Have you waited for something recently that made you a bit impatient? A family event, for example. Perhaps it was feedback on something quite important to you. Or maybe it was even a meal cooking in the oven. Patience is not a national trait in the US.
Now think about how it feels to wait for the coming of the King. Are you preparing this Advent for His arrival?
Chances are good that you are. Being a part of the human experience puts us in a position to seek and to wait on something greater than ourselves. The focus of this article, however, is not on the “what” of our wait, but rather it is on the “how.”
God understands how difficult the waiting period can be, and that is why He added patience as a fruit of the Spirit as we can see in Galatians 5:22-23.
The Theme for the Month of December for CWBS is preparation, which is what Advent is all about. Here are three things you can do as a believer who is awaiting the birth of the Savior:
- Make Your Waiting Worthwhile: To keep your lantern burning, you need some lamp oil. To keep a vehicle moving, you’d need to purchase fuel. Stimulation is key when it comes to the art of anticipation, and we all need a little something to keep us going. Waiting for something can be undeniably challenging and not very fun, so to remedy this, it is advisable that we envelop ourselves with materials and resources that stimulate us and stir us in the right direction.
- A good place to start is to immerse yourself in Bible studies that encompass relevant teachings. You could watch or listen every chance you get, even while doing the most mundane activities like driving to work or walking your dog. You can purchase a number of fascinating presentations here for a small fee, about the same cost as one large latte: https://cwbs.org/products/presentations/
- Remember Your Why: It is also very easy to get so caught up in the busy nature of the season that we forget the reason we began the journey in the first place. It can happen to the best of us. This is why the Bible advises us to keep our eye on the prize and remember His promises for us in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
- Having a community whose sole purpose is keeping you in check and equipped with these teachings can also come in handy, so join us today for your own little family. With just one click you can regularly engage with others who carry the best interest of your faith at heart: https://www.instagram.com/catholicway_biblestudy/
- Give Yourself the Grace To Try Again: It can sometimes be hard to believe that God’s mercies stretch across our sins to pardon each and every one of us, because forgiveness can be difficult to show ourselves sometimes.
- But we must remember that God does not want to lose a single sheep as was demonstrated to us in Luke 15:4-7 when The Master returns to redeem the one lost sheep in a crowd of 99 others. You must realize that you are worth the struggle and treat and carry yourself accordingly.
- Falling is inevitable. We have learned that lesson from our infancy when trying to take our first step. Just as we do not reprimand babies for falling while learning the art of walking, so God extends His grace and empathy to us whenever we fall in our ways.
So, in this time of preparation, seek to go more deeply in your faith, join with others who share your joy and anticipation, and ask for and receive forgiveness for your failures. These steps will open your heart to receive all the graces of the season.
Happy Advent and Merry Christmas to you!
