December always brings a mix of joy, nostalgia, and unfortunately, also a fair amount of stress. At home, the season feels delightful. I love the traditions I grew up with, like the memory of my father taking our family to pick out a live Christmas tree. Every year, when I get my own tree, the fragrant smell of pine fills the house and instantly transports me back to those happy childhood moments. Yet, it’s easy to get swept up in the busyness of December. Advent invites us into something deeper: a season of preparation. Not the kind that happens in Target aisles or wrapping paper bins, but the kind that happens quietly, tenderly, in the heart.
This is the perfect moment to pause before the December rush and ask:
How can I prepare my heart for Christ this Christmas?
Let’s walk through it together.
1. Start with Stillness
Advent begins not with a shout, but with a whisper. Before you plan a single gift, recipe, or activity, take a moment to simply sit with the Lord. Even five minutes of silence can reset your heart.
Whisper a prayer:
“Jesus, I want to begin this season with You at the center.”
This small moment becomes your anchor. Every tradition, every gathering, every gift can flow from this place of calm, Christ-centered intention.
2. Remember the Meaning Behind the Season
It’s so easy to get swept away by the sparkle. Even beautiful traditions — baking, decorating, gift-giving — can distract us if we forget why we celebrate.
One of my most cherished memories comes from a quiet evening as a little girl. While everyone else was busy with their own tasks, I slipped into the living room alone. I laid on the sofa, gazing at the glowing Christmas tree lights while Silent Night was playing in the background. In that stillness, I felt a closeness to Christ that I’ve never forgotten. The lyrics drew my heart to the true meaning of Christmas and it is my favorite Christmas carol to this day.
Advent calls us to remember three truths:
• Christ came for us.
• Christ is with us now.
• Christ will come again.
When you hold these truths close, everything else falls into its rightful place. Christmas becomes more than gifts under a tree — it becomes a celebration of grace wrapped in swaddling clothes.
3. Simplify Something On Purpose
Preparing your heart sometimes means unburdening your schedule. Choose one thing to intentionally simplify this December:
• One less event
• One less obligation
• One less expectation
• One less “should”
This simple act creates space — space for rest, space for reflection, space for Christ.
Let the season breathe. Let you breathe.
4. Set Aside Time for Advent Scripture
One of the most beautiful ways to prepare your heart for Christmas is simply to sit with Scripture. Choose a simple Advent reading to guide your month. A few options:
• The book of Luke, one chapter a day, December 1st – 24th
• The Messianic prophecies in Isaiah
• A short Advent devotional
• A weekly Scripture focus tied to Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love
Even 5–10 minutes a day can reorient your heart. Consider pairing Scripture with journaling to help you reflect on:
• What am I longing for this season?
• How is Christ inviting me to trust Him more deeply?
• What do I need to release so I can receive His peace?
✨ And if you’d love a simple, meaningful way to stay rooted this December, I created a free 25-day guide just for you.
It’s called Preparing Him Room: A 25-Day Advent Reflection Journey, and inside you’ll find:
- A daily Scripture reading
- A short, heart-centered reflection
- A journaling prompt to help you slow down and connect with Jesus
- Space to pause, breathe, and invite the Lord into your everyday moments
You can download it instantly here: [link to your landing page]
5. Prepare Your Heart Through Worship
Christmas has always been a season I love, and each year I try to make intentional space in my heart to focus on Christ. For a long time, I held myself to strict rules about when I could start celebrating the season. I would wait until after Thanksgiving to begin enjoying Christmas, trying to preserve Thanksgiving’s specialness.
This year, I realized that these restrictions were more distracting than helpful. By allowing myself to listen to Christmas carols in October, I discovered a wonderful gift: the joy of celebrating Christ extended over a longer period! Letting go of those self-imposed rules brought freedom and reminded me that joy doesn’t need to be delayed — it can be embraced fully when we make room for it.
There’s something powerful about worshiping through Christmas music — especially hymns and carols that lift our gaze to Jesus. Whether you play a song during your morning routine or turn your commute into a sanctuary, worship softens the heart and shifts your focus back to Christ.
Let your heart sing, even quietly:
“O come, O come, Emmanuel…”
6. Make Room for Christ in Your Giving
Advent is a beautiful time to let generosity shape your season — not out of pressure, but out of joy. This doesn’t have to be extravagant. It can look like:
• Buying a meaningful, faith – inspired gift
• Supporting a small Christian business
• Blessing someone anonymously
• Giving to a ministry or family in need
Generosity opens your heart in the sweetest way — and it beautifully mirrors the heart of God who gave us His Son. (And as you begin thinking about gifts, I’ll be sharing some thoughtful, Christ-centered gift guides to help you choose presents that celebrate faith and beauty from the inside out. Stay tuned!)
7. Create a Simple Tradition That Points You to Jesus
Creating intentional spiritual practices has also helped me prepare my heart. Since my family didn’t have Advent traditions when I was a child, I’ve started adding my own: reading one chapter of Luke each day leading up to Christmas Eve, completing an Advent devotional journal, and following Sunday Scripture reading plans. These small habits have opened more space for prayer, reflection, and Scripture during a season that can easily feel rushed or overwhelming.
Traditions don’t have to be complicated to be meaningful. Try one new Christ-centered practice this year:
• Light a candle for each week of Advent
• Read the Christmas story on Sunday evenings
• Pray before bed by the glow of your tree
• Write a “gratitude to Jesus” list
• Reflect on one name of Jesus each week
The key is consistency — not perfection.
8. Ask God to Prepare Your Heart
By checking in with our hearts, letting go of distractions, and creating intentional spiritual practices, we make room for Christ to be the center of our celebrations — turning a busy season into one filled with presence, peace, and joy.
Sometimes the most powerful preparation is simply surrender. Pray this softly:
“Lord, prepare my heart to receive You. Clear away distractions. Fill me with peace, wonder, and expectation.”
You don’t have to strive.
You don’t have to perform.
You don’t have to create a “perfect” Christmas.
Your heart becomes ready for Jesus not through effort — but through openness.
Conclusion: A Season Open to Wonder
It’s easy to get caught up in the world’s focus on Santa, reindeer, and glittering fantasies. But the way I want to experience Christmas is different — I want to center my heart on the true reason for the season: the birth of Jesus Christ. This desire is what inspires me to intentionally prepare Him room in my life, making space for peace, reflection, and the joy of His presence amid the hustle and bustle of December.
As Advent begins, you have the beautiful opportunity to choose how you will enter this season. Not hurried. Not overwhelmed. Not buried under to-do lists.
But expectant.
Present.
Centered on Christ.
If you’re longing for a gentle guide to help you slow down and stay rooted, my free devotional, Preparing Him Room: A 25-Day Advent Reflection Journey, is there to walk with you day by day — just a simple way to pause, breathe, and meet with Jesus in the middle of it all.
Let this be the year you prepare room for Him not only in your schedule, but in your heart.
And as you begin choosing meaningful gifts for the people you love, let your giving flow from the joy of the One who first gave Himself to us.
Christmas is coming, beauties.
Let’s prepare our hearts well.
Let’s prepare Him room.
