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Advent Devotions 2021
 

Welcome to Advent!

There are many ways to prepare for Jesus’ coming into our lives. One important way is to set aside time to be quiet, offer prayers, hear the stories of God’s plan for Jesus’ birth, and think about what it all means for us and the church. 

Taking time each day to prepare for Christ’s birth can include everyone in the family or just yourself for some spiritual time alone. Find a quiet time; early in the morning, a sunny winter afternoon, during the evening meal, or before bed to gather together or take your alone time, and read, reflect, and pray in this Holy time.
 

Week Three:

In the busyness of our Advent season, it is so very easy to get swept up with the business of preparing our homes for guests, having more contact with friends and families, and finding the perfect gifts for those loved ones. We need to try to remember to take a moment to slow down and remember what Advent is meant to be: a time of waiting for the coming of Christ. We want to remember to give the greatest gifts: our time, our faith, and our love for others during the holiday festivities, baking, and shopping.

 

Prayer for each day:

Dear Father, Thank you for Your PROMISE of a baby about to be born. Your SON, Jesus, and the hope and joy his birth brings to us. Thank You for the gift of his life, which promises us an eternal connection with You. I pray for a closer relationship with You each day. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

 

Suggestions for Families with Children:

With only 12 days left until Christmas Eve, sit down together and read the Christmas story sometime during the week. Choose a storybook version to read together. 

Some suggestions if you don’t have a favorite version:

*The Little Golden Book: The Christmas Story, by Jane Werner
*The Nativity Story, by Juliet David
*The Very First Christmas (The Beginner's Bible), from Zondervan
* The Story Of Baby Jesus, from Usborne Books
* The Christmas Baby, by Marion Dane Bauer

Also! Like our first two weeks, don’t forget to still occasionally talk about the animals who lived in the stable and get them all situated in preparation for Mary and Joseph to join them… it is nearly time for Mary and Joseph to go into the stable! Try to move them two more times until they are in the stable on
Christmas Eve!

 

Monday – Read John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

From this verse, we can appreciate God’s love for us, and His will for the salvation we are given from Jesus Christ. John 3:16 is somewhat of a Christmas verse, but we probably don’t always think of it that way. For God SO loved the world, he gave us his only Son.

This is what Christmas is all about! It is this belief that tells us that love is not a all about being worked up with gifts and games. Christmas, as a celebration of Christ’s birth, is a tradition that passes down to all the GOOD NEWS, that God’s love has come. John 3:16, The words in this scripture help us appreciate what love is.
 

Tuesday - Read Romans 8:39

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nothing can separate us from God. BOOM. Mic drop. NO MATTER WHAT: God will not stop loving you. God will not give up on you. God will be there when everything is awesome and He will be there when things are going badly. God will have your hand and he will hold it tightly. NO WONDER He sent us His only son to save us. THAT is the ultimate Christmas Gift.
 

Wednesday - Read Hebrews 1:3

The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

God had spoken to people throughout time in many ways, but He is speaking to us through Jesus. This same person, Jesus, is also God, and shares in all pieces of the divine nature. 

Christ is above and beyond all other things.
 

Thursday – Read Luke 21:25-36

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

“There will be signs” are words of hope and reassurance. 
 
“There will be signs” are not Jesus’ words of warning and threats. He never says these are the signs that the end of the world has come. Instead, he says that when we see the signs we are to stand up, raise our heads, and know that help is on the way; our redemption, and our healing, and most of all, our Savior have drawn near.
 
LOOK and see the signs in our lives and in the world, and the circumstances that we face, that contain and reveal the promise of Christ’s coming. The signs are our hope and reassurance that God has not abandoned us, that God notices us, that God cares, comes to, and shares in our life’s circumstances.
 

Friday – Read Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
 
We know that angels are God’s special messengers to us, and that Gabriel spent intentional time with Mary, helping her to understand her part in God’s story. Who has shared an important lesson or their presence with you this week? Thank them today with a call or note. Keep them in your prayers. 

 

Saturday – Read Matthew 4:18-22

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
 
How do these verses from Matthew inspire you to read Scripture with new eyes? Try reading several different translations of this passage. See how the language might change your reading of it.
 

Sunday - Read Luke 21:25-36

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
 
How do the symbols of the Advent season help you understand the story of Jesus? Where do you see them in your worship today? 
 
Go out of your way to have a conversation with someone you might not normally visit with today. Ask God to open your heart to hear this person as God does.