Donald S. Whitney, professor of Biblical Spirituality and Associate Dean of the School of Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, posed 10 great questions we can ask ourselves as we prepare to exit one year and walk into another.

I suggest you answer the following questions and share your responses with your spouse or family or a good friend or someone in your small group or Bible study. Then ask them to pray for the implementation of your responses in a way that honors the Lord and blesses others around you.

Pastor Chuck Swindoll made the following observation about our culture: “Mediocrity is fast becoming the by-word of our times. Every imaginable excuse is now used to make it acceptable, hopefully preferred.” Those words were penned in 1987 and are as relevant today as they have ever been.

What has happened to our commitment to excellence? Is the status quo now the new acceptable standard? Is the small stuff nothing really to sweat about? Are we now willing to swim with the current and float downstream? Is it okay to just get by with a half-hearted commitment?

According to a legend, Satan and his demons were having a Christmas party. As the demonic guests were departing, one grinned and said to Satan, “Merry Christmas, your majesty.” At that, Satan replied with a growl, “Yes, keep it merry. If they ever get serious about it, we’ll all be in trouble.”

The word “merry” is not necessarily antithetical to being serious about the real message of Christmas.

I read an article this week by Pastor Al Gooderham in Doncaster, England. In it he said “Every Christmas party, every overindulgence, every gift, every exorbitant preparation is a sign of a desperate search for joy. It is a sign of longing for significance and a desire to bring joy to others or to find joy for themselves where they can because life is in short supply of it.”

Christmas has always been a season of joy whether it’s captured in the lights, decorations, gatherings, gifts, food, drinks, parties, or songs. We often hear the words, “Merry Christmas,” or “Happy Holidays,” along with all the songs “'tis the season to be jolly,” “have yourself a merry little Christmas,” or “joy to the world,” among many others.