“Are you ready for Christmas?” Whenever someone asks that question, my heart-rate accelerates as I remember all the things yet to do. However, if we thought about Advent a little differently, our “getting ready” could be more of a holy time.
For those of who who have no idea of ‘Advent’, the season of Advent, comes from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming” or “visit.”
It begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year for Christians.
Although we are accustomed to celebrating Christmas on a single day, in both Christian tradition and on the Church calendar, the Christmas season lasts sundown on December 24 (Christmas Eve) through Epiphany of the Lord (January 6). This is sometimes popularly referred to as “the twelve days of Christmas.”
Most of us strive to “keep Christ in Christmas,” but the busyness has a way of encroaching upon our joy and worship. We might benefit from deciding to make time for some important activities as we get ready for this day.
Do not arrive at Christmas tired, running, distracted, and already fatigued with the lights, songs, and celebrations of the season.
For some of us. we have to admit that in our preparations for Christmas, we, in fact, make very little space for the spiritual, for Christ to be born more deeply in our lives.
Our time of preparation is generally more of a time to prepare our houses than a time to prepare our souls, more of a time of shopping than of prayer, and more of a time of already feasting than a time of fasting as a preparation for a feast.
And the end result is that, like the biblical innkeepers who had no room for Mary and Joseph at the first Christmas, we generally arrive at Christmas with “no room at the inn”, no space in our lives for a spiritual rebirth.
This Christmas, I want to do a better job of preparing my heart to celebrate the arrival of Jesus into the world. Here are some ideas in the running:
Our hearts are good, we want Christmas to renew us spiritually, but our lives are too pressured, too full of activity and tiredness, for us to have any real energy to make Christmas a special time of spiritual renewal for ourselves.
What should we do then? Spend intentional time digging into God’s Word as Christmas approaches. YouVersion provides a free 25-day Advent reading plan to help center each day on Jesus.
Read the scriptures about Jesus, especially the reason why Jesus had to come as a man on earth. Read as much as you can. (A little head start, please read 1 Peter 1:20, Hebrews 9:26, Acts 2:23-25)
Meditate on the scriptures pertaining to the birth of Christ. (Please read Isaiah 11:1, Isaiah 7:14, Jeremiah 23:5, Micah 5:2, Luke 1:39-45, John 1:9-14)
This season is about love. God gave us his son, we ought to demonstrate this love to others by giving and reconciling. Let the King be born in our hearts. He came without a crown on his head, the angles fell on their feet to worship him.
This is a season of Love, new hope.
Reach to your neighbors, and family especially your parents or anyone whom you have not been in contact for a long time.
Speak kindness and encouragement to them. If there are differences see to the best that you can to reconcile in good faith with them.
Be thankful to God. Christmas is the time to thank God for sending Jesus Christ his Son on earth as a man to save us. So do express your gratitude to God.
Be safe. Though it may seem a physical tip it’s much related to your spirit as your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Avoid any contaminated food or drink. Don’t try dangerous stunts just for a camera shot that you want to share with others. Hope you get the idea.
That way, when Christmas morning arrives, your attention will encompass more than stockings and Christmas dinner and the gifts beneath the tree. Instead, your heart will be captured by the ultimate gift – Jesus.
editor@ugchristiannews.com
