And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord (II Chronicles 12:14 NKJV).

A Bit of Background

The Advent season is soon upon us—that time of year when we intentionally await the arrival of Jesus.

For the Christian, this is true both figuratively—his first coming—and literally—Jesus’s second coming.

Historically, Advent begins the Sunday after Thanksgiving with the lighting of the first of five candles—each representing the four themes of the season, culminating with the white “Christ” candle on Christmas Day.

The four themes of the Advent season are hope, peace, joy, and love, in this order, and the week following the lighting of each of these candles carries with it that particular focus. 

Personally…

I’m reading through the Bible chronologically this year, using a 2-year plan, concluding December 31, 2026. 

Honestly, some days, my Old Testament reading feels like drudgery—especially when I’m required to muddle through Levitical law or learn about one more king doing evil in the sight of the Lord. I mean, couldn’t they learn from their predecessors? 

What’s the saying? Something like—

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it (George Santayana).

But every now and then, a passage jumps off the page, and I’m reminded the Holy Spirit truly does speak through this beautiful Book–the only book I believe is, from cover to cover, divinely true.

In those moments, Paul’s words to his spiritual son of the faith ring in my heart and mind—

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (II Timothy 3:16-17).

This happened the other day. I was reading about King Rehoboam in II Chronicles, which isn’t one of my favorite parts in the Bible. I think I yawned as my watery eyes fell on chapter twelve, verse fourteen, and… I stopped.

What? What did it say?

I read the passage again, then underlined it, because here–in what I’d otherwise underestimated, thinking this particular chapter just one more historical account that, frankly, made me sleepy–was a timely truth.

Solomon’s son did evil because he had not prepared his heart to seek the Lord. Wow! Powerful stuff.

And that’s when the lyric from a beloved Christmas carol played in my mind. Words written in 1719 by Isaac Watts, “Joy to the World” is based on Psalm 98—a song attributed to King David, evil King Rehoboam’s grandfather, and a man God called “after my own heart” (Acts 13:22).

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let Earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Preparing Our Hearts

And that’s what Advent is all about—preparing our hearts for Jesus. Intentionally seeking him that we might:

1. Find him.
2. Know him.
3. Live for him.

And in discovering Jesus, knowing him more intimately and living for him—according to God’s Word which sets the standard for holiness—we shun sin; that is, what is evil in the sight of the Lord.

In this season, using the four themes of Advent as our guide, let us press in—prepare our hearts to seek Jesus, both in our reflections of what the Holy Child came to do, as well as our anticipation of his second coming.

Prepare with Hope

Our world is dark, and sometimes we feel lost. Alone. 

Find scriptures that remind us of the light of Christ, which is our hope—passages like Hebrews 10:23—

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Throughout the first week of Advent, focus on all the ways Jesus has been an anchor of hope in your life. 

Ask, “How can I offer hope to another that he or she, too, might know the hope of Jesus?”

Prepare with Peace

The holidays can feel anything but peaceful. Expectations run high and comparison seeks to steal true rest. 

Find scriptures that root you in the peace, the kind that only comes from the Lord—passages like Isaiah 26:3—

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

Armed with this truth, step into the second week of this busy season prepared to keep Jesus at the forefront of your heart and mind, whether shopping, decorating, cooking, traveling….

Ask, “How can I encourage peace for another who is frazzled or frustrated, perhaps coming alongside him or her to help in some way, to lighten the load?”

Prepare with Joy

Joy isn’t the same as happiness, which is too often based on circumstance. Rather, joy is certain, as Nehemiah 8:10 promises–

…The joy of the Lord is your strength.

Take the word J-O-Y. Then think of it this way—

J—Just

O—Overcome

Y—Your…

Fill in the blank. Just overcome your _____________.

• Fear?
• Insecurity?
• Need for approval?

With Jesus as our source of joy, he will enable us to choose that which gives life rather than that which depletes. In the third week of Advent, allow him to show you ways to encourage others as well, reminding them all things are possible with God (Mark 10:27).

Ask, “Who in my life seems weighed down, in desperate need of a hearty dose of Jesus-joy? How can I encourage him or her to just overcome ______________, casting it at the cross, replacing it with freedom that he or she might instead go out with joy and be led for with peace (Isaiah 55:12)?

Prepare with Love

Yes, the greatest of all things. As I Corinthians 13:13 proclaims–

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 

This world needs love, and we are Christ’s vessels, his loving hands and feet.

Ask, “How might I love those around me in an authentic, Christlike way? What do I need to do to live with eyes and ears open to see and hear others and respond in a loving manner?”

Don’t Be a Rehoboam

Because, let’s be honest. This prideful king who wouldn’t accept counsel from those wiser than himself–one who, unlike his grandfather David, didn’t prepare his heart to seek the Lord–did evil and is remembered for this, down through the ages.

Unlike Rehoboam, we can heed this warning tucked in II Chronicles and, in doing so, experience Joy to the world.

Yes, this Advent season we are invited to prepare our hearts to welcome…

King Jesus.

Precious Savior, may you find our hearts fully prepared for you today and always. 

Amen.

*****

As a Christmas gift to you, friends, I’m offering a chance to win my dear friend Jessica Brodie’s beautiful novel, The Memory Garden. This story reminds readers of the power of redemption and will also remind us that, even when weather turns colder, spring–and flower gardens–are right around the corner.

Leave a comment, sharing your favorite way to worship Jesus, a beloved memory, or your most cherished holiday song, book, or tradition. I’ll draw a name from participants next Wednesday, December 3rd and ship to your door (U.S. only).

AND…

Thank you for all your loving thoughts and prayers for my husband Bill. He is doing well post-surgery and has returned to work. All glory to God!

While I was away with him, my website has undergone a lovely makeover, and I hope you’ll subscribe and receive my newsletter, coming soon.

Please excuse typos / errors in the layout of this blog post, as I’m still figuring out this new platform and have some things to learn, but I didn’t want to wait another week to write to you, my beloved friends.

Love you all!

As always, I’d love to pray for you, so please let me know how.

**All passages taken from New King James Version.**