Week Four: Being Ready for the Lord to Come, December 14th - December 20th.
Written by: Rev. Kazimiera I.H. Fraley and Rev. Christy Gunter-Leppert.
Meditation One: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Read 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Did you ever know someone who had to do everything? For whatever reason, they seem to think if anything is going to get done with any amount of accuracy, they have to do it all; and they have to do it all by themselves. They want to be in control so badly, they convinced themselves no one else can do what needs to be done acceptably. And although everything gets done and everything turns out perfectly, the other people in their lives miss our on the blessings one gets when a person gives of themselves to make something happen. Sometimes we, like David, are called to step back and allow others to work alongside of us as we all work together to accomplish the task at hand.
Reflection for the Day:
Is there anything you feel you absolutely must have control of, in order for it to turn out right? In what ways would it be a blessing to someone else to allow them to work with you to get that one thing done?
Daily Prayer:
Lord God, teach us how to give up control this Christmas so we might allow others to be blessed by working towards the task at hand. Show us how to give up our desire to be the doer and instead let someone else take over that role.
Weekly Action:
Create one new tradition for your family that will help you get ready for the coming of Christ.
Read 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Did you ever know someone who had to do everything? For whatever reason, they seem to think if anything is going to get done with any amount of accuracy, they have to do it all; and they have to do it all by themselves. They want to be in control so badly, they convinced themselves no one else can do what needs to be done acceptably. And although everything gets done and everything turns out perfectly, the other people in their lives miss our on the blessings one gets when a person gives of themselves to make something happen. Sometimes we, like David, are called to step back and allow others to work alongside of us as we all work together to accomplish the task at hand.
Reflection for the Day:
Is there anything you feel you absolutely must have control of, in order for it to turn out right? In what ways would it be a blessing to someone else to allow them to work with you to get that one thing done?
Daily Prayer:
Lord God, teach us how to give up control this Christmas so we might allow others to be blessed by working towards the task at hand. Show us how to give up our desire to be the doer and instead let someone else take over that role.
Weekly Action:
Create one new tradition for your family that will help you get ready for the coming of Christ.
* * * * *
Meditation Two: Psalm 89:1-4, 18-26
Read Psalm 89:1-4, 18-26
The people of Israel, even in their unfaithfulness, looked to God expecting faithfulness in the promise of a Davidic King. We know this promise was fulfilled in the coming of the Christ child. Think how those who waited and looked forward to the promised Messiah must have felt as they seemed God’s promise was taking too long. They knew God was faithful and yet so much time passed. It must have been hard for them to truly believe and hope in such a promise.
We too wait for the Messiah to come, and as we look at the world in chaos all around us, it is hard to believe God’s promised Messiah will ever come again. In this Advent season, we must allow our faith and hope to be renewed so we can trust, as the people of Israel did, that God is faithful in all things and God will do what was promised.
Reflection for the Day:
What things in this world cause us to doubt God’s promises? How can you allow God to renew your faith this season?
Daily Prayer:
Lord God, our promised Messiah. Help us to believe in your faithfulness even when horrible things happen around us. We want to trust in your faithfulness, but we often lose heart.
As we get ready for you to come, renew our faith. Give us hope.
Transform our hearts.
Weekly Action:
Create one new tradition for your family that will help you get ready for the coming of Christ.
Read Psalm 89:1-4, 18-26
The people of Israel, even in their unfaithfulness, looked to God expecting faithfulness in the promise of a Davidic King. We know this promise was fulfilled in the coming of the Christ child. Think how those who waited and looked forward to the promised Messiah must have felt as they seemed God’s promise was taking too long. They knew God was faithful and yet so much time passed. It must have been hard for them to truly believe and hope in such a promise.
We too wait for the Messiah to come, and as we look at the world in chaos all around us, it is hard to believe God’s promised Messiah will ever come again. In this Advent season, we must allow our faith and hope to be renewed so we can trust, as the people of Israel did, that God is faithful in all things and God will do what was promised.
Reflection for the Day:
What things in this world cause us to doubt God’s promises? How can you allow God to renew your faith this season?
Daily Prayer:
Lord God, our promised Messiah. Help us to believe in your faithfulness even when horrible things happen around us. We want to trust in your faithfulness, but we often lose heart.
As we get ready for you to come, renew our faith. Give us hope.
Transform our hearts.
Weekly Action:
Create one new tradition for your family that will help you get ready for the coming of Christ.
* * * * *
Meditation Three: Romans 16:25-27
Read Romans 16:25-27
During the weeks leading up to Christmas, we proclaim the good news of the coming Christ and the impact this event brings. At first this event seems small and insignificant, a baby in a humble barn, but in reality this story changes everything.
The truth of a God found in a manger is at the heart of the gospel message Paul speaks about in this passage. We see glimpses of Christ in the Old Testament passages we studied the past few weeks. And because we know Christ has come, we see how Christ was revealed in these Old Testament prophesies and we see how God fulfills these promises to inspire our faith; as we are making ourselves ready for the coming of our Lord.
Reflection for the Day:
In what ways does the Old Testament point forward towards the Messiah who will soon come? How does the fulfilling of these promises strengthen your faith that Christ will come again?
Daily Prayer:
Lord, impact our lives with the shocking encounter of who you are. We see you about to be born into the filth of this earth. We see you coming in the most common way. But you are anything but common- you are the one prophesied in ages past, the one who fulfills the promise, and the one for whom we still hope.
Weekly Action:
Create one new tradition for your family that will help you get ready for the coming of Christ.
Read Romans 16:25-27
During the weeks leading up to Christmas, we proclaim the good news of the coming Christ and the impact this event brings. At first this event seems small and insignificant, a baby in a humble barn, but in reality this story changes everything.
The truth of a God found in a manger is at the heart of the gospel message Paul speaks about in this passage. We see glimpses of Christ in the Old Testament passages we studied the past few weeks. And because we know Christ has come, we see how Christ was revealed in these Old Testament prophesies and we see how God fulfills these promises to inspire our faith; as we are making ourselves ready for the coming of our Lord.
Reflection for the Day:
In what ways does the Old Testament point forward towards the Messiah who will soon come? How does the fulfilling of these promises strengthen your faith that Christ will come again?
Daily Prayer:
Lord, impact our lives with the shocking encounter of who you are. We see you about to be born into the filth of this earth. We see you coming in the most common way. But you are anything but common- you are the one prophesied in ages past, the one who fulfills the promise, and the one for whom we still hope.
Weekly Action:
Create one new tradition for your family that will help you get ready for the coming of Christ.
* * * * *
Meditation Four: Luke 1:25-38
Read Luke 1:25-38
Just as Mary was pregnant with the coming of our Lord, we too are pregnant with the callings which God has placed on our lives. As we ponder the words God spoke to us throughout this Advent season, let us not be afraid. Although, it may seem what God is calling us to do is too great of a task to carry, let us respond to God in faith, as Mary did, “I am the servant of the Lord, let it be with me according to your word.”
Reflection for the Day:
What seeming great thing is God asking you to do?
Daily Prayer:
Lord God, here I am. Let whatever you want for me,
be according to your word
I am your servant, ready to answer your great call.
Weekly Action:
Create one new tradition for your family that will help you get ready for the coming of Christ.
Read Luke 1:25-38
Just as Mary was pregnant with the coming of our Lord, we too are pregnant with the callings which God has placed on our lives. As we ponder the words God spoke to us throughout this Advent season, let us not be afraid. Although, it may seem what God is calling us to do is too great of a task to carry, let us respond to God in faith, as Mary did, “I am the servant of the Lord, let it be with me according to your word.”
Reflection for the Day:
What seeming great thing is God asking you to do?
Daily Prayer:
Lord God, here I am. Let whatever you want for me,
be according to your word
I am your servant, ready to answer your great call.
Weekly Action:
Create one new tradition for your family that will help you get ready for the coming of Christ.
* * * * *
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