Advent is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s a season of anticipation, slowing down, and preparing our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Yet if I’m honest, it can also be a season where the busyness of life tries to take over - shopping, events, decorating, and never-ending to-do lists to wrap up the business year. Over the years, I’ve found journaling to be one of the most powerful ways to stay rooted in what Advent is really about. It’s not about perfection or filling a page with the “right” words. It’s about creating a space to pause, breathe, and invite the Lord into your day.
When we choose to journal during Advent, we’re not just reflecting on ourselves we’re making room for Christ. We’re slowing down enough to notice the quiet ways He’s moving, even in the midst of ordinary routines. Journaling has helped me find peace in what could have been just another frantic season.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through my link, at no additional cost to you. I only share products and resources I truly love and believe will bring value to you.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through my link, at no additional cost to you. I only share products and resources I truly love and believe will bring value to you.
My Advent Rhythm
Each year, I love to read Prepare Him Room by Susie Larson as part of my morning routine. It’s become a tradition that helps me anchor my mornings in Scripture and reflection instead of rushing into the day. That rhythm makes such a difference because it gently shifts my focus back to the reason for the season. As a little girl, one of my favorite Christmas memories was going to the Christmas Eve service at my Grandma’s church. She played in the bell choir, and I can still remember how beautiful it sounded echoing through the sanctuary. It impressed something on me that Christmas was about more than presents or traditions. It was about worship and wonder.
Now, as an adult, journaling has become a way for me to capture those same moments of wonder. I often use Advent to reflect on the past year, write down blessings that I might have overlooked in the rush, and record how I’ve seen God’s faithfulness show up in both the unexpected and the ordinary. It’s a practice that slows me down and softens my heart.
25 Advent Journaling Prompts
If you’d like to try journaling during Advent, here are 25 gentle prompts to guide you. You don’t need to answer all of them or even write every day. Just choose one that resonates with you, and let it shape your reflection.
- Lord, what do You want me to be grateful for today?
- Where have I noticed Your presence in small, ordinary moments this week?
- What does “prepare Him room” look like in my heart and home right now?
- What disappointment this year might actually have been Your loving redirection, Lord?
- Which prayer have You answered lately, big or small, that I want to celebrate?
- What truth from Your Word do I need to carry with me today, and why?
- What is one burden I can place in Your hands this morning?
- Who can I encourage, pray for, or serve this week—and how will I do it?
- Where am I tempted to rush, and how are You inviting me to slow down?
- What rhythms (Scripture, worship, journaling, rest) are helping me stay rooted in You?
- What beauty or wonder have You shown me this season that I don’t want to miss?
- How can I practice generosity of time, words, or resources today?
- What relationship needs a little extra grace, forgiveness, or kindness right now?
- Where do I need Your wisdom, Lord, for a decision I’m facing?
- What fear have I been carrying about the future, and what promise of Yours answers it?
- If peace led my day instead of pressure, what would change about my plans or pace?
- What boundary would bless my heart and my home during this season?
- How have You, Lord, grown my character this year (patience, trust, courage, hope)?
- Write a short prayer of adoration: Who are You to me in this season (Prince of Peace, Immanuel, Shepherd)?
- Where do I sense God inviting me to rest, and what simple step will I take to receive it or put it into practice?
- What simple act of hospitality or kindness can I offer someone this week?
- What do I want my workdays to feel like, not just look like, in this season with You?
- What memory from past Christmases still stirs worship in me, and why?
- What do I need to release before the new year begins? (Hurry, striving, perfectionism?)
- What do I want to carry forward into the new year? (A promise, a practice, a posture of trust?)
If this resonates with you and you’d love a little more guidance, I created the Journaling Routine Starter Kit to help you get started. Inside, you’ll find my favorite prompts, a three-minute journaling routine, and practical tips for building a journaling practice that actually sticks. You can grab your copy here.
Create Space, Not Pressure
The beauty of Advent journaling is that it doesn’t need to be complicated. Some days you might write a whole page, while other days you might only have time for a few lines. Both are enough. What matters is that you show up with an open heart and create space to meet with Him. Light a candle, pour your favorite tea, or wrap yourself in a cozy blanket, whatever signals to your heart that this moment is sacred. This isn’t about performance; it’s about presence. Even a few honest sentences can shift your perspective and invite peace into your day.
Want More Guidance in Journaling?
Want More Guidance in Journaling?
If you’ve been craving a journaling routine but don’t know where to start, the Journaling Routine Starter Kit was made with you in mind. Inside, you’ll find practical tips for setting up your journaling space, a three-minute journaling routine that’s perfect for busy women, five prompts you can use again and again, and simple ways to upgrade your practice as it grows.
This Advent season doesn’t have to pass you by in a blur. You can create a simple, sustainable rhythm of reflection that will keep your heart centered on what matters most.
Advent isn’t about doing more, it’s about making room for Christ and being present. By setting aside just a few quiet moments to journal, you’re preparing your heart to notice God’s presence and reflect on His faithfulness. Grab your Bible, pour your favorite tea, and take a few minutes to reflect. Let this Advent be a season of gratitude, wonder, and worship as you prepare Him room.
0 Comments