Luke 10:40-42 (HCSB)
But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So, tell her to give me a hand.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”
There is an often-overlooked form of spiritual warfare that many believers succumb to, not persecution, not crisis, not blatant assault, but something far more deceptive: spiritual numbness.
It doesn’t arrive as an obvious attack; rather, it creeps in through distraction, overcommitment, and non-stop doing. It’s a gradual dulling of the spirit that slowly drains sensitivity to God without ever realizing it. And ironically, the holiday season, promoted as a time of joy, togetherness, and “family first,” is one of the easiest seasons for the enemy to exploit. Not through things that are obviously harmful, but through everything else.
The calendar fills.
Expectations mount.
Obligations stack up.
Noise rises.
Tasks multiply.
There are parties to attend, meals to prepare, gifts to buy and wrap, places to travel, obligations to people you’d rather not see, and events to coordinate.
And before long, even the most faithful Christians find themselves weary, emotionally empty, and spiritually distant. Not because they deliberately turned away from God, but because, in the rush of activity, they stopped turning toward Him.
————————————-For Your Health ———————
The Danger of Spiritual Numbness
Scripture reminds us clearly: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10 KJV). To be still is not a suggestion—it is a command. God knows how easily our intentions drift and how quickly the demands of life can drown out His voice. He knows the truth: the enemy does not need to destroy you. Sometimes, he only needs to distract you. If he keeps your calendar overloaded, he can exhaust your spirit. If he fills your life with tasks and pressure, you will lose your peace. Not by force—but through fatigue.
The upcoming holiday season pulls at every part of our already-busy lives: family dynamics that have opposing traditions, work deadlines, financial obligations, school activities, and church events. Emotional memories that resurface may be less than happy. If you’ve lost a loved one earlier this year, the grief of the first Christmas without them may make doing all the tasks almost unbearable. It’s no surprise that somewhere between decorating, cooking, keeping up appearances, and juggling responsibilities, we lose sight of our daily fellowship with God.
Keep in mind, you cannot run on empty and give with a loving heart. When you are spiritually dry, you are more likely to be irritable, impatient, discouraged, and feel even farther from God. That is not failure—it is simply what happens when the noise of the world becomes louder than the voice of the Holy Spirit.
The signs of spiritual numbness can be subtle:
You stop noticing God’s presence in daily moments;
Prayers become rote and something you do only when you need something;
Scripture no longer stirs your spirit;
Worship music falls flat, and holiday songs are annoying;
Holiday “cheerfulness” seems fake and gets under your skin.
I write this not merely as an exhortation to you but as a confession from my own heart.
These last several months, I have been moving nonstop: traveling, speaking, recording podcasts, transitioning content distribution across new platforms, launching a new, daily America Out Loud/iHeart Radio program, coordinating video systems, reviewing edits, continuing to write substacks, and racing through back-to-back deadlines with little margin of time.
It has been good work - meaningful, purposeful, and aligned with my calling - but it has also been a lot. I write this as an encouragement to you – and a reminder to myself – to slow down. Get grounded. Do not let business get in the way of time with the Lord. Do not allow my work—even if it’s good work—to push out time for daily worship.
If you feel stretched thin, emotionally drained, or spiritually flat, you are not alone. This is not a condemnation but an invitation to reconnect with His presence and let the “stuff” go. No one needs another chatzky, sweater, or pair of socks. And with grocery costs sky-high this year, a huge spread of food isn’t necessary. We’re all trying to lose weight anyway?
______Dad: protector, mentor, teacher, supporter, provider, friend, legend, my hero. Built by God. Backed by truth. Raising lions. ————-
So, how do we guard our spirit in this season?
First, make time for stillness. Even five minutes of being intentionally quiet can reset the course of your entire day. Don’t underestimate the power of silence with God.
Second, protect your peace. Not every invitation needs to be answered with a yes. Some things are good, but not every good thing is good for your family, your schedule, or for maintaining your balance.
Third, stay in Scripture, even if only 10 minutes each day. A small dose of truth consistently applied keeps spiritual confusion and deception far away.
Fourth, speak to God throughout your day, not in formality but with honesty. Simple prayers like, “Lord, help me in this moment!” or “God, give me the right tone to speak,” or “Give me Your peace. I’m listening.” Keep your heart tethered to His presence.
Fifth, choose presence over perfection. Your home doesn’t need to look perfect. Your table doesn’t need to be curated like a magazine. Your calendar doesn’t need to be packed. What matters is whether your heart remains centered on Christ.
And finally, remember what this season truly celebrates - not consumerism, not performances, not social pressure, and not endless doing. Thanksgiving is to give thanks for all our blessings, big and small. Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus, God becoming flesh, for the sake of us all.
Maybe this is the year you give heirloom gifts. Give away something that created a memory and will be cherished generationally. Have a special picture or memento framed, handwrite the accompanying story, and tape it to the back of the frame. Give a special piece of jewelry to the person you would want to have it when you pass. Tell them the story about what makes it special and why you want them to have it. Or have a special giveaway: the whole family can pitch in and give blankets, clothing, or a bag of groceries to a family that’s struggling. These gifts are so much more meaningful than items given just for the sake of the holiday tradition of unwrapping boxes.
Today, and in the days ahead, I invite you to choose stillness when the world rushes. Choose presence over perfection. Choose to tend to your spirit rather than managing appearances. Invite everyone in your household to participate and practice this choice with you. And above all, choose Him—over everything else.
_________________________Guilt-Free Holiday Baking_________________________
Today’s Prayer
Lord, guard my heart and keep the busyness in my life from turning into spiritual numbness. Quiet the noise around me and awaken my spirit toward what the holidays are meant to be about. Help me to see You in every moment and choose You over what distracts and demands attention. Re-anchor me in Your presence this season. Amen.
As always Dr Tenpenny you take every day occurrences, mold them, breathe life into our consciousness, and guide us through replacing mundane thoughts with collective action of our Christian faith.
May I heed your message this morning, may I remember that Celebrating Jesus’ birth, and God’s gift of His son is the first step to lighting the lights of Christmas.
I love this! Great reminders! Thank you!