How do you prepare for Christmas? When asked that question, my first thoughts go to where I’ll fit the tree, what kind of decorations we’ll feel like putting up, which songs will sing in church, and whole lot of other details that may get my heart racing. But this isn’t where our minds should go first! What we really need is to ask, how ought I to prepare my heart for the season of celebrating Christ? What are those specific things I can do to set my mind on the glory of Jesus all season long?

Our leaders have chosen to prepare sermons through these two months on Psalms which point to the coming king. We can anticipate the Nativity scene by reading these texts that reveal truths of who Christ is and why He assumes human flesh. Sections like Psalms 40, 45, and 110 are excellent signposts answering why Jesus enters His world and how He is already victorious. But taking these truths as simply big facts isn’t the “reason for the season.” We must also meditate on these truths, store them in our hearts, and consider why they are worth cherishing.

Too much of our Christmas excitement can lead to a rushed feeling — making sure every piece of decoration is in the right place, while our hearts aren’t set quite in the right place. The remedy is drawing near to the anticipation, longing, and living hope (eager expectation) that Jesus indeed comes to earth for me. His glory will be displayed in the manger for the sake of proving who is His by the seal of the Holy Spirit. The longing that we have for the nostalgia of Christmas is best directed at the wonder of the one who makes it all worthwhile. We ought to celebrate! But preparing to celebrate starts with an anticipation that Christ has come for us, His sheep. That we must feed on His promises and invigorate our hearts to know precisely why we can, should, will celebrate.

Do you pray those wonderful words of promise, “come Thou long expected Jesus” each day? What are you expecting of His reign in your life? Why do you desire for Him to be here so soon? Where do you need His richness and glory to be displayed in you and your family? What area of your heart needs His promise to wreck and destroy the anxieties and burdens you have held up until this truly holy season? The Psalms are a beautiful start to answer these questions, really and sincerely tugging us into the joy of Jesus Christ. But I have five other questions that may help you prepare for the holiday table this year.

Do you pray those wonderful words of promise, “come Thou long expected Jesus” each day? What are you expecting of His reign in your life? Why do you desire for Him to be here so soon? Where do you need His richness and glory to be displayed in you and your family? What area of your heart needs His promise to wreck and destroy the anxieties and burdens you have held up until this truly holy season? The Psalms are a beautiful start to answer these questions, really and sincerely tugging us into the joy of Jesus Christ. But I have five other questions that may help you prepare for the holiday table this year.

Five Christmas Questions to Help You Grow This Season:

1. What spiritual gifts can you experience this season as you contemplate a loving God who has entered His world to rescue you?
2. What distractions can you prepare for that keep you from celebrating Christ’s incarnation during this season? And how can you seek the Lord’s strength to overcome those specific distractions?
3. Which Christmas carol leads you to praise Christ the most? Why is this so? Stop and consider the biblical truths you are resting in, and in this way truly savor the carol!
4. How can you help others in your church family draw nearer to Christ this season? Name some very real action steps that will lead you to enjoy the service of the season.
5. Where can you add a new tradition (for you and your family) of resting in the presence of Christ instead of getting too caught up in the busyness of Christmas? This may help keep you from burning out when trying to do everything Christmas at once.

Let me know how these questions have helped you prepare for the joy of the season!

Pastor Chris