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
waiting patiently
Memorize: Isaiah 40:31
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
Read: James 5:7-10
Reflect:
Patience is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot. Kids waiting for supper—be patient. Drivers waiting in traffic—be patient. Parents getting frustrated with their kids—be patient. Patience is easy to talk about, but harder to practice. In different circumstances throughout my life, this is what I’ve learned about patience so far:
It’s easy to wait for things you don’t want. I would have been more than willing to wait forever to get my wisdom teeth out or to take the SATs.
It’s hard to wait for things you do want. My wedding day to come—be patient. My kids on Christmas morning wanting to race down the stairs and get started on the presents—be patient.
It’s even more difficult to wait for things that you need. I’ve never had the experience of needing food or water in a life or death circumstance, but I know what it is to be in need. I know what it means to need support, to need answers, to need hope. It is extraordinarily difficult to be patient in those circumstances.
Advent is a time of waiting. We long for Christ’s presence, hope, joy and peace. We are all waiting for things that we need, and we don’t know exactly how or when our needs will be met. But as believers, we can wait with confidence knowing that our needs will be met, assured by the faithfulness of God and the promise of the coming of Jesus Christ.
Apply:
Patience is not waiting…patience is what we do with the waiting. How are you waiting for what you want? How are you waiting for what you need?
Pray:
Father God, Help me in my waiting to trust in you, to have an attitude that demonstrates my faith in you and your Word. Thank you for taking care of my needs. Draw me closer to you as I wait with anticipation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.