This time of year is often understandably busy. We work to balance our everyday responsibilities with those that come with the holidays. If you are like me, then there can be equal parts excitement and dread of the days to come.

Doesn’t it seem like there is just one thing after another? It can feel overwhelming, almost like you are being stretched too thin. Perhaps all you want to do is curl up by a fire and enjoy the gently falling snow, but your schedule will not allow it.

Things may begin to fall through the cracks due to this exhaustion. You may find that you don’t even have enough time to clean like you did before the holidays. And suddenly, you may not even have time to spend in prayer as you did before.

We cannot allow this time of year to distract us from Jesus- the real reason for this season. He is calling us to spend more time with Him, not less.

So, how do we balance that with everything else that we have going on?

Here is a simple, yet profound answer: set boundaries.

Putting boundaries in place can be one of the hardest things that we do during the holidays. We want to spend all the time we have soaking in the festivities. However, we cannot let that come between us and God. If we do, then suddenly the holiday season has become an idol.

Setting up boundaries can keep us from making an idol of a season. They can be something as simple as saying “I would love to go, but I may be late,” if the event overlaps with your prayer time. Or simply saying “That sounds like fun, but can we try doing it at another time? I have something on the schedule already.”

Time with God should be written in permanent marker on your calendar, not dry erase marker. Keep God at the center of your life, even through this busy season. There are blessings that come when you remain faithful to God no matter what.