Preparing Our Hearts to Seek Him

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

Preparing

The Advent season is upon us—that time of year we intentionally await the arrival of Jesus. For the Christian, this is true both figuratively—Jesus’s first coming—and literally—his 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.

Preparing Personally

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

Honestly, some days, the Old Testament readings feel like drudgery—especially when I’m muddling through Levitical law or hearing about one more king doing evil in the sight of the Lord. I mean, wouldn’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 sometimes a passage jumps off the page, and I’m reminded the Holy Spirit truly does speak through this beautiful Book which I believe is, from cover to cover, 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).

Preparing with Song

This happened the other day. I was reading about King Rehoboam in II Chronicles, which isn’t one of my favorite books 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 had 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, King Rehoboam’s grandfather and a man who 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 Hearts

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

• Find him.
• Know him.
• 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 try to abstain from 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 for seeking Jesus, both in our reflections of what that Baby came to do as well as our anticipation of his second coming.

Preparing 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.

Week One Focus: Ponder 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 found in Jesus?”

Preparing 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 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.

Week Two Focus: Armed with this truth, step into the week prepared to keep Jesus at the forefront of your mind, whether shopping, cooking, traveling or…

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

Preparing With…

Joy.

Keep in mind–it’s not the same as happiness, that 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, and think of it this way—J—Just… O—Overcome… Y—Your ______________. Fill in the blank.

• Fear?
• Insecurity?
• Need for approval?

Week Three Focus: With Jesus as our source of joy, he will enable to us to choose that which gives life rather than that which depletes . And he’ll show us 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 go out with joy and be led for with peace (Isaiah 55:12)?

Preparing 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. 

Week Four Focus: 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?”

Preparing, Unlike…

Rehoboam.

Let’s not be like him. After all, this prideful king wouldn’t accept counsel from those wiser than himself. Unlike his grandfather David, Rehoboam didn’t prepare his heart to seek the Lord but 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.

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

(This appeared first at maureenmillerauthor.com–“Windows and Wallflowers.”)