A Christ-Centered Holiday Survival Guide: Setting Your Mind on What Brings Life and Peace

“Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in Him.” (Psalm 111:2, ESV)

Sister, we have found ourselves right in the middle of the holiday season. There is so much to be done. Memories to make. Relatives to host or visit. Plans to follow through on. And for some, this season feels quieter. Lonelier. Less full than you hoped it would be.

Wherever this season finds you, this Holiday Survival Guide is for you.

When the Holiday Pressure Builds

This time of year, I get to the end of myself rather quickly. When expectations go unmet or exhaustion grows, I let myself down with my thoughts, words, or actions.

“Why did I just say that?”
“Ugh, I shouldn’t have snapped like that.”

We have all been there.

It can be so easy to berate ourselves, but Scripture offers us another way.

Taking Every Thought Captive: What Paul Actually Meant

In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul tells us to take every thought captive. This command was written in the context of spiritual warfare and resisting anything that opposes the knowledge of God. But practically, it can feel hard to know what this looks like in everyday life, especially during the swirl of the holidays.

Psalm 111 gives us a picture of how to begin.

It opens with gratitude and praise to God and continues, “Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in Him” (Psalm 111:2, ESV). The Hebrew meaning behind “studied” includes the ideas of seeking and frequenting a place. It implies intentional, repeated attention. Those who love God frequently think about His great works.

This is one way we take thoughts captive: by replacing self-criticism with remembrance of who God is and what He has done.

When Paul’s Struggle Feels Like Yours

Paul gives language for the inner conflict we feel during stressful seasons. In Romans 7:15 he writes, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” He goes on to say that he has the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

This honesty resonates deeply during the holidays when pressure magnifies our weaknesses.

But Paul does not leave us in Romans 7. His hope is in Romans 8.

He recounts the beauty of the Gospel and what Jesus has done for us, and then he writes, “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6, ESV).

The path forward is not in trying harder. The path forward is in shifting our minds and hearts toward the Spirit who gives life and peace.

A Three-Step Gospel-Saturated Way to Navigate the Holidays

So how do we survive this season and break the cycle of shame that often comes with it?

1. Acknowledge our own brokenness and inability to save ourselves

Romans 7:15 shows us that even the apostle Paul battled the pull of the flesh. Admitting our weakness is not failure. It is the starting point of grace.

2. Remind ourselves of the great work God has done for us through Jesus

Psalm 111:2 calls us to study and delight in the works of the Lord. Romans 8:1–4 assures us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because He fulfilled what we could not.

3. Set our minds on Him and keep moving forward

Romans 8:6 promises that setting the mind on the Spirit leads to life and peace. Hebrews 12:2 calls us to look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.

This is not about perfection. It is about direction. Not striving, but surrender. Not shame, but grace.

More Than Surviving the Holidays

Let’s not just survive the holidays. Let’s set our eyes on the One who came to set us free.

Christ is our peace.
Christ is our strength.
Christ is our rest.
Christ is our hope.

And He is with you in every moment of this season.

Meet the Author
Kira Echeandia

Kira lives in sunny Florida, where she works as a marketing professional by day and delights in spending her free time with her energetic pup, reading, and enjoying the company of friends and family. She also loves watching (and quoting) early 2000s movies, a favorite pastime that always brings laughter and warm feels. 

Her heart is to point people to the truth that our truest belonging is found in the family of God through Jesus Christ. For Kira, writing is more than a hobby, it is a way to share the hope, joy, and love she has found in Jesus. She is grateful for the opportunity to use her words to encourage others through Daughter of Delight.

Connect with here on Instagram here.