By slowing down, prioritizing rest, and cultivating joy, we can experience the beauty of Advent and the personal God who came to us. May the peace and love of Christ fill our hearts and homes this Advent and always. Ultimately, our intimacy with Christ is more important than anything else we could fill our time with, so my encouragement to you would be to fight for it. Say “no” or “wait” to more things this season, and “yes” to what’s most important here, now, and forever.  

Advent, a season of hope and anticipation, can often become a whirlwind of activity for us, even when we have the best intentions to keep it simple and focus on Christ. With all of the additional expectations, meeting invites, and traditions, sometimes mixed with heaviness and hurt, it’s easy to take our eyes off Christ and miss the awe-inspiring truth of His birth altogether. And let’s be honest: If you’ve been around the church long enough, the idea that God sent His Son Jesus to us as a baby isn’t new information. Long-time church goers can sometimes hear the gospel or Christmas message and think, “That’s for them.” The beauty of God’s Word, however, is that it’s living and active (Hebrews 4:12), meaning it has a personal, powerful, pointed message for each of us every Christmas.

So, what does God want to personally share with you this year? What would happen if you really slowed down and let your heart be transformed by His presence this Advent?

The Importance of Slowing Down

Taking a few minutes each day in December to focus on God’s promises offers a powerful antidote to stress, feelings of inadequacy, grief, and more. It’s the light that illuminates the lies we believe: “You’re unloved,” “You’re alone,” “You’re not doing enough,” or “This [insert: thing in my shopping cart/person/position] will make me happier.” For most of us, slowing down is counter-cultural. In 2024, we’ve been wired to hold a 7-second attention span and multi-tasking has become a baseline standard. However, God encourages us to “rest” and “be still.” Why?

• So we can humbly hear from God. Job 6:24 says, “Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray.” A tugging on our heart or an uneasy conscience can be gentle whispers from God who lovingly corrects us. Psalm 16:6 describes His standard and design for our lives as “boundary lines [that] have fallen for me in pleasant places.”
• So our faith in God’s justice would grow.

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