advent devotionals
Memorize: Psalm 139:14
I will praise You
because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful,
and I know this very well.
Read: Psalm 139:1-14, Psalm 104
Reflect:
Advent calls us to prepare for the arrival of our Savior Jesus Christ, yet often times our preparation is filled with the stress of planning and busyness. We don’t even take a full day to give thanks, as many race off Thanksgiving evening to find the deals. We race into December facing a to-do list of shopping, cooking, wrapping, and working...so that we can enjoy the birth of God's son?
Let’s think about this – Does our preparation have the wrong focus and the wrong feeling. Psalms 104 & 139 encourages us to pause in the midst of our preparation and consider the question, "Who am I preparing for?" Are we preparing for the arrival of Our Savior, or for the world's expectations of Christmas?
I hope today we choose to prepare for Jesus! When we do, our preparations are less about doing and more about being. We begin to prepare with praise to God for the intimacy that He has with each of us. We wake up each day with less attention on what needs done during Advent and more attention on what's been done through God's power.
Apply:
How does your thinking & planning change when you reflect on the power of your creator…your All-knowing, Ever-present God, who made you and wants an active, personal relationship with you?
Pray:
Father God, today I offer my praise for all that you have done, will do, and continue to do in my life. Help me to prepare for the things that matter and ignore the demands of this Adventseason that pull me away from you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
November 27
November 28
November 29
November 30
December 1
December 2
December 3
December 4
December 5
December 6
December 7
December 8
December 9
December 10
December 11
December 12
cinderella team bethlehem
Read Micah 5:2-5a
Bethlehem Ephrath,
you are one of the smallest towns

in the nation of Judah.
But the Lord will choose
 one of your people

to rule the nation—
someone whose family

goes back to ancient times.
3The Lord will abandon Israel

only until this ruler is born,
and the rest of his family

returns to Israel.
4Like a shepherd

taking care of his sheep,
this ruler will lead

and care for his people
by the power and glorious name

of the Lord his God.
His people will live securely,
and the whole earth will know
 his true greatness,
5because he will bring peace. [CEV]
Reflect:
During the 2011 NCAA Tournament, the nation quickly became captured by head coach Shaka Smart and the VCU Rams. Only the third ever 11th-seeded team to reach the Final Four, the Rams reached the Final Four in fashion by defeating No. 1 seed Kansas by 10 points in the Southwest regional championship game, 71-61.
After a disappointing end to the regular season, Smart doubted his team would even be invited to the tournament. When the bracket came out, a majority of Smart's players were off doing something else and had no idea that they were going to the NCAA tournament. Once the bracket was announced, Smart had to quickly bring his team together and begin to prepare them for one of the best Cinderella stories in college basketball.
In today's scripture passage, God speaks to a small, seemingly insignificant clan of Judah and tells them that one of them will rule. He raises up the small clan who everyone ignores, shows them favor and promises to make them great. He promises that to us as individuals also. God says that although we will feel disappointed and abandoned, that He will return and shepherd us. Maybe sometimes, we have to go through disappointment to appreciate coming back together. Disappointment is for a season, but Christ’s peace, is eternal.
Apply:
Have you experienced a recent disappointment? Are you feeling abandoned? I encourage you to look at the times of abandonment in your life, and even journal your thoughts. I believe that each trial and difficulty in life is used by God to break and mold us into the unique people he created us to be, and serve as opportunities for Christ to truly be our peace.
Pray:
Dear Lord, I’m feeling abandoned right now. Just as you cared for your people of Israel, leading and shepherding them, I know you care for me too. I pray for you to bring peace into my heart and life.