How to Unlock the Forgotten Language of Reverence During Advent

White lights sparkle from gold branches and hanging from twine bows are round ornaments wrapped in red burlap. Behind the tree, an old window with peeling paint and missing glass cradles a plain wreath with a single burlap flower.

I could drink the scene for ages, and if the window is my wardrobe passageway to Narnia. The gateway to adventure and wonder. The key to a stilled, reverence filled heart.

We’re days into Advent and this spot in my entry reminds me that here is not our forever home. The breath of heaven still lingers in our lungs. We get glimpses of glory, windows of what will be, as we wait in expectancy.

Eagerly savoring our Savior.

Savoring salvation.

Savoring the still-unfolding story of a God who came for us to bring us back home.

Savoring sacred mystery, silence broken, a star appearing, a stable-turned nursery.

Savoring Shalom, the completeness of peace.

Savoring Shaddai—God all-sufficient and almighty.

With heart alit, I embrace this sanctuary, this simple elegance, this welcome window right here in my entry that reroutes my attention.

I respond to the invitation to still. To fill with gratitude for God already-come, a swaddled infant, with us wrapped around His heart. To anticipate in awe His coming again.

This pause feels like standing in the wardrobe C.S. Lewis chronicled, one foot in England, the other in Narnia, knowing there’s more to life than what we can see. Like straddling the slim line between here-and-now and heaven. Thin places, as the Celtics named the liminal space where the spiritual realm is unveiled, remind that heaven is always pressing in.

Advent births expectancy, and expectancy, reverence—that oft-forgotten word that bears the scent of eternity.

What Is Reverence?

The definition of reverence, according to Mirriam-Webster, is

honor or respect felt or shown : deference

especially : profound adoring awed respect

Its secondary meaning is “a gesture of respect (such as a bow).”

I find the word in my current-favorite Bible translation but not often in everyday conversation. The phrase “fear of the Lord” is perhaps more familiar to you than the word reverence.

Interestingly, the Hebrew word yir’ah, which in many versions of the Bible is translated as fear, encapsulates awe. “Fearing God” isn’t terror running through you, but worship-laced respect. Not running from God, afraid, but knees growing weak in response to His glory.

When we’re afraid of God, we retreat. But when we reverence Him, we approach Him with gratitude and anticipation. We honor Him involuntarily, bending the knee, bowing the head, folding the hands or stretching them towards heaven. He overwhelms us, God who is holy and beautiful and pure. We are awed and undone.

Reverence turns our attention towards eternity and God’s eternal love for us. To God here and yet coming in full.

Reverence is reminiscent of heaven, where God’s glory is undiluted and we have wide open eyes to see it.

When Reverence Leads

What might change this Christmas season if reverence led us through Advent? If the holiness of God hushed the disquiet in our souls? If our homes became holy ground where we, like Moses who stood barefoot in reverence (Exodus 3:5), brought our wonder and our worship?

Perhaps the gratitude we practiced in November prepared us for this—to “offer to God worship that pleases Him and reflects the awe and reverence we have toward Him” (Hebrews 12:28, The Voice).

We slow-baked gratitude into our DNA for this. This! So that we might make space for awed worship, genuine praise, honest adoration.

“Oh, come let us adore Him,” we sing. It’s one of my favorites. Hear the beckoning in that line: Come close. Closer still. Behold the child. Behold your king. He’s wonderful. He’s worthy. Worship Him!

Ancient, still-relevant words from the Psalmist paint a picture of what this might look like.

I will turn my face towards Your holy place and fall on my knees in reverence before You.

Psalm 5:7b, The Voice

Advent is a turning-toward. Facing the face of the Christ-child. Leaning towards the hope of Jesus returning to welcome us all home.

Reverence is the response of this soft turning, these hearts yielding. When we pause to position ourselves in awe, to acknowledge God’s lordship, the very fibers of our being begin to cry, “Holy! Holy! Holy!”

Heaven settles in closer.

Peace reigns supreme.

A window opens to the great story unfolding: a righteous God redeeming all things to Himself (Colossians 1:20).

An Advent Prayer for Reverence

Where does your heart feel hurried and expectations heavy?

Bring your burdens and bare your heart as you come in wonder to the One who always makes a way for you, who always walks with you, who’s always wild about you.

Pause in awe.

Praise unrestrained.

Pray with reverence.

May this Advent feel like a sacred stop at a window with the glory of heaven seeping right through the glass.

Here are words for both of us to adopt as an Advent prayer:

Lord, as we anticipate Your advent, fill us with expectation and awe. As we come closer, face and attention turned toward You, may we respond in reverence. May our adoration overflow.

In the holy name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Just a friend over here in your corner,