Advent: Week One

This Advent I am spending a lot of time focusing on patient anticipation.

Does that sound oddly juxtaposed? It should.

I have little ones. My youngest, who just turned five, has anticipation all wrapped up. She has very little patience. My oldest, nine, understands the idea of patience and waiting. 

But what about us? Do we have a handle on patient anticipation?

Each week of Advent, our family eagerly anticipates the lighting of a new candle. We have to be patient. This week, we only can light one candle – all week long. The countdown to Christ’s birth lies in front of us each evening – it is so close, but are we ready?

I choose to focus on readying my heart. In the midst of the anticipation, we must ask ourselves how we best can use these four weeks – weeks we can fill with quiet reflection and gratefulness.

A friend of mine suggested focusing on one specific type of prayer during each of the four weeks of Advent. It was brilliant. She generously allowed me to share here.

This week, our focus is on adoration. It fits perfectly with the Advent study I have chosen this year: Truth in the Tinsel.  It is a wonderful scriptural tour of the people and events that lead up to Christmas and includes very easy crafts that are centered around the Bible reading for that day.

The last two days we have focused on Isaiah 9:1-7, which fits in well with our focus on prayers of adoration – God is Wonder-Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The same God who gave his Son to be born in a stable and placed in a feeding trough comes to us and seeks us without rest. The same God who is the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, longs for us to come on bended knee.

So, I am patient – I am going before my God in adoration this week. And I am anticipating – the coming of the Christ-child.

One more idea is to read one of these books. We have all three and rotate them every year.