from InTouch Magazine December 2011 issue
Have you ever woken up on December 26th and felt you missed the opportunity to make Christmas more spiritually fulfilling? Consider these suggestions.
Embrace Fasting
Since the church's earlisest days, Christians have fasted in preparation for significant holidays or 'holy days.' This advent, try giving up certain foods from the beginning of the season (November 27th) until Christmas. Traditional fasts include meat and dairy, but what we give up matters less than the spiritn in which we do so. Fasting should be challenging but it need not be excessive. The purpose is greater awareness of, and devotion to, God - letting Him reimain the focus of our attention in the midst of activities that would otherwise distract us. Other options include limiting media, such as television, films, music or internet usage to allow more time for Scripture reading and prayer.
Pray Daily
As we prepare for Christmas, regular communion with God helps us avoid many snares, from over-indulgence and materialism to judging others, idolatry or apathy. Constant prayer keeps our hearts sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading from moment, to moment, making this season a fruitful time - not one we simply pass through, attending party after party or shopping for gifts, with little spiritual benefit Prayer is also a safeguard against pride as we fast, keeping us connected to our humble Lord as we confess our sins to Him and rely on His strength, not on our own.
Serve Others
Advent is a time for growing Christlikeness, and being molded into the Lord's image requires that we follow His example of service. There's nothing wrong with giving gifts, but the giving of self is perhaps the most powerful expression of love we can offer another person. Through this, especially as we serve those less fortunate than ourselves, we become the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to the people around us, demonstrating that God does in fact live among men. After all, isn't that what the Christmas story is really about?
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