He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Luke 1.16-17
What John the Baptist did for Israel, Advent can do for us. Don't let Christmas find you unprepared--I mean spiritually unprepared. Its joy and impact will be so much greater if you are ready!
Here are some ways to prepare your heart for Advent:
Meditate on the fact that you need a Savior.
Christmas is an indictment before it becomes a delight. It will not have its intended effect until you feel your need for a Savior desperately. Let these short Advent meditations help awaken you in a bittersweet sense of your need for a Savior.
Engage is sober self-examination.
Advent is a time self-reflection where we like the psalmist can say, "Search me,God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139.23-24) Let every heart prepare him room... by cleaning house.
Build God-centered anticipation.
Fill your home with expectancy and excitement--especially for the children in it. If you are excited about Christ, they will be too. If you can only make Christmas exciting with material things, how will children get a thirst for God? Bend the efforts of your imagination to make the wonder the King's arrival visible for children.
Immerse yourself in Scripture.
Memorize great passages. "Is my word not like fire, declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 23.29) Gather around that fire this Advent season. It is warm, sparkling with the many-hued colors of grace. It is healing for a thousand hurts and light for dark nights.
This is a excerpt from 'Joy to the World-Daily Readings for Advent' by John Piper.
Comments