December exposes leaders.

Not because the month is magical, but because it forces you to confront the truth about how you’ve stewarded your year. Most pastors and ministry leaders drift into December emotionally exhausted, spiritually depleted, and mentally unfocused—yet still hoping God will “do something powerful” for Christmas.

But hope is not a leadership strategy.

I want to speak directly to you today—not as Pastor James Fadel, not as a leadership coach, but as a fellow servant who has watched too many leaders finish the year weaker than they started because they refused to confront the gap between intention and execution.

And if you feel that sting, good. That means this message is for you.

1. December Is the Month That Reveals Your Leadership Habits

John Maxwell teaches, “You don’t rise to the level of your goals—you fall to the level of your systems.”
And December exposes your systems.

If your ministry grew only when things were “easy,” December will reveal it. If your spiritual life only thrived when everything felt comfortable, December will expose it. If your leadership stayed strong only when momentum was high, December will reveal the cracks.

According to Barna Research, 38% of pastors report being “seriously fatigued” by year’s end, and a significant percentage admit that December is their most emotionally challenging month.

Why?
Because pressure exposes habits.

You cannot drift into December and expect divine clarity. You cannot coast through the most spiritually pregnant month of the year and expect supernatural results.

Leaders who walk in purpose treat December differently.

2. Christmas Isn’t Just a Celebration—It’s a Leadership Reminder

Whether you pastor a church, lead a ministry team, or run a Christian business, December is not merely a holiday. It is a leadership masterclass delivered through the birth of Christ.

Luke 2 reminds us that heaven did not wait for convenience or perfect conditions. Jesus came in the fullness of time, even when the world was politically hostile, spiritually dark, and economically unstable.

That means something for you as a leader:

Stop waiting for perfect conditions to act.
Stop waiting for your ministry to finally “settle down.”
Stop waiting for the right budget, the right volunteer, the right season.

The birth of Christ proves that purpose moves even when conditions are unfavorable.

And if God could send His Son into the world under pressure, what excuse do you have for not stepping into the fullness of your assignment this month?

3. You Cannot Lead a Congregation If You Cannot Lead Yourself

Let me speak plainly.

This December, your biggest enemy is not the devil.
It is drift.
It is distraction.
It is exhaustion dressed as “faithfulness.”

Christmas services will not create spiritual momentum for you. Holiday events will not heal burnout. Festive gatherings will not restore lost vision.

Leadership requires confrontation—and the first person you must confront every December is yourself.

Ask yourself the hard questions:

• “What did I avoid this year because it demanded discipline?”

• “Where did I settle for activity instead of impact?”

• “Where did I confuse busyness with fruitfulness?”

• “What excuses did I baptize with spiritual language?”

Harvard Business Review reports that the most effective leaders are those who build “self-regulatory disciplines” that hold them accountable. Even Jesus withdrew often to pray, reset, and hear the Father clearly (Luke 5:16).

If the Son of God practiced intentional self-leadership, why do you think you can lead your ministry without it?

4. Your Ministry Will Not Transform Until You Do

Here’s the truth I’ve learned over the years:

People rarely rise above the level of their leader’s spiritual clarity.

A drifting pastor creates a drifting congregation.
A distracted leader builds a distracted team.
An unfocused entrepreneur creates an unfocused organization.

This is why transformational leadership must begin in December.
This is why God is confronting you now.
This is why I—Pastor James Fadel—refuse to let you escape this month without taking ownership of your growth.

I want you to finish this year spiritually sharper than you started.
Not because December demands excellence—but because your calling does.

Forbes once noted that great leaders “initiate change before crisis forces it.”
Christmas is not a crisis; it is your invitation.

5. December Is Your Strategic Reset: Use It or Lose It

You need a December rhythm—a leadership reset—built around five anchors:

A. Reflection

Identify what worked, what didn’t, and why it matters.

B. Repentance

Not the emotional kind—the leadership kind.
Turn away from ineffective patterns.

C. Renewal

Rebuild your spiritual fire through prayer, fasting, and solitude.

D. Recalibration

Set a clear vision for 2026—not based on fear, but faith.

E. Recommitment

Your calling is too important to approach casually.

This is the pattern I’ve taught for years. This is the process James Fadel himself uses when preparing for a new year of ministry leadership and impact. This is the blueprint every pastor, ministry leader, and Christian entrepreneur must implement.

What God Wants From You This December

Romans 12:11 says, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor.”
That’s not a suggestion. It is a command.

Christmas is the celebration of God’s commitment to His purpose.

Your leadership this December must reflect the same commitment.

You cannot drag old habits into a new year and expect supernatural breakthrough.
You cannot lead God’s people effectively if you’re spiritually idle.
You cannot preach expectation and live in stagnation.

Purpose demands movement.
Leadership demands clarity.
December demands intention.

CALL TO ACTION: Step Into December With Conviction

Don’t drift through this month.
Don’t preach hope while living in hesitation.
Don’t lead others into celebration while you quietly carry frustration.

Here is your leadership challenge:

Spend one hour this week in uninterrupted reflection and ask God:
“What is the one thing You need me to surrender, strengthen, or start before this year ends?”

Then obey quickly.

This is how leaders transform.
This is how ministries grow.
This is how Christian entrepreneurs rise.
This is how you enter 2026 with power.

And this is how Pastor James Fadel challenges you to finish the year—focused, aligned, and ready to lead with excellence.