I was delightfully reading a new little Advent devotional I was sampling on my Kindle when I was smacked in the face with these words:
“Don’t let Christmas find you unprepared. I mean, spiritually unprepared.”
Yikes. I went from delightfully reading to desperately panicking in seconds: What does it mean to be spiritually prepared for Christmas?
I did a quick inventory: my gifts were bought (well, almost), the tree was up, the lights were hung (check, check, check). I even dutifully wore my Advent purple to church on Sunday (does that count?). But I realized I hadn’t really given much thought to what is means to prepare, really prepare spiritually for Christmas.
Am I the only one?
Thankfully, as I read on, the little book provided some helpful tips to prepare spiritually for Christmas, and I have created my own version here. You ready?
Four Practical Ways to Prepare Spiritually for Christmas
1. Meditate on the fact that we need a Savior
My friend recently confessed that in growing up in a Christian home, she has never really understood the depth of her need for a Savior. Another friend, on the other hand, after battling with addiction for years, knows and relies daily on her desperate need for her Savior, the very giver of her sanity, health and life. Most of us probably fall somewhere in between. Spend time this Advent asking God to deepen your awareness of your need for Him – as a Savior.
2. Engage in sober self-examination
This does not mean checking how many moles are on your back or how many wrinkles have appeared around your eyes (though there is a time and place for this kind of examination!). Rather, this is a deep internal examination of how we are doing spiritually. Remember the famous quote,
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Socrates
So how do we do self-examination? There are many ways we can look within ourselves and ask for the Holy Spirit’s input on what is there (or not there). I like these questions provided by author Sally Clarkson in her book Own Your Life:
- What season of the Christian life am I currently experiencing?
- What seasons have I come through, and what’s my trajectory pointing toward?
- What’s most needed right now?
- What’s God saying to me?
- How can I deepen my sense of being in relation to God?
- How can I further my intention to live out my Christian life?
Advent leading up to Christmas is [or should be] like Lent leading up to Easter. There should be built in time for reflection.
3. Build God-centered anticipation and expectancy into your home
I confess the most exciting thing about Christmas growing up was the anticipation of not knowing what might show up under the tree on Christmas morning. This is not a bad thing necessarily, but I do think we need to also be asking how we can get excited about Christmas beyond material things. How can we get our kids excited about our King’s arrival? This may take some imagination and creativity, but surely there are ways.
For our kids, who are still very young, so far we have incorporated the following traditions (and are always open to new ideas):
- Mixing in as many nativity-centered stories and movies as Santa Clause-centered ones
- Including nativity scenes in our home as visual reminders to talk about the birth of Jesus
- Giving three gifts (something you want- need – read) to each child as a way of incorporating the three gifts brought to Jesus at his birth (see Matthew 2:11)
- Beginning Christmas morning lighting a candle and reading the Christmas story from the Bible aloud together
What traditions and rituals have helped your family build God-centered anticipation and excitement for Christmas? Please do share ideas!
4. Be much in the Scriptures
I am always amazed at how when I enter back into the Scriptures (perhaps after a certain unintended time away), it brings life, light, hope and healing to my soul. It it never too late to re-engage with God through His Word. Try reading through the two gospel narratives chronicling Jesus’ birth: Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-21 this Advent. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal something new to you that you haven’t seen or noticed before.
I pray these four suggestions may help you and me on our way to preparing spiritually for Christmas. Are there any others you would add? Please share them here. May our joy of Christmas increase as we come humbly, hopeful and spiritually ready for the manger this year.
Have Spiritual Questions Needing Answers?
Part of living life as a human being is wondering about our existence: how did we get here, what do we do while we are here and where are we going after here? If you find yourself having such questions but having no safe place to explore them honestly and authentically, then coaching may be for you. I consider it an utter privilege to get to serve as a conversation partner to someone exploring the deeper things of life. I don’t give you the answers; I facilitate a process that allows you to explore them and discover the insights as they come. Curious to learn more? Book a free session on my coaching page and let’s chat.