How to Prepare Your Heart for Jesus this Christmas using Advent cards

Nov 20

You wrapped all the gifts, the tree is up, your lights are up (and actually working this year!), cookies are baked, and you even remembered teacher gifts in time!

Winning!!

This year you are PREPARED with a capital “P”!

The real question is though - what have you done to prepare your heart?

Now don’t get me wrong, preparing all the treats, gifts, decorations, is not a bad thing! All of the festivities are such a joy and a gift!

There’s just one thing that needs to be added to that list - and that is preparing not just your home for Christmas, but your heart as well.

What does preparing your heart mean?

You may be thinking – “Ok… but HOW exactly do I do that? I pray! I read my Bible when I can, what else is there left to do? I have SO much on my plate already, I don’t think I can add one more thing!”

First of all - preparing your heart to remember Christ’s birth is meant to be a blessing in your life - not a burden!

Matthew 11:28-30 reminds us:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Coming to the feet of Jesus and remembering who He is and what He’s done is meant to give us rest!

Which I’m pretty sure we could all use in the midst of online shopping, class parties, family gatherings, and lists upon lists of to-do’s! (Which reminds me, did you text your mom back yet about what to get your kids this year??)

Preparing your heart means slowing down, turning off the noise of the world for a few moments, and spending it remembering who Christ is, and what his birth really means for us as Christians.

Celebrating Advent is a great way to do this and give you the rest you are longing for during this crazy season.

What is Advent?

The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming”.

During the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas, Advent is a time where we, as believers, spend time reading and remembering the promises of God, how they were fulfilled in Christ, and what that means to us.

Some people celebrate Advent on the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, culminating on Christmas Eve, with each Sunday representing a different theme.

Now for me, as a kid growing up in the Southern Baptist Church, Advent meant different colored candles being lit the four Sundays before Christmas, along with scripture readings. Anyone else remember watching the wax drip during the service, wondering if it’ll reach the table cloth below?! (the early 90’s were a time of simple entertainment apparently)

I actually do love the lighting of the Advent candles as a tradition at church. Lighting the candles of hope, peace, joy, love, and of course the Christ candle on Christmas Eve. It is a great visual representation of the anticipation of Jesus’s birth as each candle is lit.

Whether or not you specifically celebrate the weeks of Advent on Sundays at your church, reading Scripture in your own home to point you to Jesus is a great addition.

Advent Cards

A couple of years ago, that is exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted a way to set aside time to refocus my heart and mind toward Christ during this crazy busy season.

BUT…

It had to be simple...

But also meaningful…

And centered around Scripture…

Oh AND something I can do with my kids!

I couldn’t find exactttttly what I wanted - so I created Advent Cards to use myself, and in hopes they would be a blessing to you too!

For every day in December, there is a card with a passage of Scripture on it (Oh and a beautiful watercolor image of course! If they’re going to be in your home, they may as well be pretty too, right!?)

Starting on December 1st (Day 1) the cards begin with remembering our need for a Savior, and move through the prophecies of the coming Messiah in the Old Testament, His arrival, and finally what that means for us now.

Each day you’ll be gently led through the depth of love that God has for you. You’ll see how that love was woven through history, culminating in the manifestation of that love in the birth of Jesus.

You’ll find yourself stopping to realize afresh - wow - he really is a Wonderful Counselor, a Mighty God, an Everlasting Father, a Prince of Peace.

And isn’t that what your heart truly craves and desires during this season??

To feel a fresh understanding and love for your Savior??

I get weepy just thinking about it!

Advent is SUCH a gift!!

To take the time to intentionally invite the truth of God’s word to wash over you in a new way so you can share and experience the love of Christ.

How to involve your kids with Advent Cards

I was actually just talking to my kids about this the other day! We discussed how Jesus fulfilled all of the prophecies about the coming Messiah.

Their mouths hung open when I explained that hundreds and hundreds of years before Christ was born, the details of his coming were given to the prophets and recorded in the Bible and came true in Christ.

Even the details were not overlooked by God.

How special to get to share the beautiful mystery of Christ made manifest with your kids!!

I’m convinced there is nothing better.

Whether that is to your own children, or to others’ children - sharing the good news of Christ come down to little ones is such a blessing!

That is why I love using the Advent Cards.

Here are some practical ways you can involve your kids:

If they are strong readers, you can have your kids take turns reading that day’s verse.

Ask your kids - what does this teach us about who God is? Or about who God says I am?

Have them take turns asking questions they might have about what they read.

Maybe each day their job is just to turn over the new Advent card for that day (But just a head’s up, you’ll want to have a system or you knowww arguments will break out about whose turn it is! Not that I’m speaking from experience…)

Ask them to think of a simple way they can share what they learned with someone. Maybe it’s a friend or a family member.

Don’t overthink it! You’ll be surprised at what their little minds come up with all on their own. I’m sure they will take the discussion somewhere you didn’t think of!

If you’re freaking out right about now asking “What if I don’t know the answers to their questions?!” then repeat after me:

It’s ok to tell your kids, “I don’t know the answer to that, but let’s find out together!”

What a great example to be able to show your kids that it’s ok to have unanswered questions when you’re reading the Bible!

Because let’s face it, we always will!

Read the word together - I love this ESV Study Bible for commentary help!
Ask your spouse, pastor, trusted friend, or hey, even Google (just make sure it’s taking you to a trustworthy website!) to find the answers!
God has given you these kiddos in your life and He’ll equip you to guide them, if you ask Him!

However you decide to dive into the Advent Season this year, I’m so excited for you!!

You’ll wake up on Christmas morning with a renewed excitement for the hope found only in Jesus!

And that is the best gift you could ever receive this year and always!