Better Your Best With Marivic

Advent is here—a season rich with meaning and purpose. Over the next 25 days, we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But what if this Advent could be more than just a time of anticipation? What if it became an opportunity to radically transform our lives, reorient our priorities, and embrace habits that draw us closer to God and to the people around us?

The readings during Advent often highlight figures like Isaiah, John the Baptist, and Mary—each of whom answered God’s call in extraordinary ways. This year, the Gospel of Luke reminds us of the end times, urging us to prepare for not only Christ’s birth but also for His second coming. These reminders challenge us to reflect on how we’re living today. Are we ready for Christ’s arrival? And more importantly, are we willing to take action now to prepare our hearts and lives for Him?

Preparing Beyond the Surface

For many of us, the weeks leading up to Christmas are filled with social preparations—decorating, shopping, planning gatherings. While these are joyful activities, Advent invites us to go deeper. It’s a call to prepare spiritually and emotionally, to reflect on what God is asking of us in this season.

People say it takes about 21 days to change a habit. With 25 days until Christmas, Advent offers a near-perfect window to start reshaping our lives. It’s not about adding more to our plates but rather about making intentional choices:

• Choosing peace over conflict.
• Fostering joy in the face of challenges.
• Extending love even when it’s difficult.
• Cultivating hope in the darkest moments.

These aren’t abstract ideals; they are practices we can adopt each day.

Answering the Call

Throughout the Bible, God sends ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Isaiah, John the Baptist, and Mary might seem like towering figures of faith, but they were also human, just like us. They felt fear, doubt, and unworthiness, yet they trusted God’s plan.

Often, we pray for God to send someone to fix a situation—a leader, a rescuer, a miracle worker. But what if we are the answer to those prayers? What if God is calling us to be the “just shoot” Jeremiah speaks of, the one who brings hope and justice into the world? This realization can feel overwhelming, but Advent reminds us that transformation happens through small, faithful steps.

Training Ourselves to Respond

There’s a powerful story of a police academy instructor who told trainees to run toward danger while others flee. The first time he faced real danger, the trainee instinctively sought cover, but over time, with practice and resolve, he learned to rise above his fear and respond to the call.

Advent is our training ground. As we prepare for Christmas, we can practice responding to life’s challenges with grace and courage. Like the trainee, we might stumble at first, but with daily prayer, reflection, and action, we can grow into the people God is calling us to be.

Practical Steps for Advent Renewal

1. Reflect on a Habit You Want to Change:
   What in your life is holding you back from being the person God wants you to be? Identify one habit and commit to changing it over these 25 days.
2. Daily Prayer and Scripture:
   Dedicate time each day to connect with God. Let His Word guide your actions and decisions.
3. Small Acts of Love and Service:
   Look for opportunities to be the answer to someone’s prayer. A kind word, a listening ear, or an act of generosity can make a profound difference.
4. Stay Accountable:
   Share your Advent goals with a trusted friend or family member who can encourage and support you on this journey.

Becoming the Light

When we take Advent seriously—not just as a countdown to Christmas but as a time for transformation—we open ourselves to the true joy of the season. By implementing new habits and aligning our lives with God’s will, we become lights in a world that so desperately needs hope and love.

This Advent, let us not sit idly by waiting for someone else to make things better. Let us rise to the challenge, knowing that God has equipped us to be His hands and feet in the world. As we celebrate the birth of Christ, may we also celebrate the birth of something new within us—a deeper faith, a renewed purpose, and a life that reflects His glory.

What habit will you change this Advent season? How will you prepare your heart for Christ’s coming? Share your thoughts and journey with others—together, let’s make this a season of radical renewal.