Let Every Heart Prepare!
- Debbie Salter Goodwin
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Luke 3:4
We have begun the Christmas season. Are you already behind with everything you
wanted to accomplish? Today, we need another message. It is the voice of wilderness John confronting the emptiness that our push and rush produce. He cries today using Isaiah’s words, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight paths for him.”
This isn’t a call to decorate, overspend, or overwork. This is a desperate plea to make sure you start with the most important preparation: your heart. Our decorated houses mean nothing to Jesus when our hearts hold wounds he wants to heal or disobedience he wants to forgive.
Don’t think that minimalism is a shortcut here. Doing less doesn’t always mean more of Jesus. This is a call to take inventory and give your attention first to the one whose birthday we take a month to celebrate.
There is nothing wrong with celebrating big and with enthusiasm. It is a good season to bring people together. It’s when our focus is more on how we celebrate than on who we celebrate.
Consider this list of heart questions to help you edit your focus and make sure you are preparing your heart, first, in ways that make it easy for family and friends to recognize whose birthday you celebrate:
What do you need to learn about how Jesus wants you to celebrate this year?
Does Jesus have your attention in this season, or have you made your to-do list the most important message of the day?
What personal or family activity will help you focus on Jesus the best? (For example, consider an Advent wreath or use the Advent Calendar you can download below..)
What other voices about Christmas preparation seem louder than Jesus’s voice? What can you do about it?
How could you engage in a morning prayer to strengthen your focus? (Consider the weekly prayer from this year’s Advent Calendar)
Keep a symbol of a Jesus-focus for Christmas in every room. (Candle, star, manger, shepherd, wise man, angel, etc.) Consider praying there before the day begins.
How can you make sure that your family and friends follow “a straight path” to Jesus when they enter your home, sit at your table, unwrap your presents, and enjoy the warm traditions of this season? It’s all about your heart's focus.
To help you stay focused on the right things this season, I've prepared a daily calendar with a short devotional thought. You can download using the button below.
No matter what Christmas activities you pursue, let your heart's focus guide you on a straight path to Jesus. Then, you will find all the peace and joy you’ve always wanted every Christmas.
How do you prepare your heart? Put your ideas in the comment box below and I'll share the list next week.