R G R E E N S : In the barren landscape of winter, evergreens continue thriving. Their fragrance is sharp and fresh and their branches full, even on the darkest and coldest days. Followers of Jesus have an evergreen hope: that we are no longer dead in our sin, but alive in our Savior forever. “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” –Colossians 2:6–7
C H R I S T M A S L I G H T S & C A N D L E S : Twinkling lights and flickering flames offer special comfort in the darkness of winter. The Gospel of John describes Jesus as the “true light, which gives light to everyone.” The world feels dark despite the brightness of the season, but Jesus has defeated the darkness to bring light to our souls no matter our circumstances. “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” –John 8:12
S N O W : When everything is blanketed by a fresh snowfall, the effect is dazzling. Everywhere you look, all is clean and bright. God offers the ultimate snow-white cleansing to his people in the Gospel. Through the death and resurrection of Christ, we are covered completely in his perfect righteousness. “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” –Isaiah 1:18
G A T H E R I N G T O G E T H E R : Togetherness at Christmastime can be sweet and joyful, but is tainted by the bitter effects of sin and brokenness. In Christ, we are reconciled to God and empowered by his Spirit to love and serve others no matter how they act toward us. While we may experience the sting of rejection from family or friends this Christmas, Christ came to welcome us into the family of God and offer a permanent seat to feast at his heavenly table. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” –1 John 1:7 Giving Gifts: Selecting, wrapping, and giving gifts to loved ones reflects our Heavenly Father, the Great Gift-Giver. He knows how to give good gifts to his children, and he already purchased the best gift for us: redemption by the sinless blood of his only Son and the precious free gift of his grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” –Ephesians 2:8
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savoring Christ through serving Acts of service have been my love language for as long as I can remember. I am grateful for your kind words, but if you jump in and help me with a task or go out of your way to serve me, I feel so loved I could burst. I’ve always found it easy to give and receive love in this way. But I’ve
come to realize that serving
others is about more than just making someone smile. It is actually an opportunity to savor Christ. Christ is our perfect example of servanthood. He showed us how to put others first when he was tired, how to set personal preference aside when he needed alone time, how to choose holiness over fleshly desires when he was hungry, and ultimately how to lay down his very life—to the point of death.
Matthew 20:28 reminds us that “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Christ willingly walked to a death he did not deserve for sins he did not commit. He did not come to be served, but to serve throughout his life—day in and day out. When we set our preferences aside and serve a friend or family member, we can remember the Savior who served us in his life, death, and resurrection. This feels extremely timely as we approach Christmas. Giving gifts and celebrating Christmas in the traditional way may feel out of place or even impossible in the unexpected circumstances of 2020. What if we decided to give the gift of service to those around us this year instead of focusing on presents? If we are in Christ, God has given us spiritual gifts that are best utilized when we serve one another (1 Peter 4:10). This is how we show the grace of God to the people around us, and in doing so, we savor the grace we’ve been given. If you’re wondering where to begin this Christmas, look no further than Christ. “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5–6). Laying aside our own desires and preferences allows us to look more like Christ. This is one of the sweetest gifts you can give your people this Christmas. Show up for them. Listen well—not just with plans for what you will say next, but with an attitude that longs to make them feel seen and heard. By having the mind of Christ, we also receive the joy of walking in step with his Spirit (Philipians 2:2). This Christmas, savor the sweet service of Christ by serving those around you with the love, kindness, and grace of Jesus.
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ES THER: THE FIN GERPRINT S OF GOD | 6 WEEKS REDEFINED: DEFININ G IDENTIT Y THROUGH THE MIRROR OF GOD’S WORD | 6 WEEKS FLOURISH: DIGGIN G INTO THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT | 8 WEEKS
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We pray this Christmas season offers a chance to slow down, meet with the Lord, and be near to the people you love – whether in person or through the helpful use of technology. While 2020 may have looked different than we hoped, we know our true hope lies in Christ. This doesnʼt mean we forget the hardships and trials of 2020. It simply means we choose to place our joy, hope, and faith in the only One who cannot be shaken, rather than looking to our circumstances.
This is the heart behind the ministry of Well-Watered Women. We want to equip you to be rooted deeply in Godʼs Word. And holding on to hope in Christ begins when we meet with him consistently through time in Scripture, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. Each year we enjoy compiling these gift guides as a means of encouraging you to give gifts that will also point others back to Jesus.
Letʼs be intentional to stop and savor the Savior this Advent season. Donʼt let the distraction of gifts, functions, or any other activity keep you from focusing on the main thing: Jesus Christ. He is the greatest gift we could ever receive. Keep him as the center of your thoughts, words, and actions as 2020 draws to a close. May we be women who know how to savor our Savior with each passing day, loving others well as we find our hope and joy in Christ alone.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, the well-watered team