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
praying for renewed strength
Read Luke 21:25-36
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On earth, nations will be afraid and confused because of the roar and fury of the sea. 26 People will be so afraid they will faint, wondering what is happening to the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to happen, look up and hold your heads high, because the time when God will free you is near!”
Jesus’ Words Will Live Forever
29 Then Jesus told this story: “Look at the fig tree and all the other trees. 30 When their leaves appear, you know that summer is near. 31 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you will know that God’s kingdom is near.
32 “I tell you the truth, all these things will happen while the people of this time are still living. 33 Earth and sky will be destroyed, but the words I have spoken will never be destroyed.
Be Ready All the Time
34 “Be careful not to spend your time feasting, drinking, or worrying about worldly things. If you do, that day might come on you suddenly, 35 like a trap on all people on earth. 36 So be ready all the time. Pray that you will be strong enough to escape all these things that will happen and that you will be able to stand before the Son of Man.” [NCV]
Reflect:
With so much turmoil in our world, it’s sometimes easy to question God: “God where are you or why is this happening?” Hurricanes, earthquakes, wild fires and many other natural disasters — in addition to wars and acts of violence — can at times cause us to become tired and feel overwhelmed in our walk with God.
However, in times of distress and uncertainty, Jesus instructs us to “look up and hold your heads high.” Both literally and figuratively, I believe that Jesus also faced times of distress and uncertainty during his life and ministry to the point that at the Garden of Gethsemane he models the prayer of “not my will, but your will be done” and concludes his life by fulfilling the mission he was sent here to do.
Jesus goes on to say that the life that we are currently living is only temporary; however, that we can stand on his word for truth as his “words I have spoken will never be destroyed.”
Finally, he closes with a command to “So be ready all the time. Pray that you will be strong enough to escape all these things that will happen and that you will be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Apply:
I urge you to know his word, study it and live it, for in a world that is constantly changing, you will find confidence, strength, wisdom and guidance through the Holy Scriptures.
Pray:
Prayer is simply a conversation with God. In this Advent season, recommit yourself to renewing your relationship with God by looking up and holding your head high towards him, spending time knowing his word and praying that you may receive strength.
P – Praise
R – Repent
A – Ask for God to meet your needs
Y – Yield and listen to God