Preparing for the Holidays

The year-end holiday season is almost upon us! Schools will soon be closing for the year, and many offices and businesses usually enter a “lull period” in December. November and December are usually a time of year when families plan for a well-deserved vacation, whether overseas or even just spending a few days relaxing at home. In the midst of our preparations for the holidays, here are 3 things not to overlook.

#1 – Remember the Lord’s Day

And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:6-7)

In this age of AI, travel itineraries can be produced in a matter of seconds. But although AI tools are useful in helping us to select the best activities and eating places in an unfamiliar holiday location, we must still put in the effort to remember the Lord’s Day. We see in Acts 20 that Paul waited seven days in Troas, although he was “in haste to be at Jerusalem for the Day of Pentecost” (Acts 20:16). The reason for this was evidently so that he could come together (i.e. assemble) with the disciples to break bread (to partake the Lord’s Supper, a synecdoche representing the entirety of the worship practices).

As you are preparing for your holidays, why not do some research about congregations in the part of the world that you are traveling to? If you are unsure, feel free to consult the elders and preachers who may know that information, or be able to put you in touch with someone who does.

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. (Psalm 122:1)

#2 – Remember to Recharge

And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. (1 Kings 19:7)

It is very typical and completely understandable for a tourist to want to cram as many activities as possible into one’s vacation. After all, since one is already going to be paying a considerable sum of money for airfare and lodging, one must get the “biggest bang for the buck” as possible. However, by packing our holiday itinerary with many activities, we run the risk of getting so tired that we “need a holiday to recover from our holiday”! By overloading our holiday plans, we set ourselves up for frayed nerves, short fuses for our tempers, and burnout.

Remember that when Elijah was on the run from the wicked queen Jezebel, he travelled a great distance from Mount Carmel in the northwest of Israel all the way down south to Beersheba in Judah (1 Kings 19:1-3). As a result, he was so tired and exhausted to the point that he even wanted to die (1 Kings 19:4). Twice, Elijah lay down to rest, and twice, the angel of the LORD encouraged him to eat, “because the journey is too great for thee” (1 Kings 19:7). After he had recharged himself by resting and eating, Elijah was able to continue traveling for 40 days to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8).

As you are planning your vacation itinerary, remember to recharge. Set aside time in your day to just relax, have a bite, and rest. Importantly, we also want to recharge ourselves spiritually. Remember to recharge ourselves by setting aside time on our vacation days to reflect on a passage of Scripture and pray to God. Our Lord Jesus, even though He was God in the flesh, still made time to retreat into the wilderness and pray to God.

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12)

#3 – Remember to be Thankful

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Have you seen the stereotypical “ugly Singaporean” on vacation? This is someone who can be heard long before he is seen; who talks dismissively to service staff and complains about everything under the sun.  We should not act one way in Singapore and another way overseas – such would be hypocrisy.

Instead, can we remember to slow down and say “thank you” to everyone whom we meet? It may be the person who gives us directions in an unfamiliar location, or the service staff in the restaurant. It is likely to be someone we may never ever meet again in our lives – but we should still be thankful in everything, because it is God’s will (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

In addition, since many Singaporeans like to travel to scenic natural spots overseas, such as mountains, canyons, and beaches – as we are admiring the beautiful scenes around us, why not pause for a moment to reflect on how our God is so great, that He was able to make the entire universe and everything in it just by speaking? (Psalm 33:8-9) Why not pause and remember to give thanks to God, who is so much greater than we are, and yet has shown such great care and consideration to humanity by sending His Son to be the blood sacrifice for our sins?

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: (Psalm 8:3-6)

As we prepare for our year-end holidays, let us remember the Lord’s Day, remember to recharge, and remember to be thankful.