Getting Ready for Something Big
If you grew up in church, you’ve probably heard people throw around the word Advent like everyone automatically knows what it means. But for most of us, it might as well be church code. Advent simply means arrival—specifically, the arrival of Jesus. And every year during Advent, Christians slow down and prepare their hearts to celebrate Jesus’ first arrival in Bethlehem while also looking forward to His promised return.
When Jesus stepped into our world, He brought hope, love, joy, and peace—not as holiday decorations, but as life-changing gifts. So yes, Christmas is a celebration! But think about any great celebration: a wedding, a graduation, even a family dinner… someone has to plan, to prepare, to get things ready.
Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Not bad for a guy best known for his portrait on the $100 bill. He helped write the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He invented things we still use today. Preparation kept him—and our country—from falling apart.
I’ve learned this the hard way. Every time I failed to prepare for something important, stress showed up like an unwanted Christmas guest—often bringing chaos, disappointment, and late-night panicking along with it. Maybe you’ve been there too.
Of course, some of us go overboard. We plan Christmas like we’re running logistics for Santa’s entire operation. But there’s a difference between controlling and preparing. Healthy preparation focuses on what truly matters most.
Meeting Jesus this Christmas?
That calls for preparing your whole life.
Faith Prepares the Way
Noah didn’t wait for the rain to start swinging a hammer—his faith led him to prepare long before the first drop fell. Jesus Himself spent 40 days praying, fasting, and being strengthened in the wilderness before starting His ministry (Luke 4). When God speaks, faith responds—and it prepares.
And then there’s Mary. The angel appears and announces she will carry the Savior of the world. She doesn’t faint. She doesn’t freak out. Instead, she packs a bag and heads straight to her cousin Elizabeth—the only other person who could fully understand what God was doing. Scripture says she stayed three months (Luke 1:56).
Two pregnant women, two miraculous stories, three months of talking, learning, worshiping, and preparing for what God promised. Before there were parenting books or Google searches, preparation looked like community, prayer, wisdom, and trust.
Mary and Elizabeth prepared for the very first Christmas.
We can follow their lead.
What inspires you in regards to preparation when you consider Mary’s story?
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