Have you been feeling this Advent season? Have you had regular times of stillness and wonder about God and what he did by sending his Son to earth as a baby? Are you growing spiritually after each Advent service you attend? Are you smiling more this season? Are you getting more rest? Are you able to schedule your regular exercise and are you eating healthy food?
Are you finding yourself losing ground rather than making spiritual progress during this Advent season? Do you ever wonder why? After all your attempts to make this Advent different from last year, do you still occasionally yell at your spouse, you spend too much money, do you over-commit to parties.
It’s not just you. You have a cunning adversary who is constantly looking to trip you up. Satan tempts us when we are weak. I know that I can grow spiritually weak during the Advent season. If I don’t watch out, I will become a prime target for Satan’s schemes.
Satan waited until Jesus was the most tired and hungry before he set after Him out in the wilderness. Be aware, your adversary, the devil, is constantly looking for ways to trip you up. Don’t you just know that he is behind the crazy mess that Christmas has become for so many? We are told in 1 Peter 5:8 to be alert to the devil. Be alert that he wants to steal the love, the joy and the peace of Christmas. The best way you can keep Satan from stealing your Christmas is to take some time to sit still and take in what Advent has to teach us.
We not only need to be alert to Satan and find time for stillness, but we also need to heed Jesus’ example in how to resist him. Jesus used God’s Words from the Bible to fight off the temptations Satan brought before Him. God’s Word is the best possible way to fight off temptation.
Here are some words to help you fight Satan during Advent. When you catch that nasty spirit Christmas brings out in the post office line or the mad dash for the most in-demand toy, quote Psalm 37:7:
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
When you get overwhelmed by the parties, baking and the other things you need to do, remember Isaiah 40:30-33:
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like an eagle; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.
When you find yourself being angry with the people in your household, remember that your precious Heavenly Father is slow to anger, and He can help you be that way too:
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. (Exodus 34:6).
It will take the power of the Holy Spirit to give you the patience you need to experience an Advent that brings glory to the Father. Remember, it’s not the Grinch who stole Christmas, but you do have an enemy who wants to keep you from fully receiving the message of God’s love this Advent Season.
May God Bless You and Grant You His Peace!