Are You Ready for Jesus? Look, Listen, and Live
Are you ready?
Well, are you?
Are you looking at the next 18 days and thinking about how calm and relaxing they will be?
No! Me either.
The truth I can get so busy preparing for the physical celebration there is little time to prepare for the spiritual celebration.
“The spirit of Christmas needs to superseded by the Spirit of Christ.
The spirit of Christmas is annual;
the Spirit of Christ is eternal. The spirit of Christmas is sentimental;
the Spirit of Christ is supernatural.
The spirit of Christmas is a human product;
the Spirit of Christmas is a divine person.
That makes all the difference in the world.”
~Rev. Stuart Briscoe
I love Christmas. The music. The lights. The time with family and friends. The fact that many people make an effort to be kinder, more compassionate, and more generous. And in all honesty, I even love the presents.
But I wonder if I let my to do list rob me of a more important preparation. The preparation of my heart. Not for Christmas but for Christ.
Are you preparing for the day He will come quietly to take you to your forever home?
Are you preparing for the day the heavens will split open and He will return our victorious King?
Are you preparing?
Or is your calendar so full that you’re putting it off until you have more time? Maybe when you can take an extended vacation or better yet . . . retire.
I know it’s hard. You’re busy. Everyone wants a piece of you. But let’s stop for a moment and breathe in Advent let’s focus on the Spirit of Christ not just the spirit of Christmas.
Prepare the Way of the Lord
1. Look – See God at work around you. Notice His activity in creation. See Him in people.
The Lord is good to everyone.
He showers compassion on all His creation.
All of your works will thank you, Lord,
and your faithful followers will praise you.
They will speak of the glory of your kingdom;
they will give examples of your power.
Psalm 143:9–11
2. Listen – Spend time with Him in His Word, in prayer, and in silence. Listen for the voice of His Spirit.
“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” John 5:24
Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before His throne; and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding His blood for us. Revelation 1:4–5
3. Live – Live in God’s love. Thank and praise Him for His grace and mercy. For His love in human flesh. And give the gift of His grace, mercy, and love to everyone around you.
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:1–2
Let me ask you again . . . are you ready?
Photo Credit
No, I’m not ready. I’ve decided I feel like Charlie Brown and Cindy Lou Who all rolled into one this year. I’ve decorated the house, but I don’t want to shop. I just want to spend time being quiet this year. I just want to spend time with people I love and care about.
Thank you for this post. I really appreciate your words.
Lisa, I’m not ready either. The decorating is done and I don’t bake, but I still have shopping to do. But I am trying to spend as much time as I am able quietly enjoying time in His presence. Focusing on Advent this year. Blessings to you! Thank you for your kind encouragement.
Hi Deb! I don’t think I’ll ever really be ready. But I am trying to carve out quiet time in my day this Advent season to pray and just be with Christ. I hope he sees that as a love gift, because that’s what I want to be.
I pray that he will allow me to spread peace and joy in my life to others. Sometimes I have a hard time spreading it to myself! I’m pretty busy too, but hoping I give it all to God so he will bless it.
Have a wonderful Monday my friend,
Ceil
Ceil, that is where I end up most years. Christmas arrives whether I’m ready or not. I just want to have peace and focus on His blessings. Enjoy a blessing-filled day my friend!
Trying to be a little more deliberate in getting ready for Him this year. My desire is for my heart to be more ready than my home 🙂 Loved this post!
Me too, Joanne. Me too!
I’m ready for Jesus’ birth, but I’m not ready for all the Christmas stuff. Thanks for helping me see what the priority is!
Thank you Mel! I’m trying to keep my heart and mind on His blessings this year without getting overwhelmed by the trappings. God’s blessings to you!
I do hope I’m ready, or will be. Plan to post a blog tomorrow, and rest from it until the new year. I do need to prepare my heart to receive Him.
Blessings, Deb!
What a good idea to take a break from writing. I can’t remember the last time I did that without writing ahead. I’ll have to think about that as a way to keep my heart and mind focused. Blessings to you as well, Martha!
Deb, to be honest, with my new novel just out, I’m needing to spend time concentrating on much needed work on books 2 and 3, but ever and always keeping God first and foremost. Forgoing the blog for several weeks helps me so to focus upon what the Lord wants me to do at this time.
Hope you have a blessed Christmas!
This is a message God has spoken to my heart day after day this year. And I pray to keep my focus constantly on Him and live what Christmas is all about. Thanks, Deb, for the reminder. Many Christmas blessings!
Thank you Sabra. That is my prayer as well. To stay focused on loving and serving Him all year . . . not just in December. Many blessings to you as well.
I believe it is Jim Elliott who is credited with saying, “Wherever you are, be all there.” I feel that way about Christmas. I don’t want to be divided. I don’t want my heart to be divided. I don’t want my time to be divided. But sadly, it is. They are. So I choose to celebrate the moments I am in. I also choose to be ready for the coming of Jesus-as we celebrate His birth and ultimately as we celebrate His coming.
Ready? Um, no. However, I am ready for enjoyment as each day comes with little planning. This year we are doing things quite differently & I’m still figuring out what that looks like. Love the verses you shared Deb. Needed the first one to coincide with something I’m working on. Love it when God does connections like that.
That’s beautiful Jolene. Being ready to enjoy and celebrate each day as it comes is the best way to spend this season and all others as well.
I am not ready…but you inspire me to get ready! Even when it’s not the busy holiday season, I struggle to spend enough quite time with God. In the chaos of the month, I am having an even more difficult time. What I know, though, is that God can help me find peace among all the noise,
Amen Laura, when life is stressed and busy He is my source of peace. Blessings!
This was what our sermon was on this morning, and it really touched base with me, thanks for sharing at Good Morning Mondays, blessings