December, the last month of 2024; ‘tis another season to shop, cook, travel, decorate, and celebrate with family and friends. Another holiday season of activities, gatherings, and celebrations that still seem to be more about (1) the wallet than the heart (2) the body than the soul and (3) the party than the worship. Many Christians and non-Christians’ celebration of Jesus’ birth and preparation for His return reflect thanksgiving for gifts in life rather than thanksgiving for the Gift and Giver of life. What does your Advent preparation look like? How will you prepare for Christ’s return differently this year than last year?

Preparing for Christ’s return requires introspection and self-examination for issues of the heart and mind. And if you will, “mix and mingle” confession and repentance with these to really get to the heart of matters. All are biblical principles necessary to identify our “naughty or nice” conditions and help us in developing our “all I want for Christmas” wish list. About that list, does it include regular and intentional time of praying, fasting, and delighting ourselves in His Word? These deliberate actions allow for a more accurate assessment of our spiritual maturation process and a lifestyle of submission that reflects sincere preparation for Jesus’ return.

This Advent season, as we humbly yield to the Holy Spirit’s leading, we can expect evidence of our “coming into” new levels of growing in Christ and we can expect to “arrive” at a place in Christ whereby our celebrations bear witness of “behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” This ADVENT season may our preparation for Christ’s return show forth merriment, thanksgiving, and adoration for Immanuel, God with us; God our Savior coming back for us. Amen.