Best Printable Advent Bible Reading Plan for Rest

Christmas Eve is drawing near. If you’re struggling to rest, focus on the true reason for the season, and connect with the Lord, this FREE Advent Bible Reading Plan is for you!

I’ve always struggled with taking time for resting and self-care. However, it seems for me the holiday season brings the worst exhaustion and stress of the year.

There’s just so much I’m expected to remember and do. 

If you’re the head or mom of the household, serving and caring for others, and trying to remember all of the things related to the needs of the whole family along with the holiday season, you know what I’m talking about! 

That said, an essential Christian tradition of the holiday season is the celebration of Advent, which is a time to prepare our hearts and create a sense of anticipation for:

• the birth of Christ
• focusing on our faith and eternal life
• Jesus’ future return

The point of the season is to seek the Lord and find rest in Him.

In the past, I often thought, “How in the world do I balance all of the busyness of the season and find the time to rest so I can be calm and at peace to prepare my heart?” 

I didn’t have the answer, but I knew I wanted to experience the peace of Advent, so I wrote it down in my weekly plan.

The problem was that my worst periods of my overwhelm occurred in the busyness of the holiday and Christmas season.

Then, often caught up in all of our traditions (usually way too many), I would hit the wall (of burnout). 

You can get the free printable here.

Why We Need an Advent Bible Reading Plan

I suppose part of the problem was that I saw Advent as more of a task instead of an Advent journey.

Preparing for Jesus’s arrival is different and more meaningful than decorating the Christmas tree, getting a mint chocolate shake, and completing the things on the holiday to-do list. 

Even more, these types of activities aren’t a great way to experience rest and connection with the Father.

So, if you’re struggling a bit (and if that’s why you’re here), believe me when I tell you that yes, I can relate.

I wanted to connect with the Lord.

After trying and failing many times,  I wondered if I was going about it wrong, but I didn’t know what to change.

For the longest time, I ignored my desire.

I’d push through the season trying to knock the barriers out of the way (only I wasn’t so good at knocking the barriers out of the way)!

But when my daughter was born, she had some special needs, and I couldn’t do it all anymore.

I remember how incredibly exhausted I was during that particular season. 

There were many tears, but it led me to pray about it earnestly, and my life changed!

If it can change for me, it can change for you too!

Where to Start

I discovered that I was going about resting with the Lord all wrong.

Looking back, I would go as far as to say I was doing it backward! 

Specifically, I was trying to find peace, calm, and rest through my human effort and strength.

I thought I could adjust my schedule, get a little rest, and then take in whatever I was supposed to be doing and learning at church during the Sundays of Advent. 

I was so far off.

Plus, here’s what happened.

• I cleared my schedule (a little).
• Then, I put ‘self-care appointments’ on it (like nails, pedi, and even a massage!), thinking that would help me rest.
• But then I felt guilty about saying no or removing tasks and PUT THEM BACK ON.

So then I was highly overscheduled, spent lots of money, and didn’t feel rested (even during the massage!). 

There’s a better way to focus on the Lord and prepare for Jesus’ birth. It’s what I hope you do this season. 

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Discover the Purpose of Advent

I spent some time reading Advent-focused Bible studies and studying Scripture passages in the Gospel of Luke to better understand the birth story of Jesus and the true meaning of the season. 

The purpose of Advent is to connect with the Lord to let Him give you rest. (But how exactly do we do that, I remember asking?)

The answer is found in the definition of knowing what God’s rest means.

The rest we’re seeking, and what He provides, is knowing and truly understanding that we are saved from our sins because we accept Christ as our savior (with the final consummation of His rest occurring with the second coming of Christ).

We can rest instead of working through good deeds or service.

We can’t earn salvation. He just gives it to us!

This is the reason for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and is good news of great joy!

Hebrews 4:3 (NLT) explains it below (btw, Hebrews 4 is all about God’s rest). 

“For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, “In my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest,’” even though this rest has been ready since he made the world.”

When you understand the meaning of God’s rest, you will see He is at the center of the verse. 

The priority. 

In fact, as always, putting Christ first allows you to prioritize everything else, including rest during Advent!

This is why Advent is important to me, where my reading plan and devotional came from, and why I think Advent should be important to you. 

This Free Printable Advent Bible Reading Plan Was Created

To get right to the point, ask yourself, “Am I truly going to experience, soak in, and savor God’s rest if I only observe it an hour or two on Sundays during Advent and then go back to living a chaotic life?”

I encourage you to spend a few minutes a day in God’s Word to experience the real reason for the Advent season.

As Christians, we should be awed by His saving rest.

I felt compelled to apply it to all parts of my life.

I use these very simple tools to review my self-care activities and attitudes every Advent season, and I’m so thankful that I can now say I experience peace and calm during Advent.

Why is Advent a Good Time for Self-reflection?

I dug into Scripture and prayerfully considered how I could honor the Lord during the season of Advent by taking care of my mind, body, and soul.

As I studied the list of meaningful verses, I saw they fell into various self-care categories. 

That helped me see my life in a whole new way.

I created reflective questions and actions to accompany the verses, and now I prayerfully perform a self-examination every Advent Season.

That list of verses is now the Advent Season Self-care Bible Reading Plan, and the companion Advent Season Self-care Devotional contains the questions I use to assess where I need to refocus (I use it to re-assess my focus each year!

Improving self-care to honor and glorify God is a way to worship the Lord. What better time to do this than Advent?

Use an Advent Bible Reading Plan to Slow Down 

Understanding God’s rest, deep in our souls, helps us slow down, trust, and savor God’s promises. 

It made me come to an abrupt stop (like an EF Hutton moment, if you’re old enough to remember the reference) and realize how many of the activities I was practically killing myself doing weren’t important to me or my family at all.

But here’s what else I learned.

God provides the ultimate rest; we can carry this knowledge throughout the season. 

But we need to do an honest assessment of ourselves.

Explore and ask, “What other areas of myself can I offer rest?”

Use an Advent Bible Reading Plan to Bring Rest and Calm into Your Life

You may find many small ways you aren’t taking care of yourself in a way that prioritizes rest. 

But you may find massive things, too!

You may even be working against your goal of deepening your understanding of rest and the worship God deserves and not even realize it!

If you’re like me, you may find your holiday lifestyle honors and worships the busyness of society and the midst of traditions around you instead of Jesus.

Well, we’re at the end of the article my dear friend. I hope you have a restful and peaceful Advent Season! And, Merry Christmas!

If you’d like a guide with daily readings, get your FREE 2025 Advent Season Self-care Bible Reading Plan HERE.

Additional Advent Items You Can Try

Advent is when Christians spend time deeply reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas. There are different ways to prepare for Christmas Day. 

• Some enjoy using an Advent calendar and daily Advent gifts.
• Others read daily Scripture readings or say prayers while they light candles in an Advent wreath.
• And as I’ve written, many reflect on Christ’s birth with an Advent reading plan.

Most believers find that combining the above activities provides the deeper meaning of rest and peace in the true story of Christmas. 

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The post was originally published on November 21, 2023