Stores and social media have already begun preparing us for Christmas. There’s decorations filling the Target dollar bins, Hallmark Christmas movies kick off this weekend and of course there are shopping ads galore. Even I have already begun sharing gift guides per reader requests. While shopping for gifts, listening to the Michael Bublé Pandora Christmas station on repeat and hanging our stockings by the chimney with care are all good and fun things, they’re not the real ways God desires for us to prepare for the greatest gift He’s given us….
Author Ann Voskamp writes:
“We’re ready for Christmas, not when we have all the gifts, but when we are ready for Christ—when we’re ready to give all of ourselves to Christ.”
So how do you prepare your heart with purpose and intentionality for the anticipated birth of the Prince of Peace? Here’s a few ideas…
Celebrate Advent
When you hear the word Advent does your mind go straight to the chocolate calendar with cardboard doors? Mine did up until a few years ago. Advent is actually the 4 weeks that lead up to Christmas. It’s intended to be a time of expectant waiting and an opportunity to ready our hearts for the entrance of Christ into the world. I’ve found that walking through an Advent Bible study is one of the best ways to help me do this by keeping me grounded in the Word and my heart and mind centered on who Jesus is and what His coming means for us. This year I’ve chosen Lifeway’s new study, Advent: The Weary World Rejoices and am excited to dive in in a few weeks. It’s a beautifully designed 5 session study ($10!) that’s intended to fuel your worship of Christ with a deeper understanding of Advent. I also love that it has weekly activities for adults, teens and kids and look forward to doing some of them with Lively. If this sounds like something you’re interested in, I’ll be starting December 1 and would love for you to join me!
Give & Serve
With family or friends, decide on something you can do together throughout Advent or the month of December to love your community. Lifeway’s Advent Study I mentioned above has lots of ideas for ways you can practically extend joy, hope, peace, and love to others during the holiday season. We are going to be using the Giving Manger this year as a catalyst for teaching Lively about giving and kindness. Another way to tangibly meet the needs of others is by shopping Compassion International’s Gift Catalog to buy necessary items for children who are living in poverty. This organization is near and dear to my heart and is doing incredible work in the name of Jesus.
Prepare Him Room
Being is more precious to Jesus than doing but it can be hard for me to live in light of this truth. I’m a Martha. I can easily get swept up into the busyness and all the preparations that need to be made and miss the most import thing of all… sitting at the feet of Jesus. You too? What if we entered into the Christmas season more restful and less stressful. Carving out time in our day to actually be with Jesus. Removing ourselves from the chaos. Putting down our phones in order to spend more time in prayer. Sitting in silence and solitude long enough to hear Him whisper His love and truth in our hearts. I recently listened to this podcast on “stop hurrying” where Jennie Allen and Pastor John Comer talk about God’s call for us to slow down and practical ways we can truly Sabbath. Definitely worth a listen when you get a chance.
Whether you put one of all of these ideas into practice this holiday season, take time to prepare your heart and draw yourself closer to Jesus. Let’s turn the eyes of our heart, child, family, friends, and neighbors to Jesus this Christmas. Will you join me?
Photography: Red Fly Studio
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