‘Narrow is the mansion of my soul; enlarge it that You may enter in. It is ruinous; repair it.’ – Augustine
Advent begins Sunday. Advent is a season of readying our souls not for Christmas, but for Christ. We ready our souls as we remember His first coming, and ready our souls as we anticipate His second coming. We could not have been ready or prepared for 2020. But what would it look like to ready our lives for Christ?
Bracing your heart and soul is not the same thing as readying your heart and soul. The ready heart says:
‘Search me O, God…’ (Ps 139:23)
‘Here I am…’ (Is 6:8)
‘I am the servant of the Lord, let it be to me according to Your word…’ (Lk 1:38)
‘Not as I will, but as You will…’ (Matt 26:39)
If your soul feels small, sing with the Psalmist: ‘Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory.’ (Ps 24:7-10)
If your affections feel ruinous, say with the prophet: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’ (Is 40:3-5)
Lord, find in us ready hearts and souls. In Your name, amen.
Readying,
AB