Navigating the Holidays with Integrity

“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”— Proverbs 4:25–27 (ESV)

Every December, I notice two very different moods in people. Some seem genuinely peaceful—joyful even—as they move through the holiday season. Others look worn down, anxious, or just ready for it all to be over. If we’re honest, most of us experience both moods at some point during the holidays (and probably a lot of moods in between!).

This season has a unique way of stirring up our humanity. The same time of year that celebrates the birth of Jesus also exposes how much we still need Him. The holidays test our patience, reveal lingering wounds, and sometimes tempt us to escape through busyness, indulgence, or old patterns.

In a world filled with distractions and emotional triggers, how do we keep our integrity intact? How do we move through Christmas with hearts that are honest, grounded, and full of grace rather than guilt or pretense?

Proverbs 4:25–27 gives us a powerful roadmap. The writer paints a vivid picture of a traveler—eyes looking forward, feet sure on the path, careful not to swerve. It’s a passage about direction, but more deeply, it’s about integrity.

Integrity is about wholeness—living an undivided life where your faith and actions align.

During the holidays, when emotional pressure is high and temptations come easy, integrity becomes your compass. It keeps you walking straight even when the path feels cluttered.

1. Integrity Begins with Focus

“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.”

The first key to integrity is focus. Where you look determines where you’ll go. We state this in the maxim "Feet Follow Focus." The holidays throw a thousand shiny things in front of us—sales, events, expectations, gifts, and traditions. None of these are bad on their own, but they easily steal our focus if we’re not careful.

If our eyes are on appearances, perfection, or what others think, we’ll drift into comparison or performance. But if our eyes stay fixed on Christ—on why we’re celebrating in the first place—we find peace and direction.

I’ve learned over the years that when Jesus is my focus, my choices align more easily with truth. Integrity thrives when my attention is anchored to Him rather than the noise around me.

Try this: At the start of each day this holiday season, take two minutes to simply refocus your gaze. Breathe, pray, and remind yourself: “Today I walk with Jesus.” You’ll be amazed at how that small act protects your integrity throughout the day.

2. Integrity Requires Discernment

“Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.”

The second key is discernment—the ability to pause and evaluate before we act. “Ponder” is an old word that means to weigh carefully.

During the holidays, life accelerates. We overcommit. We rush. And in that rush, we stop thinking deeply. Integrity suffers not because we intend to compromise, but because we fail to notice where we’re headed.

I often tell people in recovery that integrity is not perfection; it’s awareness plus direction. Even when we drift, God gives us the grace to stop, notice, and realign. That’s discernment in action—taking a moment before sending that harsh text, before making another commitment, before opening that browser or bottle.

Ask yourself: “Is this action drawing me toward Christ or away from Him?” That one question has saved me from a lot of regret.

Slow down enough to ponder your path. When you do, your steps become more sure, your peace more steady, and your witness more genuine.

3. Integrity Protects from Compromise

“Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”

We live in a world of constant drift. The enemy rarely tempts us with big, obvious evil; more often it’s the small detour that leads us astray.

Maybe you promised to keep margin in your schedule but keep saying “yes” to everything. Maybe you resolved to stay present with family but keep checking your phone. Maybe you told yourself you’d avoid certain unhealthy patterns but justified “just one more time.”

Integrity doesn’t mean we never wobble, but it does mean we notice when we do—and we correct course quickly.

Proverbs says to “turn your foot away from evil,” which implies movement. As soon as you realize you’re veering off track, take that turn back toward truth.

The holidays amplify temptation because they expose our desires—for belonging, approval, comfort, or control. The way to guard integrity isn’t through willpower alone; it’s through humility and dependence on the Holy Spirit. When we walk with Him, He alerts us early when compromise is creeping in.

4. Integrity Shines as a Witness

Integrity isn’t just for your benefit; it’s also your witness to others. The way you walk through the holidays tells a story.

When your family sees peace instead of panic, honesty instead of image management, and self-control instead of excess—that’s powerful. That’s the light of Christ cutting through the noise of the season.

Decades ago, I spent a Christmas season in a pretty broken place: separated from my wife because of my sexual sin. My emotions were thin, my patience was gone, and I was spiritually tired. But I told God, “I want to be honest with You and others through this.” That prayer became a turning point.

I didn’t have to fake happiness; I needed to walk in truth. And when I did, others noticed—not because I was perfect, but because I was real. That’s integrity: being the same person in private and public, the same person at church and at home.

You might be the only reflection of Christ someone sees at the family table this year. Let your integrity tell the truth about who Jesus is.

5. Integrity Is the Path of Peace

Here’s the gift hidden in this passage from Proverbs: when you live with integrity, you live with peace.

The writer says, “Then all your ways will be sure.” When your steps are aligned with truth, you don’t have to keep looking over your shoulder. You’re not juggling lies, hiding habits, or pretending to be fine. You’re just walking—straightforward, open-hearted, and free.

Imagine finishing this holiday season not drained but at peace. That’s possible when you walk in integrity. It’s not about doing everything right; it’s about staying honest, centered, and connected to God’s voice.

Integrity isn’t a holiday performance; it’s a daily practice. Each decision—what you say, how you respond, what you choose to dwell on—either strengthens or weakens that practice. The good news is that God is patient, full of grace, and ready to steady your steps whenever you stumble.

A Prayer for the Season

Lord, in a world of noise and distraction, help my eyes stay fixed on You.Teach me to ponder my path and to recognize when I’m drifting. Give me discernment to choose truth over temptation, grace over pride, honesty over image. May my life this holiday reflect Your peace and integrity so others might see You through me. Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. What tends to steal your focus during the holidays, and how can you redirect your gaze to Christ?

2. How might slowing down help you make more discerning choices this season?

3. What small compromises do you need to guard against right now?

4. Who in your life could be encouraged by seeing your integrity in action?

5. What’s one practical step you can take today to walk in greater wholeness and peace?

Integrity doesn’t make the holidays easier, but it does make them meaningful. Keep your eyes forward, your steps intentional, and your heart surrendered to Christ. Walk this season not to impress others, but to honor the One who came to make us whole.