We celebrated a friend’s 21st birthday yesterday! It was a beautiful, loud, joyous, fun-filled occasion- a perfect tribute to a special young lady.
I fondly remembered my own 21st birthday: a big deal in South Africa, replete with the presentation of a key. That key symbolizes the crossing into adulthood.
My parents placed the key in my eager hands all those years ago, and I don’t think I appreciated the gravity of responsibility passed on. I was given the key to unlock my future with all its possibilities. I did not possess the wherewithal to pray, to ask God to guide me as I navigated the choices I would need to make… thank God, He knew that I would need Him- His presence, His guidance, His forgiveness and mercy, His patience, His abiding love. He covered me with everything I need, and still does so lavishly whether I deserve it or not… that’s grace, and it’s truly amazing!
So, here we are again at our wonderful season of Advent. This season of waiting presents us with a gift, a key- a key to unlock the door of our hearts as we prepare, with great expectation, for our Savior’s coming.
We have choices to make: we can get swept up in the anxiety and frenzy of the season, with all the external, yet necessary preparations.
But, the real work with eternal value is done on the inside. This work requires a slower pace, time to be still and sit at Jesus’ feet. This is heart-to-heart time for asking God to help us do the work necessary to prepare for Jesus’ coming. As the days of Advent draw us closer to Christmas, we have the opportunity to draw closer to the heart of God; to lean in and truly listen to Him; to allow Him to unlock the places in our lives and hearts that are still closed off to Him.
What will you do with your key this Advent?
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