Prayers For The Wait

Something strange has been happening this week. I have found myself doing things you don’t normally have time to do two weeks before Christmas.

I organized the utility closet in our kitchen on Tuesday. Wednesday, I found myself recaulking the base of the shower in our upstairs bathroom, followed by such a thorough dusting of the upstairs that the AirDoctor air filter kicked into high gear.  Frankly, I’m a little afraid of what today will bring.

I think this unusual behavior is actually an answer to prayer. I have been leading a Firstfruit’s series called “Reinvent Your Advent” and we have been talking about how to spend these weeks leading up to Christmas in joyful and peaceful anticipation, rather than hurried and harried angst.

We talked about two prayers that can help during this Advent wait.
Lord, multiply my time.
Lord, give me the “want to.”

Have you ever asked God to multiply your time? Try it. I really believe that is what is happening to me this week. I have gotten things done quickly and efficiently. I have made decisions with more clarity, and it has become much easier to discern what to do and what doesn’t need to be done to make this Christmas memorable, meaningful, and full of love for myself and my family. As a result, my time seems to have multiplied. Enough so, that I can clean a closet and caulk a shower.

But really, those things were accomplished more from the answer to the second prayer. Lord, give me the “want to.” Who wants to clean a closet or caulk a shower? How many times do we find ourselves with a to-do list a mile long but a to-don’t list even longer? This time of year, I  find that I would rather sit with some tea and watch the snow fall, or snuggle under a blanket and read a good book, than tackle the season’s task list. I need some serious motivation. I need the want to.

Try these prayers this week. There’s still time to reinvent your Advent.

Look out cobwebs!
Joan