There is just something different about this time of year. People rushing to and fro, complaining more than any other time of year about how tired they are and how they are longing for the Christmas break. Work deadlines and demands can pull our attention away from Christmas. For some, nostalgia can start to set in as they begin to reflect on the year that is nearing its end.
Every Christmas I ask God to reveal to me something new about the Christmas story or the season of Christmas in general. It is easy for us to become familiar with the Christmas story, but there is always something new we can learn about it. Last year God spoke to me the struggles of the wise men, revealing to me the journey the wise men embarked on to find Jesus, their encounter with King Herod along the way in Jerusalem and their decision to return home another way to evade King Herod’s plans to find Jesus.
Over the past few days God has started taking me on a journey learning about Advent, the time of preparation for Christmas. This is about the spiritual preparation for Christmas, not the present shopping or food ordering. Although there may be some of that it should be minimal. I do not want to get to Christmas day and not have had time to pray about and reflect on the Christmas story. I am looking forward to God revealing to me more about the season of Advent.
Why do we need to spiritually prepare for Christmas? It is the most wonderful time of the year because we get to celebrate the birth of Jesus and the incredible sacrifice Mary and Joseph made. It is the Genesis moment of the New Testament, the beginning of the new chapter for mankind. It set the wheels in motion for what would happen 33 years later that would tear the veil from top to bottom and give us freedom and relationship with our Creator. Take your eyes off the mirror and look at Jesus. There is so much to be joyful for and to celebrate at Christmas. I believe God wants to give you fresh revelation this Christmas and every Christmas you have from this year on, fresh revelation about the importance of the Christmas story and the beauty of it. Do not let busyness or tiredness or stress rob your focus this Christmas.
Non-Christians can be quick to judge Christians over the way they celebrate Christmas and even how they prepare for it. A couple of months ago I posted on my author page on Facebook about my excitement of moving into a new home and being able to decorate it at Christmas time. A non-Christian follower was quick to point out that my excitement was not very Christian-like and proceeded to ask what Jesus would think of me enjoying the commercialism of Christmas. I do not like the commercialism of Christmas and I do not think decorating my house (within reason of course) means that I like commercialism. For me, decorating the house has always encouraged me to start focusing on the reason for the season, on Jesus. It is a visual reminder of the Christmas season, a season that (for those who believe) is all about Jesus.
Tomorrow I am going to start reading a daily devotion that is about Advent, to help prepare my heart for Christmas. I plan to avoid the malls as best I can and when I look at the Christmas decorations I will smile because although some of them (namely at the malls) might look commercialised they point to a Christmas season which is pointing to Jesus, even if not everybody can or wants to see that. Like Easter, Christmas gives Christians an opportunity to talk about their faith more openly than perhaps at other times of the year.
Do not miss the moments that this season is gifting you to share your faith.
What are you doing to prepare your heart and spirit for Christmas?
Every Christmas I ask God to reveal to me something new about the Christmas story or the season of Christmas in general. It is easy for us to become familiar with the Christmas story, but there is always something new we can learn about it. Last year God spoke to me the struggles of the wise men, revealing to me the journey the wise men embarked on to find Jesus, their encounter with King Herod along the way in Jerusalem and their decision to return home another way to evade King Herod’s plans to find Jesus.
Over the past few days God has started taking me on a journey learning about Advent, the time of preparation for Christmas. This is about the spiritual preparation for Christmas, not the present shopping or food ordering. Although there may be some of that it should be minimal. I do not want to get to Christmas day and not have had time to pray about and reflect on the Christmas story. I am looking forward to God revealing to me more about the season of Advent.
Why do we need to spiritually prepare for Christmas? It is the most wonderful time of the year because we get to celebrate the birth of Jesus and the incredible sacrifice Mary and Joseph made. It is the Genesis moment of the New Testament, the beginning of the new chapter for mankind. It set the wheels in motion for what would happen 33 years later that would tear the veil from top to bottom and give us freedom and relationship with our Creator. Take your eyes off the mirror and look at Jesus. There is so much to be joyful for and to celebrate at Christmas. I believe God wants to give you fresh revelation this Christmas and every Christmas you have from this year on, fresh revelation about the importance of the Christmas story and the beauty of it. Do not let busyness or tiredness or stress rob your focus this Christmas.
Non-Christians can be quick to judge Christians over the way they celebrate Christmas and even how they prepare for it. A couple of months ago I posted on my author page on Facebook about my excitement of moving into a new home and being able to decorate it at Christmas time. A non-Christian follower was quick to point out that my excitement was not very Christian-like and proceeded to ask what Jesus would think of me enjoying the commercialism of Christmas. I do not like the commercialism of Christmas and I do not think decorating my house (within reason of course) means that I like commercialism. For me, decorating the house has always encouraged me to start focusing on the reason for the season, on Jesus. It is a visual reminder of the Christmas season, a season that (for those who believe) is all about Jesus.
Tomorrow I am going to start reading a daily devotion that is about Advent, to help prepare my heart for Christmas. I plan to avoid the malls as best I can and when I look at the Christmas decorations I will smile because although some of them (namely at the malls) might look commercialised they point to a Christmas season which is pointing to Jesus, even if not everybody can or wants to see that. Like Easter, Christmas gives Christians an opportunity to talk about their faith more openly than perhaps at other times of the year.
Do not miss the moments that this season is gifting you to share your faith.
What are you doing to prepare your heart and spirit for Christmas?