Waiting
By Landry Franks
One of my favorite things to do in ministry is marriage counseling because I get to minister alongside of my wife. She is so gifted in helping couples to work through conflict and to see the beauty of Jesus in marriage. It also helps us refine our own marriage as we seek to honor the Lord with how we live. It gives eyes to see blind spots that we might miss without counseling other couples. I really love to see the passion that two young people have for each other, and the eagerness to spend the rest of their lives together. Something special happens during an engagement, and Kayla and I try to help couples see the beauty of that. It is a forced period of time to wait on the arrival of the rest your life with the person you love and admire. The waiting, in my opinion, strengthens the eagerness for love and companionship.
This past Sunday, our church began to wait. We are waiting on and eagerly looking forward to the coming of Jesus, the advent of the Christ. Advent is a special time to wait on the Lord. Not only to look forward to the traditions and joys of Christmas, but also to see God for who he is, and to see the incarnation of Jesus for the amazing gift that it is. Advent is a season in which we should force ourselves to slow down, to anxiously await the birth of our King, Lord and Priest. My encouragement and challenge for us as a church is to be intentional in our waiting. Would you consider spending this advent season waiting in some of these intentional ways?
1. While waiting… No Phones…
Christmas requires waiting. Just ask my kids who have chosen their gifts months in advance and ask about them often. They will wait, and so will we. Make your waiting a discipline of grace. When you're in the checkout line, don’t pull out your phone. Pray for a better awareness of the needs around you. When you are at a stoplight, don’t check your texts. Pray and listen for the Lord’s direction. Keep your phone in your pocket while you wait so you can see the joy in the simple moments you often miss.
2.) Wake up a little early. Pray, wait, listen.
What is the first thing you do when you wake up? I make coffee and listen to a podcast. However, during this Advent season, both will take a back seat to praying and Bible reading. I will wait to do what is normal to focus on the Advent Christ and anxiously await his coming. Maybe this will help you not get lost on the gifts, the busyness of the season and all the other things (good and bad) that the holidays bring. Take time while the house and day are quiet to read his word and listen for his voice. Keep your phone plugged into the power cord and get away, wait and listen for the Lord.
3.) Read an Advent devotional before bed.
If you are like me, bedtime is sacred. Once I get into bed, my eyes are ready to close. One helpful and challenging thing Kayla and I do (most years) is read an Advent devotional before bed. Our very own pastor Rick Thompson wrote one a several years ago, and it is excellent. I have posted some additional titles that are also good!
4.) Wait… on Christmas morning.
Before you dive into all the gloriousness of Christmas morning, sit with friends, family, kids and grandparents and spend time worshiping God for his arrival. You could also read the Christmas story from Luke 2 or share what God has done in your heart this season. Celebrate the waiting and praise God that he came and dwelt with us to reconcile us back to him.
Additional Reading Suggestions:
Good News of Great Joy: 25 Devotional Readings for Advent
Come, Let Us Adore Him: A Daily Advent Devotional
Author Bio
Landry Franks is the Groups Pastor at Council Road. He has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Master in Divinity from Southern Seminary. His children are Asher and Dru, and his beautiful wife is Kayla. He enjoys being outside, reading and hanging with his family.