Today begins a busy week for lots of people. Thanksgiving is only a few days away, and there are all sorts of things that must be done to prepare for that all important feast of Biblical proportions. This is also a busy week because Advent begins this Sunday.
Advent, much like Lent, is a season of preparation.
Preparation for Christmas, for many people, begins the day after Thanksgiving. Shoppers hit the stores early on “Black Friday” for deals. In 2009, consumers spent $10.66 billion on Black Friday alone. This coming weekend will also be a time when many of us deck our houses and trim our trees for the upcoming Holiday season.
Advent reminds us that Christmas is not something that can be bought or wrapped and placed under our Christmas Tree. Advent reminds us that, just as we prepare by decorating and buying presents, that our hearts need to be prepared for the birth of Jesus.
I have a lot to do this week to prepare for Advent, but if I forget to prepare my heart, then I will have missed the true power of this season.
I ran upon this Advent prayer, so I thought I’d share it.
Father in heaven, the day draws near when the glory of your Son will make radiant the night of the waiting world. May the lure of greed not impede us from the joy which moves the hearts of those who seek him. May the darkness not blind us to the vision of wisdom which fills the minds of those who find him. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.
Grace and Peace to you as we begin this Advent season.
Josh Scott 
