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Practice saying this week’s verse out loud, “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10.

This week we have been talking about slowing down and remembering who God is and what He has done for us. We have practiced our verse all week and today is the day you get to share.

I want you to find 2 people to share your verse with. This could be a neighbor, a friend at school, a teacher, a grandparent, someone at the store, whoever you choose, I want you to share this verse with them and tell them what it means to you!

If the day is almost over, bring the challenge into this weekend and find 2 people to share the Bible verse with. If you’re having a hard time finding someone, I bet your teachers at church would love to hear!

We are really proud of you guys for working so hard all week and I hope that you not only memorized the Bible verse, but that you were able to slow down and remember who God is and the amazing gift of Jesus that He has given us! 

“Prepare the way tor the Lord, make straight paths for Him.” Mark 1:3

The book of Mark is one of my favorite gospels in the New Testament. The author is technically anonymous, but many scholars believe it was written by Mark, who was the son of a widow named Mary. Mark primarily writes to the Roman Gentiles (anyone not born Jewish). His writing is fast paced and straightforward, emphasizing Jesus as God and that Jesus provides salvation for all. 

As I consider today’s verse and what preparation means, I ask myself, why would God ask us to prepare the way for the Lord? What does this verse have to do with me, is it not about John the Baptist? 

Perhaps it's the season we are in where class projects are mounting as well as exams and college prep. It’s at the forefront of our minds, but I immediately consider the effort that goes into preparing for all this. We are surrounded by note cards, study guides, hi-liters, and potentially excessive amounts of coffee because we prepare for what we value. 

Preparation is always a reflection of what we value. 

We value what we have a vision for. 

And we have a vision for what we trust. 

Just as John the Baptist came to prepare the way for the Lord, but we too are invited to prepare our hearts for His presence. While we may not be shouting his name in the wilderness and baptising our neighbors, we can prepare our hearts and minds. Prepare to focus and reflect on His birth, life, death and resurrection this season. This passage is not just a call to the people of John the Baptist's time but a reminder to us all. 

This verse links the Old Testament to the New Testament, it is the fulfillment of a verse that was spoken by Isaiah to encourage the Isrealites and provide hope for what was to come (check out Isaiah 40:3-5.) Just as it was true then, it is true now. We need the encouragement to look above our circumstances and prepare our hearts to remember the gift that God is with us, our Jesus, our IMMANUEL. 

Take a moment and reflect on your own preparation. On a scale of 1-5 how do you feel about where you are in your relationship with Jesus? (1= have done minimal prep and 5=I’m all in and trust His plans)

What are some things you can put in place during this chaotic season to remind yourself to prepare for Him? 

Take a moment to pray, addressing the current concerns and worries in your life. Acknowledge that He is working and ask for eyes to see how He is moving.

“In the stillness, prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. Amen.”

Mark 1:3 (NIV) Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. 

In the quiet of Advent, we're called to a sacred task - the preparation of our hearts. This preparation is not about external trappings or perfect performances. It's an internal readying, a clearing of space in the deepest recesses of our being for the arrival of Christ.

Imagine your heart as an ancient cathedral. Over time, it may have accumulated layers of dust, cluttered with the trappings of daily life, windows clouded, obscuring the light. Advent is a time to tenderly, reverently restore this sacred space. We sweep away distractions, polish what has become tarnished, and open the windows to let in fresh air. We're not striving for perfection, but for openness - creating room for the holy to enter.

This heart-preparation happens in stillness. It's in the quiet moments, away from the noise and rush of the world, that we can truly focus on making room for Christ. This stillness is both a choice and a gift - we choose to create space for it, but the peace it brings is a grace beyond our own making. In the stillness, we have the opportunity to reflect deeply. We notice the corners of our hearts we've neglected, the hopes we've let gather dust, the love we've allowed to grow cold. We become aware of the clutter that hinders our relationship with God and others - old grudges, fears, misplaced priorities. Gently, with compassion for ourselves, we begin to clear these away.

Preparing our hearts isn't about making ourselves worthy of Christ's coming. Rather, it's about acknowledging our deep need for Him, our longing for His presence, our desire for Him to enter into every aspect of our lives. It's about cultivating a spirit of expectancy and hope, believing that Christ's coming - both His historical coming that we celebrate at Christmas, and His ongoing coming into our lives - changes everything. We're not just getting ready to celebrate a past event, but to encounter the living Christ in our present reality. We're making space for Him to be born anew in our hearts, to transform us from the inside out, to align our wills more closely with His.

This preparation is both intensely personal and communal. While each of us must do the work of preparing our own hearts, we're also called to support and encourage one another in this process. We can create spaces of stillness together, share our journeys of preparation, and encourage each other to stay focused on Christ amidst the distractions of the season.

As we come to the end of this prayer, the word "Amen" serves as both a conclusion and an affirmation. It's a way of saying "Yes, let it be so" to all that we've prayed for - the stillness, the quieting of our hearts and minds, the contentment in God's presence, the surrender to His peace, and the preparation for Christ's coming.

Take a moment to reread today’s Scripture passage and then spend some time reflecting on the following question:

Mark 1:3 (NIV) Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. 

• In the stillness of your heart, how could you prepare your heart for Christ this Advent?