Preparing Your Heart for Christmas (Part 1)

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. 

But for many people, it’s also a season filled with unrealistic expectations and a too-long To-Do list.

How do I find the perfect gifts? Will my holiday meal be good enough? 

Shopping, wrapping, planning, cooking, and more. How will I get it all done?

Before the frenzy starts—or maybe in place of it this year—maybe it’s time to take a minute to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.

And PREPARE our hearts for Christmas Day. That’s what Advent is all about. Preparation of your heart, not just your home, for the most wonderful time of the year.

So, let’s take a journey. An Advent Journey. From where you are today, to the wonder of Christmas and beyond. From expectations to expectancy. From stressed to grateful. And from worried to worshipful.

In this four-part series (posted every Sunday leading up to Christmas Day), I will share inspiring excerpts from Ruth Chou Simons’ new book, Emmanuel: An Invitation to Prepare Him Room at Christmas and Always.

Emmanuel means “God with us.” With us. Not far away. Close. Personal. Loving and good.

Bestselling author and artist, Ruth Chou Simons, explores Advent—preparing our hearts for Christmas—in a way that helps us to experience God’s close presence in our lives every day. Not just at the holidays.

To begin, Simons says, “How we enter this season affects how we will receive this season. Let’s realign ourselves with the true hope of Christmas, and reposition ourselves with a heart posture that is ready to receive all that is intended for us in this Advent season.”

And she clarifies the difference between expectations and expectancy:

Expectations leave us weary and discontent, believing we deserve more or better. They always leave us unfulfilled and doubtful about whether God is for our good. 

But expectancy is anticipation mingled with joy. It’s believing God is who He says He is while waiting patiently for His good to be revealed, however He chooses to reveal it…

When we come to the Christmas season with an expectant posture, we’re led in hope—like with wise men led by the star. Expectancy sets our sights on God’s promises rather than the empty pursuit of all that cannot truly satisfy in this season.

When we turn from expectations to being expectant, we will never be disappointed because God never disappoints. What He promises, He will do.

God is faithful! And loving and so good.

Take a moment to ponder and pray:

PONDER
Are you more consumed with expectations
in this season, or with anticipation
for how God has fulfilled—and will
continue to fulfill—His promises?

PRAY
Dear Father,
We praise You for all You have done and all You have yet to do.
Help us to long for You alone rather than the expectations
and desires that do not satisfy. Realign our hearts according
to Your Word, that we might have a heart posture
ready to receive Your provisions.
And when we’re tempted to bend toward our earthly desires
and ways of thinking, teach us to recount Your faithfulness
and remember that You are God. While we wait
for Your purpose to be revealed,
while we look to Your Word,
soften our hearts to trust You
instead of ourselves. Amen.

Let the Advent journey begin!

–Excerpts from Emmanuel: An Invitation to Prepare Him Room at Christmas and Always. By Ruth Chou Simons (Harvest House Publishers, 2022)