By Justin Pratt, Clear Springs Baptist Church Senior Pastor
If you are like me, you are not particularly fond of the days between Christmas and New Year’s. The decorations remain, the songs still echo faintly, but the urgency, excitement, and expectation seem to have passed. It’s like the celebration is over, and the future is now waiting to begin. We find ourselves in a sacred in-between, after the miracle, before the movement. The Bible reminds us that God often does some of His most important work in moments just like this.
Christmas announces that Christ has come. Heaven tore open, angels sang, hope took on flesh. But when the shepherds returned to their fields, and the wise men went home by another road, life did not pause. Mary pondered. Joseph obeyed. The child sent from God began to grow. The world remained broken, yet forever changed. This quiet stretch of days invites us to do the same: to slow down, to reflect, and to consider, on a personal level, what it truly means to each of us that the King has arrived. A time that we recommit to our calling. We pledge our loyalty to the Word of God and His will. We commit to a year of obedience.
However, before we rush into resolutions, goals, and plans for a new year, let’s use this pause to ask a deeper question: now that we have welcomed Christ, what will we do with Him? Not just in our celebrations, but in our ordinary days. Not just in our beliefs, but in our allegiance. The lull between Christmas and New Year’s is not wasted time; it is an invitation to surrender, to listen, and to prepare our hearts for faithful obedience in the year ahead.
First, we should reflect on what ruled our hearts this year. This is an excellent time for examination. Now that the noise has quieted, it becomes easier to see what actually governed our decisions: fear or faith, comfort or conviction, personal ambition or godly obedience. Acknowledge where lesser things have been allowed to rule our hearts and ask God where realignment is needed.
Second, recommit to carrying Christ into the ordinary days. It’s easy to honor Jesus in a manger or at a candlelight service; it’s far more critical to incorporate Him into our daily routines. Sometimes it’s important to remember that most faithfulness happens outside of extravagant or holy moments. Committing to Christ in the coming year means deciding now that He will be Lord of the ordinary part of our lives; our work, our homes, our speech, and our own private choices.
Thirdly, please reconsider the things you may be chasing. This pause between the holidays exposes how quickly we measure life by progress, productivity, and applause from others. Are the things we are pursuing actually leading us closer to Jesus or keeping us too busy? We all need to do some self-reflection and recommit to the things that bear eternal fruit, not just temporal satisfaction.
Lastly, remember that hope and peace are not tied to a calendar. The turning of a new year often brings pressure to believe that change comes with a new date. We should use the stillness of this in-between to renew our belief that transformation is rooted in Christ’s presence and not in perfect timing or fresh starts. Our commitment needs to anchor our hope in who Jesus is, not in what the next year might bring.
As we move through these quiet days between Christmas and New Year’s, may you not allow the lull to bring discouragement or a depressing sense of melancholy. Instead, let it draw you closer to the Lord, deepen your trust, and prepare your heart for a fresh start. Thank you for walking this journey of faith together, and may your new year be filled with hope, joy, and the abiding presence of Christ. Happy New Year!
