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
news you can use
Read Luke 2:8-15; Matthew 28:19-20
8 There were some shepherds in that part of the country who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone over them. They were terribly afraid, 10 but the angel said to them, “Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. 11 This very day in David's town your Savior was born—Christ the Lord! 12 And this is what will prove it to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great army of heaven's angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God:
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them back into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us.” [GNT]
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.” [GNT]
Reflect:
In 2008 I decided to go cold turkey...no more watching the news. I realized that due to watching so many news programs, I was developing a negative and cynical attitude. After all, is there really any good news nowadays? Here’s what I find so amazing – I am always aware of the latest news because someone is always telling me about it…and it’s still mostly bad news.
But, there is good news, great and amazing news, in fact, which an angel shared with the commoner shepherds over 2000 years ago, “Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This very day in David's town your Savior was born—Christ the Lord!”
Jesus, after dying a brutal death on a cross, rose from the grave three days later and walked among many. Before ascending into heaven, Jesus gave to all of us, the command found in Matthew 28:19-20. It’s not a suggestion; it’s a command to share the good news…great news, life-giving news.
Apply:
What’s keeping you from sharing the Good News? The same Jesus, who issued the command to share the Good News, understands your fears and will be more than glad to help you overcome them in order to be obedient to his command.
Pray:
Dear Jesus, I want to experience the same awe as the shepherds experienced 2000 years ago. Help me overcome any fears of inviting _____________________ to come to church this Christmas season where they will hear the Good News and put their trust in You.