top of page

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 139:1-14Psalm 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

the gift of care

Read Philippians 1:3-11

3 Every time I think of you, I thank my God. 4 And whenever I mention you in my prayers, it makes me happy. 5 This is because you have taken part with me in spreading the good news from the first day you heard about it. 6 God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.

7 You have a special place in my heart. So it is only natural for me to feel the way I do. All of you have helped in the work that God has given me, as I defend the good news and tell about it here in jail. 8 God himself knows how much I want to see you. He knows that I care for you in the same way that Christ Jesus does.

9 I pray that your love will keep on growing and that you will fully know and understand 10 how to make the right choices. Then you will still be pure and innocent when Christ returns. And until that day, 11 Jesus Christ will keep you busy doing good deeds that bring glory and praise to God. [CEV]

 

Reflect:

At Christmastime we celebrate the incarnation, God becoming flesh and walking among us.  In his short 3-year ministry, Jesus showed genuine value to everyone he encountered, exhorting people to be their best, and encouraged everyone to love God and one another.  In the years following, the apostle Paul modeled following Jesus for fledgling churches across Asia Minor, explaining the Good News, exhorting and encouraging new believers to faith, love and righteousness.  Today’s passage, the introductory verses from the letter to the Philippians, stands as an example of Paul modeling Jesus for the young church at Philippi, and now, for us.  Paul gives thanks for the church, he prays for them, he expresses confidence in them, he longs for them, he shares his aspirations for them, that their love will keep growing, that they make right choices, and be pure and innocent, producing a harvest of righteousness and glorifying God.  Paul’s caring was a gift he gave to the church.

 

As we enter a season of gift giving, let us acknowledge that like Paul, our love and caring is a gift we can give to those around us – spouse to spouse, parent to child, teacher to student, family member to family member, friend to friend, even to strangers and enemies. When we do this, even in small ways, we carry on Christ’s work of care and reconciliation in a world that desperately needs it.

 

Think About It:

Following Paul's example to the young churches, how can you model Jesus?  Maybe you need to reconcile a relationship?  Maybe you need to set a better example to those you lead…your spouse or your kids, your subordinates at work? Maybe you need to invite someone to church?

 

Pray:

God, revealed in your son Jesus, replace our fear with your transforming love. Help us to share that love and caring with those around us as a gift, freely given. Amen.

RESTORATION CHURCH

1.984.244.7373

restorationchurchdurham@gmail.com

​

Meeting at:

3310 Croasdaile Drive, Ste. 100

Durham, NC 27705

Church Office:

3310 Croasdaile Drive, Ste. 100

Durham, NC 27705

LOGO_WHITE NEW FOR WEBSITE_edited_edited

Success! Message received.

  • Grey Instagram Icon
  • White Facebook Icon

@2024 Restoration Church Durham

bottom of page