Staying Healthy During the Holidays

Staying healthy during the holidays can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be impossible to avoid toxic relationships, overeating, and overspending.

I wonder if you’re like me too. Maybe you struggle scrolling through Facebook during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Maybe the loneliness isn’t just about the weather change, dealing with anxiety or depression — but feeling like you are missing out.

I remember when I was single. I struggled being the only single in a room full of couples through the holidays. Now that I’m married without children, I find myself with the same sting of loneliness in being the only couple without kids.

When will enough be enough?

Avoiding Toxic Relationships

Whatever causes your relationships to be toxic, they don’t have to define you this holiday season.
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An encouraging verse to hang on to this holiday season says:

A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense (Proverbs 19:11, NIV).

I love this verse because it explains why every battle is not worth fighting over. Maybe it’s your kids, your in laws, or even your own family. No matter who is testing your patience — remember the reason why we celebrate (Jesus)!

I read another encouraging word from Lance Wallnau on Facebook that I wanted to share about avoiding toxic relationships. He writes:

The opposite of praising is “stuffing.” This is the art of shoving the pain and hurt into a deep pocket that never gets sanitized by thanksgiving and begins to leak like a corrosive emotional battery. Much physical infirmity and sickness comes this way. But you can beat the infirmity entirely by forgiving quickly and putting yourself under an umbrella of divine intervention by being thankful “in” the situation even when you don’t feel happy “for” the situation. If God is for you, everything the enemy throws at you will be converted to strength and advancement in the purpose of God for your life!

Enjoy the holiday stuffing, and avoid the emotional stuffing.

Avoiding Overeating

We must pray about our weight instead of assuming going for a run will solve everything.
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I wrote those words and more on my blog back in July, and have been struggling to live them ever since.

You see, God told me that size doesn’t matter.

And if you think about it, it doesn’t. Even when you do lose the weight and feel better about yourself, what changed?

Your thoughts.
Your emotions.

An encouraging verse to hang on to this holiday season says:

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23, NIV).

When we change our thoughts to line up with God, we win. We lose the negativity and all the toxins that plague us.

We must attack the lies that keep us in bondage. Questions like, “Am I eating too much?” “Am I too depressed to eat” or “No one will ever love me if I am a certain size.” Those are all questions we must pray about if we are to demolish the lies.

When our thoughts and emotions come under the rule and reign of Jesus Christ, we are set free from bondage (2 Corinthians 5:10)!

Avoiding Overspending

Don’t let blessing others through gift giving become a burden this Christmas season.
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My heart is burdened for those struggling financially this holiday season. The pressure to give more than you can afford is a real nightmare before Christmas — if you know what I mean.

The gifts that impact me the most are the ones most heartfelt or that I others made personally. I’ve noticed that the more “stuff” I accumulate — the more unhappy I become. Filling a void with material possessions can only last for so long. When I find myself trying to shove my loneliness with yet another shopping spree, more clothes, or spending money on things that don’t mean anything — I know it’s time to confess my sins before God, while allowing Him to search my heart (no matter how painful).

Two encouraging verses to hang on to this holiday season are:

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5, NIV).

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-29, NIV).

God knows your burdens and your bank accounts, and stands ready to help! He will not leave you or forsake you. I love that the help He offers is strong enough to save our souls.