This is a really good question and I’m very glad to hear that you are interested in taking this impending Lent seriously in preparation for our Lord’s Nativity. This type of an attitude is obviously the first step needed in such a situation: to have the desire to love God and grow in your faith.
Here is a list of things we each can do to improve the quality of our relationship with Christ during the Advent Fast:
- Read the Bible and Pray daily
- Be consistent with your prayers
- Be quiet and still; think or mediate upon God
- Attend services and come to them on time
- Make an effort to keep the Fast – even if only in small ways
- Take our Lord’s commandment to “Love on another” seriously
- Manifest this love to all – even to those who you might not like
- Show respect towards everyone
- Act as a Christian should – don’t “react” inappropriately to situations
- Be your own person – don’t let others dictate who you are
- Be understanding and quick to forgive others
- Be quick to ask forgiveness when you have hurt someone
- Don’t gossip or spread stories which are damaging to others
- Support your Church and its clergy (hierarchy, priests, deacons)
- Encourage one another and build one another up (1st Thess. 5:11)
- Reach out to those in need
- Visit the sick and elderly – even if this means going outside of your “comfort zone”
- Offer your talents or expertise to the parish
- Be charitable with your finances
- Give to those in need
- Honor your parish by meeting its financial needs
- Slow down your social life during this season: learn to “fast” before you “feast”
- Refrain from parties, movies, and other entertainment
- Curtail the amount of time you spend watching television
- Don’t spend too much time on the computer
- Be cautious of the sites you explore on the Internet
- Read religious material and at least one religious book
- Read good books
- Spend time interacting and actually talking to your family and friends
- Be humble
- When you fall or stumble into sin, be quick to pick yourself up and start over
- Don’t give in and refuse to give up!
