It’s Christmas Eve. You made it to the precipice of the day you’ve been thinking about and preparing for for weeks now. If things have been going in your household anything like they have in mine, you’ve been way busier than usual and your calendar hasn’t seen a free day since November. So what now? Even if you’re tired and you still have work ahead of you, I want you to keep in mind one simple word today: expectation. 

Even though we find many of our most sacred and closely held Christmas traditions rooted in heritage, the truth is that Advent is about something fresh. Yes, it’s a commemoration, but it’s also a time to prepare for and honor the ongoing work of Jesus Christ in our lives. The night He was born, He started a new thing that changed the world, and that new thing is still evolving today. While esteeming the past warms our hearts, remembering the Holy Spirit’s work in the present and the future compels us to take action that leads to our best lives. 

Friend, as you take time today to worship the newborn King, whether gathered in a church or simply reverencing Him in your spirit, I encourage you to set your expectations according to His character. Honor what He’s done already, but more importantly, anticipate what He will continue to do, both in your life and in the world around you. Make room for Him in your heart and then expect Him to do greater and mightier things in the months and years to come. Yes, this is a day to remember, but most importantly, it’s a season to prepare for what’s ahead and to ask Him to be the center of it.