How to Make the Season of Advent a Time of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love
The Season of Advent also called the “Season of Waiting” begins this Sunday.
Let’s face it! Most of us don’t like to wait. We live at a time when most things happen fast and when they don’t . . . well, we’re not happy.
But the Season of Advent calls us to wait with expectation. It calls us to wait with Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.
Combining any one of those words with the word wait almost seems like an oxymoron, doesn’t it?
Culture tells us to spend these weeks leading up to Christmas frantically trying to make everything perfect . . . although we know that perfection is rarely possible.
So, we sacrifice hope, peace, joy, and even love with “if only” thoughts that frustrate us.
Thoughts that begin…
“I could really celebrate and be happy if only ___________.”
Is there something you’ve decided is a must to make your holiday celebrations complete? I’m not talking about a present under the tree . . . no, I’m referring to the uglies that we let rob us of hope, peace, and joy.
If only:
- The children would stop __________.
- I hadn’t lost __________.
- He/she hadn’t done __________.
- I could have __________.
- I could be __________.
- I didn’t feel __________.
- I’d hear from __________.
- _______________________.
Then our “if only” thoughts are followed with hand wringing, analyzing, planning, picturing, and finally . . . crying out in prayer.
It doesn’t take long for the enemy of our souls to use our “if only” thoughts to rob us of all that God wants for us throughout this season of waiting and the joy-filled celebration of the birth of His Son, Jesus.
I want to use the Season of Advent to take every “if only” burden to Him and let Him replace them with the hope, peace, joy, and love He wants for me. So, I’ve asked the Lord to remind me to run to Him in prayer as soon as an “if only” thought comes to mind.
I’m letting go of negative thoughts…
Let go of your concerns! Then you will know that I am God. I rule the nations. I rule the earth. Psalm 46:10 (GW)
And I’m trusting God’s promises…
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Isaiah 26:3
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.
Psalm 16:11
But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy.
Psalm 68:3
You, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
Psalm 86:15
I want to spend the Season of Advent focused on Jesus’ birth as I anticipate His return. I want to cling to the promise that Jesus alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
So, will you run to the Lord in prayer with me and ask Him to help you make the Season of Advent a time of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love…
A Prayer for the Season of Advent
Father, thank you for fulfilling Your promise to send a Savior. Thank you for Jesus.
This Season of Advent invites us to prepare our hearts and minds to not only celebrate Jesus’ birth but to anticipate His victorious return. I remember waiting for Christmas as a child. Waiting is hard, Father. I typically became restless and impatient. And although I’m older, I still find myself unsettled and agitated when I let my mind wander to thoughts that rob me of the hope, peace, joy, and love You want for me. The attitudes You want to fill every part of my life. The truths about Jesus that change everything.
Through Jesus…
- You have made all things possible. (Matthew 19:26)
- You give me strength. (Philippians 4:13)
- You declare me forgiven. (Acts 13:38)
- You set me free from sin, death, and the power of the devil. (Romans 6:7)
- You call me Your child. (1 John 3:1)
Thank you for the gift of faith . . . for making it possible for Your Spirit to be with me and within me. Your Spirit reminds me of Your truth (John 14:17) and blesses me with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22–23a)
By Your grace and with Your help, I will surrender myself—heart, mind, soul, and spirit to Your loving care. And I will let go of “if only” thoughts and wait with hope, peace, joy, and love for Jesus celebrating the blessings of today, and anticipating the promised blessings of tomorrow that will last forever and always. Amen.
So, let me ask…
What “if only” thoughts do you need to let go of during the Season of Advent? How will you focus your heart and mind on Jesus’ birth and return?
Will you have an Advent Wreath? Use an Advent Calendar? Read a chapter of Luke every day?
What will you do to make this time of waiting a time of preparation for your family?
I’m lifting up these words of Paul for us all…
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
May the Lord bless you and fill you with hope, peace, joy, and love!
We would love to pray for you.
You can leave your prayer requests here…
and even take a few minutes to pray over the list left by our friends.
Never Miss an Update
Leave your email address and I’ll send you a short email every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to alert you to each new devotion. Plus you’ll receive a copy of 30 Ways to Bless Your Marriage and Keep the Spark Burning
I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi” and share your thoughts in the comments below.
And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…
Thanks again for visiting! Don’t forget to check out the links below to find additional posts that will bless you…
Waiting is never easy, Deb, but if we fill the days of Advent with expectations of joy, hope, peace, and love, the time will fly by.
Blessings!
Amen, Martha! May that be our desire every day.
Thank you Deb for the information concerning Advent. Thank you for all of your emails. Sometimes I don’t realize how much they mean to me, then a couple of days latter something will come up and I will remember something you wrote from weeks ago that help me. Becky
Thank you, Becky. I am so very blessed by your kindness and words of encouragement. God bless you!
I would like to broden this “waiting period”. After all, aren’t we waiting every day for Jesus’ return? Two decades ago, just around one of the darkest, hardest time of my life, the Betlehem Star showed up at the back of our house. It was huge, and had a cross formation. Through this Star, I felt like God was looking into our life, my heart, searching, blessing. This Star also reminds me of Jesus Being the Light. Showing the way, guiding each day through the Spirit. Ever since this Star has a special meaning to us.
I’m so envious of David’s faith and trust in the Lord. Despite all adversities, hardship, fear and despondency, he held on to that immovable, conviction that God listens to his prayers and will act on his behalf. This is my wish today and every day to have this type of solid trust in Jesus. To let all those concerns go, as your Psalm quote says it, and remember always, in all circumstances that God is Lord, King and Ruler over all!!!!, including all facets of life….from the politics, to my home, life, work, health…nothing passes by Him, nothing happens without His will.
Let the Lord’s love, mercy, peace and faithfulness surround you, not only during the fleeting holiday season, but every day of your life. Blessings friend ????????????⭐
Hi, Gaby! Yes, I want to be aware . . . waiting for Jesus every single day. Living each day serving Him and ready to meet Him face to face. With the Spirit’s help and God’s grace, may we live one day at a time with an eternal perspective. God be with you and bless you, my friend!
I have several “what ifs”, but I am going to try my best to let them go to God!! It is easy to give them to Him for a bit, but then I have the tendancy to take them back. I so much appreciate your emails and your wisdom. They are a blessing to me. I have a situation in my life that has required a lot of waiting. But, once again, I am giving it over to God. He knows the outcome of all things and I do know that through this situation, I am forming a much closer relationship with Him.
Oh, Sue, I think we all take back our “what ifs” and worries at times. I’m so very thankful for God’s great patience with us/me. I have to lay my concerns and anxieties and his feet multiply times every day. Thanks for your kind words of encouragement. God bless you!