Less than three weeks to Christmas – how are you doing? Are you feeling expectant or are you rushing through the season of Advent? Are you rushing to Christmas without seeing the beauty of waiting?

The worst case of the scenario for you is rushing to Christmas by stringing together a constant stream of trivial pursuits, leaving you overwhelmed, exhausted, and your credit card maxed out. Let me tell you, this is not the purpose of the Advent season.

A voice of one is calling out,
“Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness [remove the obstacles];
Make straight and smooth in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3, AMP,*)

The purpose of the Advent season is to prepare our hearts for Jesus to enter our lives in a new way. That does not happen if we concentrate on shopping, prepping, and partying. There’s nothing wrong with those things, of course, when they’re not ruling our lives.

Rushing to Christmas?

Perfection is not a requirement for Christmas celebrations, neither are completed lists of chores. The only thing we need to prepare is our heart. And we can’t rush heart matters. It takes time – and maybe some solitude – to prepare our hearts. Rushing to Christmas steals our hearts the most wonderful gift it can receive.

So my suggestion for you is to slow down, say no to some functions and prune your to-do list. Then take some time to spend with the Lord. Ask God to prepare your heart for whatever it is God is birthing in you this Christmas. Seize the season of Advent by listening to Almighty God. Pave the way for Jesus.

Dear God,
Thank you for being patient,
help us to slow down so we would stop rushing to Christmas.
We want to open our hearts for whatever you’re preparing in us, for us.
Make us ready, Lord.
Enter into our lives in a new way.
Come, Lord Jesus, come!
In Jesus’ precious name,
Amen

Q4U: How are you doing? Are you rushing to Chrismas or do you take time to prepare your heart and mind for Jesus?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you seize the season of advent by listening to God!

Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash. Linking up today with Dance with Jesus, Five-minute Friday.