How to Prepare Your Heart for Advent With Silent Thanks

Sometimes thanks is silent. Spoken not in words but awe as we inhale God’s overwhelming goodness and weighty glory. The very first line of Psalm 65 stops me: “Oh God in Zion, to you even silence is praise” (TPT).

Silent praise assumes familiarity. Connectedness that can fill in the blanks and simply savor presence. That’s the kind of relationship King David had with his beloved Lord. He goes on to pen this sentiment: “How satisfied we will be just to be near you!” (v. 4).

As the calendar draws us gently toward Advent, I want to hold this wonder that offers wordless praise. Because isn’t that the point of practicing gratitude for 30 days—that it would never end?

We’ve looked for Jesus in our people. Named the ways they’ve taught His nature. Thanked them for being Jesus to us. And now we turn our attention to the One most deserving of our adoration.

Thanksgiving Paves the Way to Advent

That’s where thanks leads us—to our knees, where we best see Jesus’ face turned ever towards us. We bend low to fill our vision with Him, and the more we see, the deeper we know He’s infinitely more good and glorious than we could ever wrap words around.

I have to wonder how well we’d know Jesus if we step less time talking and more time lingering face down in His presence, letting Him love us. If we were content to be silent and simply take Him in. Invited awe to overwhelm us.

Maybe David’s words would rise within us as well: “My love for you has my heart on fire! My passion consumes me for your house! Nothing will turn me away . . .” (Psalm 69:9 TPT).

Time and again we find David seeking the God he knew could always be found, wanting above everything to nestle in close. “Just let me see your face, and turn your heart toward me,” he exclaims in Psalm 69: 16-17 TPT. His intense desire for God was quick to bring him his knees, as we read in Psalm 138:2—“I bow down before your divine presence and bring you my deepest worship as I experience your tender love and your living truth” (TPT).

David understood from experience that silence and submission grow expectancy. Bowing low and waiting for God to speak says with the whole of our bodies that God is gloriously big and we fully trust Him. It’s reverence and adoration. Thanksgiving and Advent.

silence and submission grow expectancy quote Twyla Franz for The Uncommon Normal

Perhaps the calendar progression is no accident. Gratitude is the bridge than brings us from our hurried, ordinary lives to holy, hushed anticipation. It quiets what pulls and distracts, helps you notice what you’ve missed before: gifts tucked into everything and God everywhere you look.

Waiting on God (Who Didn’t Wait For Us to Say Thanks)

During these days between Thanksgiving and Advent, I remember that Thanksgiving comes first on the calendar, but Jesus came long before the first Thanksgiving. His coming for us wasn’t dependent on our thanks. He came, period. Into the mess and muck of our lives to win over our lonely and battered hearts.

God knew what we needed before we did, so He gifted us Himself. Advent has nothing to do with us and everything to do with Him. God came simply because it’s in His nature.

Pause here for a moment and think about the gravity of that outrageously unconditional, unstoppable love. Let wonder fill your heart. If you’re able to do so, I encourage you to find a spot on the floor and kneel in silence as you mull over the kind of God who would come for us before we said thanks, even if we never said thanks.

Stay here as long as you need. God invites you to come boldly and hungry to Him.

When you’re ready, read Psalm 62:5-8 with me:

I am standing in absolute stillness, silent before the one I love, waiting as long as it takes for him to rescue me. Only God is my Savior, and he will not fail me.

For he alone is my safe place. His wrap-around presence always protects me as my champion defender. There’s no risk of failure with God! So why would I let worry paralyze me, even when troubles multiply around me?

God’s glory is all around me! His wrap-around presence is all I need, for the Lord is my Savior, my hero, and my life-giving strength.

Join me, everyone! Trust only in God every moment! Tell him all your troubles and pour out your heart-longings to him. Believe me when I tell you—he will help you!
TPT

Note how David moves from silence to an outpouring of words. God’s here for both. Welcomes us when we have no words and when we talk over Him or about Him rather than to Him. But we can hear Him more clearly when we pause our own words and lean into His. I find too, that I listen less distracted on my knees. The physical posture of surrender teaches my heart to wait in expectation and awe.

God’s here for both. Welcomes us when we have no words and when we talk over Him or about Him rather than to Him.

Where are you in need of a rescue today? I pray you know down to your bones that God is also your “champion defender.” He is your “Savior . . . hero . . . and . . . life-giving strength.” Wait for Him. He will not fail you because He sees the whole picture and He loves you with fierce tenderness.

May Our Attention Be Our Thanks

This week, in the lull between holidays, let’s savor the pause. Embrace the invitation to be still and silent and full of awe. Linger near Jesus and let our attention be our thanks.

Like David, may we “overflow with praise when we come before [God]” (Psalm 63:5 TPT)—both praise with words and silent thanks.

Jesus, thank you for coming for us when we least deserved it. Today we say thanks, on our knees, with our attention before our words.

Just a friend over here in your corner,

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