John 1:29, "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'" 1 Peter 5:7, "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."

Think

Can you believe Christmas is 10 days away? If we found ourselves in "The 12 Days of Christmas," we would have three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree! You may not have any of those, but there is one thing most of us have this time of year: stress. Even if it's "light" pressure, we can all relate to the elevated anxiety this season can bring. Our concerns are as varied as our circumstances and range from, "I hope my family likes the gifts I bought this Christmas" to "I hope my family member lives to see this Christmas." But in the midst of all the stress this season brings, God reminds us that he is truly in control. Think about it. This is when we celebrate the God of the universe breaking all boundaries and delivering his son, Jesus, to the earth to save us from our sin! So as you begin to feel the anxiety creeping in this week, remember that God moved heaven and earth to provide the ultimate stress relief, which is salvation through our Savior.

Act

We love lists. Make a to-do list of the things you need to hand over to God this week. List out those things that are causing you stress. Don't worry about how "trivial" it may be, write it all down. Then, mark through each one as you pray the following prayer...

Pray

Lord, I'm facing pressure this time of year. That's no secret to you. But right now, I ask that you help me gain the right perspective and see how you are truly in control. I ask that you relieve my stress and help me focus on my Savior! Amen.