Christmas is a time when we celebrate the birth of our Savior…God bursting onto the scene in the flesh. Yet our preparations often focus on presents, decorations, parties, and food. We get stressed out about how many presents the kids are getting, which family members or co-workers we should buy things for, and how we are going to pay for it all. We worry that things will be “just right,” because after all, the pieces have to fall in place or Christmas just won’t be Christmas.
That’s a recipe for disaster.
Building up our expectations of Christmas around the preparation of our homes and material gifts is the fast track to disappointment, resentment, worry, and spiritual dryness.
Many of us are not prepared for God’s arrival. We are not prepared for the transformational work that God wants to do. We are not prepared for the miracles that He intends to display in our life. This was true over 2000 years ago. The religious establishment did not have room for Jesus and I wonder how much that has changed or stayed the same?
Part of the purpose behind the Advent season is to create the space to prepare. Why? Because God loves you. He loves you so incredibly much that He doesn’t want you to miss out on a single thing that He has prepared for you. He wants you to fully receive salvation in all aspects of your life. He wants you to fully receive His love, hope, grace, joy, and freedom in all aspects of your life.
He wants to draw you close to His own heart.
God’s not against decorations and gifts, He just doesn’t want you to substitute those things for Him.
You can have Christmas without stockings and trees and cookies, but you can’t have new life without Jesus.
In the busyness of the season, we hope that you will find some time to just be with God. He has something wonderful for you!
In this Advent season of waiting on the Lord,
we trust in the Lord’s goodness.
We rely on his mercy.
We find shelter in his steadfast love.
In this Advent season of waiting on the Lord,
we walk in the Lord’s way.
We follow his example of love.
We keep our covenant promises.
In this Advent season of waiting,
Lord, forget our sins.
Remember your love.
Remember each one of us.
Remember your people everywhere.
In this Advent season of waiting,
Lord, we wait for your salvation.
We wait for your leading.
We wait for your coming.
—based on Psalm 25:1-10