It’s hard to believe it is already the 3rd Sunday of Advent. In a week and one day, we will be celebrating Christmas. I feel in a rush to slow down and use the rest of this time wisely. It is contradictory to all I am trying to do. Hurry up and wait. Go faster to achieve a slowdown. Hmmm!
This week, on the 3rd Sunday of Advent, I share a recap of how my quiet time has gone. I introduce sacred intentionality and I share the question God has asked me during my quiet time.
The time I am spending with God is never wasted. It doesn’t always look like I imagine it, but whenever I invite God to sit close I am blessed with His presence. I’m taking time to look back in order to move forward. Any work of the heart requires a time to put to rest any of the “whys” and “what ifs”. God takes those questions and scatters them like the wind and I need to fully release them to Him. I know that He will create a new thing that is better than those broken pieces.
[Tweet “When God works in our hearts, He puts to rest the “whys” and “what ifs”. “]
As I sit in quiet stillness, looking at the scattered pieces that God is working on so tenderly, He asked me “Do you trust me”? I can quickly answer “yes” but God asked the question and now I need to have the faith that goes with the “yes”. Advent is a time of preparing for the coming of Jesus. In my own preparation, I look to God to open that place inside me that He fills with His truth, grace, forgiveness, and trust.
Sacred intentionality is the next layer of my time in the stillness. It is making sure that during the quiet I invite God to sit close and lean into listening for all He has for me. I practice sitting in the quiet and know that God wants to hear me say, “will you join me”?
Sacred intentionality is where invitation meets welcome and the two produce good fruit. God meets us in the space of invitation, holds us close and loves us unconditionally.
[Tweet “Sacred intentionality is where invitation meets welcome and the two produce good fruit.”]
Sit with me in the quiet and listen to me share more in my video about sacred intentionality. Join me on Instagram for Advent encouragement as we draw closer to Christmas.
If you missed the first two weeks of videos, click here and here. Next week, I will share one more video on Christmas Eve. I pray you have a blessed week as you wrap up any last minute Christmas “to dos” and take time to wrap your heart around the coming of Jesus.
1st- Photo by Nicola Fioravanti on Unsplash
2nd – Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Whys and What ifs really affect our vision. Though hard, it is necessary to keep these two terms aside. Liked the video.
Yes, they do! Thank you for being here and for your sweet words. Merry Christmas!
So touching, Mary. I kept rewinding the video and listening again to the part of deep listening, letting God work deeper, and not wanting to miss out on what God has for us. I have been reflecting lately on how Mary treasured all these things in her heart and meditated on them. I want to be more like that. Not just at Christmas time, but all through the year. As you write, time spent with God is never wasted. Thank you for all these inspiring Advent reflections! Love and hugs to you!
Thank you for spending time here each week. I love that you rewound several times so you didn’t miss anything. I am honored. I want to be like Mary too. I want to treasure the things I have and know it is enough. I am praying to be an Advent person all year round and not just for a season. Quiet time with God where I lean in and listen is time I need to be intentional about all year round.
So true that it isn’t just about creating the space for God, but to invite Him in as well. Have a wonderful 4th week of Advent Mary!
I pray you have had a week of seeing God in all you do. I love that you have spent time here reading and listening! Christmas blessings!
Our waiting is never done in vain especially in the midst of Advent.
Amen! I also know that sometimes the waiting extends longer than a season such as Advent. That is so like God.
Thank you for sharing these quiet moments with us! I am so thankful for those questions that He has been asking of me as well. They may not always be the questions that I would want to hear–but HIS way is the best! He does ask us to come to HIM right there, doesn’t He? Thank you for your prayers! Blessings to you during these days before Christmas!
God loves to ask us questions. He does it with love but He wants us to dig deeper when He asks. I am still pondering the question, Do you trust me? I know it’s okay and I pray I allow God to teach me why He is asking me that question. I appreciate you spending time here. You are a blessing!
Beautiful reflections Mary.
Thank you, Debbie! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Mary, you and I are in exactly the same place, and have been called to the exact same thing: sacred intentionality.
I learnt from you in this video how to take the next step.
I have been practicing being present in His presence.
He often gives me one word pertaining to His character, that I dwell on and worship Him for.
I invite Him in, and listen… but am not yet able to stay long enough for Him to bless me with downloads of whatever He wants to say to me.
Praying for us both to get better at this practice of sacred intentionality, in Jesus Name.
The other Mary G. xx
Thank you for sharing that you are also called to sacred intentionality. I know God wants nothing more than to sit with us and I know I forget to actually invite Him in.
I pray you find that as you sit with God He grows that time you have together. Eventually, I believe we both will learn how to sit longer and listen better. Love you sweet friend!
Looking forward to this next video — and smiling about your “rush to slow down.”
Somehow we can make a project out of anything, can’t we?
Got to love how God is trying so hard with me and then He gives me words like “rush to slow down”. I pray this week has been a time of slow down for you.