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Christmas is coming. Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and Thanksgiving haven’t even passed yet but stores are already flooded with red and green. Instead of savoring the season, we are rush until the end of the story. We jump straight to the celebration without taking time to embrace the preparation.
Advent calls us, not to busy ourselves, but to slow ourselves down and make room in our hearts and lives for Immanuel, God with us.
When Jesus was born, there was no room available in the Inn for His mother to birth Him. There was no room.
I wonder, would I have made room in my home?
When Jesus was born, there was no room available in the Inn for His mother to birth Him. There was no room. I wonder, would I have made room in my home? Click To TweetI wonder if there’s room in my life now.
Will this be a Christmas where my eyes are distracted by the lights, frantically trying to keep up with the displays of Christmas? Or will my eyes simply rest on the Light of the World as He comes again into this world and my life?
Traditionally, Advent has focused around preparing our hearts through prayer and charity. Through these practices, people have re-centered their hearts around Christ.
Can we spend this season preparing together?
Last year, we studied the names of Jesus, but this year, can we focus together on prayer?
Can we humble our hearts and kneel before our Savior in prayer?
Traditionally, Advent has focused around preparing our hearts through prayer and charity. Through these practices, people have re-centered their hearts around Christ. Can we spend this season preparing together? Click To TweetIn this very visible, season where everyone seems to be superwoman, prayer is a call to stop and focus not on what is seen but what is unseen.
But sometimes, especially in these seasons when our lives feel on display, we wonder if these hidden moments matter.
In the moments when we have pulled away from quiet times with God, we need to press into it.
We need to stop and humble our hearts before God. He is working in these hidden moments on our behalf and, even in our failure, He is interceding and praying for us. When we don’t know how to pray, when our words fall short, the Living Word sustains us and carries our prayers.
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14-15, ESV
Prepare Him Room: An Advent Prayer Guide will be released in November 2018 as my Christmas gift to you.
Prepare Him Room: An Advent Prayer Guide will be released in November 2018 as my Christmas gift to you.
My prayer for this season is that we can be the people God spoke of to Solomon, the people who humbles themselves in prayer and repentance.
As we prepare our homes to celebrate Christmas, let us join together to prepare our hearts.
Invite friends to join you. Find someone to help keep you accountable. Join our Facebook group to join with likeminded believers. And pray. Pray lots.
Pour your heart out before your Maker. May this Advent prayer guide be a tool to help your heart rest from the hustle and bustle as you bring yourself to the manger.
Sign-up here to be the first to receive a free copy of Prepare Him Room: An Advent Prayer Guide.
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We pray together as a family every morning and night plus our personal prayers morning and night. Good to talk with our Heavenly Father.
That’s so wonderful. Praying together as a family is such a good habit to develop.
In the first of your blog, it reminded me so much of Ann Voskamp and I adore her material!! So that means I really like your style of wording. It was pleasant to take some of these nuggets and be reminded that yes we need to slow down during the season and take HIM in, through our hearts, abiding so that He will shine to others this holiday season!!
April, Thank you for sharing! That is such an encouragement to me. I have been so blessed by Ann Voskamp’s work.
Thank you for the reminder to keep Him in the center of the holidays. Sometimes it is hard to remember, but if you put Him first everyday it won’t be hard at all. Beautiful post!
It’s so important to be intentional and to, maintain that intentionality throughout the day.
This is a great way to celebrate the holidays
Thanks, Jasmine! I hope you can join us.
It is good to start setting our hearts and our minds for the reason of why we celebrate. Advent is such a great way to do it. I pinned this.
Advent can be so helpful! I hope you can join us for the prayer study.