Is it me or are the Advent Calendars becoming more popular in the stores this year?  When our children were younger there would be little pieces of candy behind the doors but now I am seeing whiskey, cosmetics, gift cards, first class tickets to resorts.  Maybe we lost sight of advent at some point?  Especially when we are still finishing up our series in Inescapable and talking about adultery and lust on December 3rd!

Let’s start with a definition:  What is Advent?  The word “advent” means COMING, therefore, God taking on flesh as an infant is the purpose for us using the word “advent.”  The purpose of Advent is to direct our attention toward the celebration of God taking on flesh.  Advent lifts our eyes upward and outward.  Advent moves us to look back and look ahead to the day Jesus will return to make all things new. 

Therefore, during this time of the year we’re not just running from holiday event to holiday event or shopping trip to shopping trip but we want to actively and intentionally lift our eyes to the ultimate truth of what we are celebrating.  How does this happen practically?

1. Where’s your emotional meter? The sun sets earlier with daylight savings.  The nights are getting colder.  The holidays are here.  Our minds are winding down for the end of the year.  Leaves are falling from the branches.  It’s normal this time of year to feel a little less pep in our step.  That’s okay.  It’s good to rest.  It’s godly to slow down.  It’s glorious to take naps.  No need to beat ourselves up if we sense our emotional meter is running low.  Instead, invite the Lord into those moments of lull and rejoice at His provision and protection in your life.  
2. Where’s your mental meter? Is it just me or do you also find it easier to become nostalgic this time of year.  There are some pretty big mile markers in our year during the fall.  It makes sense that pivotal events around this time of the year would stick in our memory.  Memories are a measure of God’s grace at His provision but memories can also spiral into unproductive thoughts around despair and discouragement.  It’s easy to wallow in unrepentant sin or ideate over areas of life where we are discontent.  Instead, invite the Lord into our thought life.  Invite the Lord into our memories.  Ask the Lord to remove those bad memories and make new memories in Him and for Him!
3. Where’s your heart meter?  Are you overwhelmed at the injustice of the world?  Right now our media companies are working overtime to make sure we know about every flaw, fault and fear in the world.  It’s overwhelming.  It would be easy to give ourselves over to cynicism.  It would be easy to scroll past another horrible event in the world and not even blink an eye.  Instead, invite the Lord into those moments.  In fact, rejoice every time we think to invite the Lord into those moments with short prayers of “Lord, this is horrible.  We know this isn’t what you want.  We know it won’t be like this forever.  Help us to put our trust in You!”  
4. Where’s your faith meter? Maybe we should have started with this one, right?  Are there doubts creeping into your faith?  Is anxiety and worry crowding out our joy?  Are there challenges in your life that feel bigger than what the Lord can do in your life?  Instead, Advent helps us to remember that people walk in darkness and by His grace are greeted in the Light.  It’s the glory of His birth.  We might be in a dark place right now but the Lord is present, you are seen and you are loved, now into eternity.  

Either way, taking a little bit of time each day to reflect on the celebration of God taking on flesh is what is most important.  It can be the questions listed above.  It can be a song we listen to throughout the week.  It can be the conversation around the dinner table with friends and family.  It doesn’t matter how it happens but give yourself a gift this year of reflecting on the greatest news to ever into human history.  God became flesh!  If he came before, He will come again!