As we near Advent and Christmas, a lot of invitations begin to roll across our plates. Family get togethers. Christmas parties. Church plays. Dance recitals. Cookie baking. Gift exchanges. Shopping. And the list goes on.
This season offers beautiful opportunities that shape special memories. But what happens when all the activities and things become the focus? What happens when one “yes” without thought quickly turns into five unintended ones? It does not take much for this season to feel crowded.
These opportunities for beautiful memory-making have their place, but what if we took the time and space to, first, “make room” in our hearts and minds to enter Advent well? What if we set aside intentional time with the Lord at the outset to cultivate the mindset needed to receive his birth with full joy and proper reverence?
Through remembering his first coming and centering our hearts on the hope of his second, the Holy Spirit creates a capacity for joy that no “Christmas activity” can bring in and of itself. Let’s enter this season wisely and align our priorities with our calendar. Then…
first things can remain first,
secondary commitments can be chosen in stride and measure,
and we can walk out a full-hearted, contented, unrushed Advent and Christmastide.
I invite you to use the following prayer stations within your family, your friends, or on your own as an act of intention to, first, make time and space for Jesus at Advent’s outset. Each station includes a reflection to read followed by a prayer and response prompt. Gather your supplies (watercolor paper and paints, Restoration Home Daily Journal, and Dunridge Farm lux candle rolling kit) and “make room” for an hour to enjoy and focus on Jesus –the ultimate gift and light of this season.
1. God’s Identity
Who is God? What is true of Him? To make sense of our world, our lives, and ourselves, we must go to the source –God himself. Any other starting point will only create a distortion.
Please turn to the “Names of God” sheet. Next, slow down for a few moments to read through it, asking the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to what God wants you to notice.
Which name(s) bring a quickening in your spirit? Which ones are sticking in your mind? Write them down.
- Why do you think this is? What comes to mind about God and how you view Him as you read and meditate on this?
- A picture? A memory? A person? An opportunity? A specific attitude of heart? Something you didn’t notice before in Scripture, in yourself, or in your life circumstances?
- What does that show you about God throughout all time (macro) and in your life (micro)?
Remember, He is so very present in both –the big story of all of Creation and all of Time, as well as your thread that He has intentionally woven into it. Your thread has been part of the plan He created before the foundation of the world.
- “9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” 2 Timothy 1:9-10
Prayer & Response
Take a pause. Look up the verses referenced beside the Names of God that caught your attention. Continue now, for however short or long you feel led, in a posture of prayer –reflecting, thanking, and praising God solely for who he is.
Response: During your time of prayer, take a watercolor sheet and make your own creation reflecting a name of God that you want to remember. Be sure to include the written name somewhere on your page. When finished, pin your watercolor somewhere you will see it regularly.
2. Disconnection & Restoration
The Creation account details God breathing life into Adam and creating Eve from his side. God made us to live in union with Him and ordered harmony with one another.
Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, the unraveling quickly follows –sin and the subsequent brokenness and disconnection with God, each other, and Creation enters in as Adam and Eve choose their own way over the Lord’s.
But, let’s not forget God's immediate reassurances of his covering and restoration in the midst of the pain–
-He speaks to and searches for Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:9)
-He physically covers them with animal skins to replace the coverings of fig leaves they fashioned for themselves out of shame and fear. His grace displayed in this foreshadows the coverings of love and holiness to be continued in Old Testament rituals of sacrifice and, ultimately, through Jesus (Genesis 3:21).
God’s people continue on struggling to choose their way or the Lord’s for quite some time after Adam and Even, but then…..
Jesus comes.
Jesus pays.
Jesus covers.
And because of his restoration work on the Cross, we have the opportunity to trust Him, and spend our lives walking over the gap he bridged between us and the Father. Slow sanctification this side of Heaven to give way to His glory revealed in us when we get there.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us….” Romans 8:18
In the here and now, we do not have to operate out of the great disconnect initiated in the Garden. But, we do have to intentionally choose restoration –exposing the lies of the enemy, rejecting the ways of the world and evil, and living attuned to God.
This is only possible by daily and intentionally walking in the forgiveness Christ offers –both the giving and receiving. Bitterness, sin, toxic thoughts, unforgiveness, limiting beliefs, critical perspectives… it is easy to allow these things real estate in our spirits and minds that we desperately need Jesus to fill. We need to release our burdens into Jesus’ care in order to live in the wide open space and freedom that the Holy Spirit creates through forgiveness. We are “co-heirs” (Romans 8:17) and “conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37), and we can rest in His forgiveness on this side of Heaven.
Fear has to go.
Lies have no place.
Bitterness cannot lay a foundation.
Abundant life –one that is settled in Jesus as the “end-all-be-all” – slowly takes form, through the sanctifying and purifying work of the Spirit, on the other side of our surrender.
Prayer & Response
Now take a few moments to pause and seek Jesus’ guidance in forgiveness –towards ourselves and others.
Forgiveness starts with surrender —of our expectations, our burdens, our fears, and the list goes on. In his “Pause App”, John Eldredge has each meditation start with the following prayer:
“Jesus, I give you everyone and everything.”
Take a couple deep breaths. Close your eyes. Start with repeating that prayer with your whole attention and being.
Next, please take out the “Restoration Home Daily Journal” and turn to page 6 (titled “Overcoming Toxic Thoughts”). Follow the process and see what comes up in prayer and reflection. Take some time to journal through your thoughts if that would be helpful.
3. God’s Good Creation
“...Then God said, “Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…so God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them… Then God saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good...”
Genesis 1:26-28, 31
God created us in His image, and before one single thing had been done meriting favor, He blessed us. Think of blessing as both a celebration and truth that is ever-expanding. Exponential. Infinite. Blessing is not a one time act, but an act of creation put into motion that goes on and on. Blessing is a mystery of God beyond our understanding.
When we think on the truth that we are a part of God’s good creation, and we consider, really consider, the purposeful act of Him blessing man before any of our doing, we begin to see God’s posture towards His creation, in particular the part of Creation made in His image –mankind.
Let that soak in.
You are a joy. You are a blessing. You are God’s good creation. A “beloved sinner” as Ian Cron puts it. The Cross has proven that you are loved deeply by God; you are made worthy by Jesus’ ultimate act of love; and, if you choose to live out this life trusting him, you’ve been sealed –you belong to Him. God does not take our sin and wandering lightly, but if we do not understand the belovedness he bestowed before sin took root, we set ourselves up to sit in shame instead of living out of the love of God in the sacrifice of Christ. Take a moment to let the following reality sink in.
God –
God the Father –the origin of our universe and what all life and being revolves around…just as our little corner of Creation revolves around the sun. (Genesis 1:1)
God the Son –the Light of the World. (John 8:12)
God the Holy Spirit –the acting force on Creation, the spark of the Church, and the holy fire working and living within each believer. (Genesis 1:2; Acts 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 6:19)
–warmly welcomes you. He delights in you more than you can imagine. We are God’s good, blessed creation. Lights in the world because of THE Light of the World.
Prayer & Response
Take a few minutes now to roll a candle as a reminder of the truths wrapped up in the warmth, light, and fire of God. As you craft and create, take the “Verses of Delight” page from your bag to keep near and meditate on.
Verses of Delight
Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Psalm 18:19
He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
Isaiah 42:1
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
Micah 7:18
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.
Psalm 149:4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.
Psalm 43:4
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.
Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Guest post by Sylvie Smith.