Shownotes
As we begin Advent, welcome to Week 1 of the Prepare Him Room mini-series—designed to help busy Catholic moms slow down, listen for God, and prepare their hearts to discern and live their God-given purpose.
The greatest gift you can give Jesus this Christmas isn’t found under the tree—it’s your heartfelt yes. In this episode, we’re diving deep into how to reconnect with God amidst the holiday hustle so you can notice His stirrings, hear His guidance, and take simple, meaningful steps toward the purpose He created you for.
If you’ve been feeling rushed or overwhelmed, you’re not alone. This episode will help you quiet the noise, reflect with intention, and make real space for Jesus in the middle of motherhood this Advent season.
Grab your journal, settle into a quiet space (even if it’s beside the Christmas tree), and let’s prepare our hearts for Jesus together.
I pray that this episode blesses and encourages you!
Michelle
✨ Next Steps:
- Ready to Discover Your Unique Purpose with Clarity? Book your 1:1 Purpose Coaching Session Here
- Connect with Catholic moms discovering God’s plan in everyday life Here
- Receive Weekly Encouragement and Action Steps to Help You Move Forward with God: Subscribe to the The Inner Flame Here
✨ Feedback or Questions? Contact me at hello@michellebrannam.com
✨ Listen to Related Episodes:
- 03 | 3 Ways to Make Time for God (Even When You're Busy!)
- 10 | Unsure of Your Purpose? 3 Essential Steps to Find Your God-Given Purpose
- 26 | Tired, Exhausted, and Confused? What to do when Purpose Feel Impossible
🕊️ Scripture Mentioned:
- Luke 1:38
📖 Catechism of the Catholic Church Mentioned:
- CCC 511
Transcripts
The greatest gift that you can give Jesus this Christmas?
Speaker A:It isn't on a tree.
Speaker A:Are you moving through Advent feeling rushed, overwhelmed or unsure how to reconnect with God?
Speaker A:In this episode, we'll explore why your simple yes to Jesus is the most meaningful gift you can give Him.
Speaker A:This season, you'll discover how to quiet your heart, notice where God is stirring within you, and take one small step toward the purpose that he created you for.
Speaker A:Make sure you follow or subscribe so you don't miss this Advent miniseries designed to help you prepare your heart for Jesus amid the holiday busyness.
Speaker A:Let's slow down, listen and get ready for the coming of Jesus together.
Speaker A:Grab your journal and pen and let's dive in if you're ready to break free from stuck, gain clarity, and take steps towards discerning your unique purpose, all while following God's guidance to become the person he created you to be.
Speaker A:If so, you're in the right place.
Speaker A:Hello, I'm Michelle, a Catholic discernment mentor and spiritual coach who went from lost and questioning my purpose to confident in my unique calling using a Catholic based strategy that places God and the Catholic faith at the center.
Speaker A:Are you ready to dive in?
Speaker A:Grab your pen and notebook and get comfy, Open your heart and mind and invite God in as we get ready to become who God created you to be.
Speaker A:Let's do this.
Speaker A:When I first started searching for my purpose, my days were full and pregnancy, motherhood daily to do's.
Speaker A:I barely had time to sip my hot chocolate while it was still warm.
Speaker A:Trying to figure out my purpose felt impossible with my schedule.
Speaker A:If you've ever thought I want this, but I don't have time for this, I went through that too.
Speaker A:You're not asking for too much, you just need a way to do this in small, practical steps.
Speaker A:That's what purpose coaching is designed for.
Speaker A:Discovering your purpose and the little pockets of time that you do have without overwhelm.
Speaker A:Go to Bitly catholicpurposecoaching that is bit ly Catholic Purpose Coaching to book your session.
Speaker A:Your season of motherhood doesn't disqualify you.
Speaker A:It's exactly where God begins His work in you.
Speaker A:All right, so let's dive in.
Speaker A:Every year since having my oldest, it feels like I'm rushing through December.
Speaker A:I'm squeezing in, shopping, planning, and usually finishing the wrapping just a couple days before Christmas, sometimes even on Christmas Eve.
Speaker A:And it never fails that someone in our family ends up sick in the middle of it all, which just adds to the pressure.
Speaker A:And ironically, as I'm recording this on the first Sunday of adventure.
Speaker A:My son is sick.
Speaker A:So again, it adds to the pressure of having to get it all done.
Speaker A:And I know how it feels.
Speaker A:You want to do it all, and it still feels like your heart isn't fully present.
Speaker A:You're checking off your to do list, preparing for everyone else.
Speaker A:But there's this quiet longing inside, wanting more than just a decorated house or gifts under the tree.
Speaker A:Last year I started the St Andrew Novena to help me focus more and be more true to the Advent season.
Speaker A:And this year I want to build on that routine to intentionally focus on growing closer to Jesus during this time of Advent.
Speaker A:And that's why I felt called to create this Advent miniseries to help us prepare in the way that actually matters.
Speaker A:Not by doing more, but by making room.
Speaker A:Because at the end of the day, Christmas is all about him.
Speaker A:And the gift he desires most is is our hearts.
Speaker A:An Advent isn't about getting the house ready, wrapping the gifts, or checking off the holiday to dos.
Speaker A:It's about preparing our hearts for Jesus, making room for him, noticing the stirrings of the Holy Spirit, and preparing for the first and second coming of Christ.
Speaker A:It's about reclaiming the true reason for this season beyond all the commercialization.
Speaker A:As we step into this first week of Advent, let's take a moment to slow down and reflect on what this season is really about.
Speaker A:We realize that Christmas has just become so commercialized that it's easy to forget what and who it's really for.
Speaker A:We're buying the gifts, we're planning the events we're running around.
Speaker A:But sometimes the one person we don't stop to think about is Jesus himself.
Speaker A:It's easy to get caught up in all the things and what the world says that we can forget that he is the reason for the season.
Speaker A:Advent is the season of preparation, preparing our hearts to celebrate the first and second coming of Jesus at Christmas.
Speaker A:It's a time to prepare for him, even in the busyness that we find ourselves in during the season.
Speaker A:As Catholic moms, we spent Advent preparing everything around us.
Speaker A:The house, the gifts, the schedules.
Speaker A:But we often forget to even prepare our hearts.
Speaker A:We give gifts to everyone except the one whose birthday we're really celebrating.
Speaker A:But what if this Advent you give a gift to Jesus?
Speaker A:The greatest gift that you can give Jesus this Christmas, it isn't under a tree.
Speaker A:It's your, yes, your heart open to his will, your willingness to take the next step toward the purpose that he created you for.
Speaker A:Because that stirring you feel, that desire to grow Closer to God, that longing for clarity and direction, that's not random or by accident.
Speaker A:That is the Holy Spirit nudging you towards the purpose that God created you for.
Speaker A:Speaking of the Holy Spirit, he is definitely with me right now.
Speaker A:I have got goosebumps up and down my legs.
Speaker A:And if you've listened before, you've heard that from other priests, that I've heard when you get goosebumps, that that is the Holy Spirit.
Speaker A:So now that we reflected on giving Jesus our yes as the greatest gift this Advent, let's take a closer look at what it means to truly prepare our hearts and to make that space for him in the midst of all the busyness.
Speaker A:Because Advent is a season of preparation.
Speaker A:It's not just preparing for Christmas morning, but preparing for Jesus himself.
Speaker A:It's a season of making room.
Speaker A:We're clearing space and we're getting honest about what God is stirring in your heart.
Speaker A:So when you're longing for clarity, when you want to understand your purpose, God isn't asking you to figure out everything right now.
Speaker A:He's asking you to prepare, to let him shape your heart, to be open to the step that he wants to show you next.
Speaker A:And Mary is the perfect example of this.
Speaker A:When the angel Gabriel appeared to her, she felt fearful.
Speaker A:She didn't know the whole plan.
Speaker A:She didn't know what her future would look like.
Speaker A:But she still said yes.
Speaker A:Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
Speaker A:Let it be done to me according to your word.
Speaker A:Mary chose faith over fear.
Speaker A:She cooperated with God's plan through free faith and obedience.
Speaker A:As the Catholicism says in paragraph 5 11, her yes chapter changed everything.
Speaker A:So now I want you to imagine Gabriel.
Speaker A:He's standing in front of you, just like he came down to Mary, saying, now I want you to insert your name.
Speaker A:So I will use my name for this, but I want you to insert your name.
Speaker A:Michelle, do not be afraid.
Speaker A:The Lord is with you.
Speaker A:You have found favor with God.
Speaker A:He has a mission for you, something only you can fulfill.
Speaker A:I'm going to repeat that again.
Speaker A:Insert your name.
Speaker A:Do not be afraid.
Speaker A:The Lord is with you.
Speaker A:You have found favor with God.
Speaker A:He has a mission for you, something only you can fulfill.
Speaker A:Now, as he's standing there, what would your response be?
Speaker A:Would you say yes?
Speaker A:Would you offer your heart the way Mary did?
Speaker A:Would you say yes to the purpose that he created you for?
Speaker A:Yes to the next step that he's asking you to take?
Speaker A:Yes to letting him lead, even without seeing the entire plan.
Speaker A:And now, if you want to spend some More time with this and reflect upon this later.
Speaker A:Grab your journal, Spend some time with this saying, yes, like Mary is powerful, but how do we carry that forward in our daily lives?
Speaker A:So this week, during the first Sunday of Adlin, something my brother's parish priest, Father John Grant, said, it really stuck to me.
Speaker A:It invited us to ask Jesus for forgiveness for the things that he asked us to do this past year that we didn't do.
Speaker A:And I cannot help but think about the nudges we ignored, the the steps we delayed, the moments we hesitated.
Speaker A:Now that hit home for me, especially when I think about purpose.
Speaker A:There were times that I delayed launching this podcast.
Speaker A:At times I hesitated, even though God was nudging me through people around me.
Speaker A:Maybe you've had those moments too.
Speaker A:So with the start of the new church year, let us prepare our hearts for Jesus and decide that we will move forward in faith and obedience to the next step that Jesus gives us.
Speaker A:Let this Advent be the moment that you say, jesus, I give you my yes, I want to live my purpose that you created me for.
Speaker A:Show me the next step and I will follow.
Speaker A:Saying yes to Jesus and giving him your heart.
Speaker A:This Advent season is the best gift that you could give to Jesus.
Speaker A:In doing so, you will grow closer to him and you will become who God created you to be.
Speaker A:Just to recap, so here's the quick summary of what we talked about today.
Speaker A:To really anchor heart is the greatest gift, the most meaningful gift that you can give Jesus this Advent.
Speaker A:It isn't under your tree.
Speaker A:It's your yes to him, an openness to his will for your life.
Speaker A:An Advent is about preparation, not perfection.
Speaker A:This season is meant to prepare your heart for Jesus, not just for Christmas tasks or the celebrations.
Speaker A:It's about noticing the stirrings of the Holy Spirit and making room for him and say yes.
Speaker A:Like Mary, faith and obedience.
Speaker A:Even in the uncertainty, it allows God to work through you.
Speaker A:Your yes to God moves you closer to your purpose and opens the next step that he wants you to take and a new beginning and the liturgical year.
Speaker A:Use this Advent as an opportunity to start fresh, act on God's nudges, and move forward in faith and obedience to the steps that he is calling you to take in your purpose.
Speaker A:So let us pray in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Jesus, I give you my heart today.
Speaker A:Help me to slow down, quiet my mind, and notice where you are stirring in my heart.
Speaker A:Teach me to say yes to your will and guide me in the small steps that you want me to take May my heart be the gift that I offer you this Advent season, and may I grow closer to you as I prepare for your coming.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:In the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Amen.
Speaker A:Now let's take this from head to heart.
Speaker A:Knowing the truth is powerful, but that real change comes when we act one small step at a time.
Speaker A:So I want you to grab your journal and find a quiet moment.
Speaker A:Maybe it's front of your Christmas tree if you have it up, and reflect on Gabriel coming to you asking for your yes.
Speaker A:Sit with Jesus and reflect upon Will I open my heart to the unique purpose that you created me for?
Speaker A:Will I allow you to do amazing things in my life?
Speaker A:And if you want support as you take this step, share your thoughts or your experience in the Facebook community.
Speaker A:Finding your purpose, discernment and strategy for Catholic Moms and that link is in the episode description.
Speaker A:Let's encourage one another, slow down together and keep our hearts focused on Jesus as we prepare for his birthday this Advent.
Speaker A:And remember, my beautiful sisters in Christ, that God uniquely created you for a unique purpose.
Speaker A:You were made to do great things.
Speaker A:God is within you and you will not fail.
Speaker A:I look forward to continuing this journey with you.
Speaker A:I'll meet you next Tuesday for another conversation.
Speaker A:Until then, may God bless you and bring you peace.
Speaker A:Thank you so much for joining me today.
Speaker A:I pray that today's episode blesses and encourages you.
Speaker A:If so, would you please share it with someone you know that would be blessed by it?
Speaker A:If you felt inspired or learned something Today, please take 30 seconds to leave a written review on Apple Podcasts.
Speaker A:This is the number one way to let me know that you are liking the show and for me to reach other Catholic women like yourself.
Speaker A:If you're feeling uncertain or lost on your discernment journey, you're not alone.
Speaker A:Join us over in the free Facebook community where Catholic women just like you are sharing, supporting and growing together in faith.
Speaker A:I look forward to continuing this journey with you.
Speaker A:God bless you.
