Advent Devotional Guide
Throughout Advent, we listen to four songs from the Gospel of Luke — sung by ordinary people who witnessed the extraordinary arrival of Jesus. Each week invites us to join their song of faith, peace, hope, and trust.
Week 1
Reflection Focus:
Mary’s song rises from surrender, not certainty. Trust is choosing to magnify God even when you can’t yet see how His promise will unfold.
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35 And the angel answered 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 called holy—the Son of God.”
I vividly remember the first several months of my wife’s pregnancy – every night, I would walk over to her side of the bed, kneel, put my hand on her pregnant belly, and pray over our future baby with a sense of awe, curiosity, and anticipation of who she might be. I recognized those moments as holy . I could tangibly experience the nearness of God in those prayers, the reality of my daughter being “fearfully and wonderfully made” becoming more evident each passing week.
There is something sacred about anticipation, an intentional posture of expectancy that awakens the soul to God’s unfolding story. But so often, our lives drift into autopilot. The familiar rhythms and routines of the ordinary drown out the preparation needed to actually recognize the extraordinary. Anticipation is not passive; it is the means by which we align our hearts to receive the blessings God has already ordained for us.
This is why anticipation lies at the very heart of Advent. Advent—adventus, “arrival” or “coming”—is a season in the Christian tradition where we slow down, recenter, and reorient our hearts in holy expectation. It is a time of remembering the first coming of Christ in the humility of His birth, while also longing for His return when all things will be made new. Advent invites us to stand in that sacred tension between what God has already done and what He has promised yet to do.
So in this season, may we be both aware and intentional. Awake to the reality that we are living in a story still unfolding, a story authored by a God of purpose, promise, and divine destiny. May anticipation sharpen our vision and stir our hearts to receive Christ afresh.
Prayer:
Lord, help me be intentional this season, living with a sense of destiny and purpose. In the ordinary, help me see the extraordinary. In the mundane, help me see the miracle.
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At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice, she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
On the surface, Mary’s story reads like a joyful baby announcement, but her Magnificat is far more than that. It is a prophetic declaration announcing the arrival of God’s upside-down Kingdom. In her song, we see the very heart of our Lord: a God who lifts up the humble, stands with the poor, and carries those on the margins—the oppressed, the refugee, the overlooked, and the silenced.
Advent is the season when we join Mary in longing, hoping, and waiting for the coming of this King and His Kingdom. Even in seasons marked by pain, rejection, or uncertainty, we can take heart knowing that our Savior is drawing near. Jesus does not arrive like a superhero swooping in to rescue us from a distance. He comes incarnate, in flesh and blood, born to a poor, displaced mother. He lays aside every right as King to enter the world as a servant and ultimately die a humble criminal’s death.
When Mary sings her song of blessing, she is saying yes to God’s promises before she sees their fulfillment. And that same faith will carry her through the trials ahead. When there is no room at the inn, when she must flee Herod’s violence, when she becomes a widow raising a child alone, and when she stands at the foot of the cross watching her innocent son suffer an unjust and excruciating death.
So as we wait expectantly for the birth of our coming King, may we, like Mary, fix our eyes on the promises of our merciful God trusting that even in the waiting, He is already at work.
Prayer
Lord, teach us to magnify You even when we cannot yet see the outcome. Fill us with joy that comes from Your presence and confidence in Your promises. -
13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. 17 The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria!”
Trusting in the Promises of God
Here is some context as we read today’s devotional in order to understand the main passage. The Assyrian empire is slowly rising and spreading its power across the region. In response, Israel and Syria form an alliance to resist Assyria. They want Judah to join them but King Ahaz refuses. Therefore, Israel and Syria are frustrated and plan to attack Judah in hopes that by removing King Ahaz they can bring in a new king who will join their alliance.
However in Isaiah 7:1, it says that the attack will not succeed even though there are rumors of war. Isaiah 7:2 tells us that the hearts of the people were shaken with fear, like trees bending in the wind. Therefore, God sends Isaiah to King Ahaz to tell him to not fear and to not have their hearts grow faint because God is going to protect Judah, yet he does not believe.
How many of us can relate to King Ahaz? God tells us the truth but we are filled with disbelief. God tells us not to be afraid but we are filled with fear and anxiety. Isaiah 7:9 says, “If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.” When we are filled with fear, our faith will be shaken and not secure in God. When fear has a grip on us, our hearts can start trusting other things instead of God.As we enter into the Advent season, we are reminded of the hope and promise of the birth of Jesus – Immanuel God with us, as stated in Isaiah 7:14. Just as God promised King Ahaz that He would protect Judah, God fulfills His greatest promise through Jesus, our salvation, by giving us a reason to wait and hope with joy this Advent season.
The good news for us today is that even in our fear, doubt, and moments of unfaithfulness, God remains faithful. He proves His trustworthiness by sending Jesus into the world by becoming flesh, dying on the Cross for our sins, and being raised to life. Let us be reminded today that God never fails and that He is a promise keeper.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to trust You fully, even in fear and uncertainty, and to wait with hope and joy for the fulfillment of Your promises in Jesus. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
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“The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.”
During this Advent season, we slow down, wait on the Lord, and sit with the prayer of the Psalmist. The Psalm begins by reminding us of something we often forget: whenever we place our fear or our hope in anything other than God, those things can’t actually save us. Whether it’s money, health, careers, or our own abilities, none of these are strong enough to hold our deepest fears or hopes.
Yet the beauty of this passage is not our insufficiency but God’s sufficiency. We’re reminded that “the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love.” God sees us. He knows our weaknesses and anxieties, and His faithful love remains steady toward us.
So as we wait, let’s turn our eyes back to God. Let’s put our hope and our fear in Him before anything else. This season invites us to stop relying on the stock market, politics, or our sense of control. It also invites us not to be overwhelmed by fear—fear of sickness, financial uncertainty, or all the “what ifs” that run through our minds. Instead, we can shift from “what if…?” to a hopeful, steady “even if…” Even if life shakes, God remains our hope.
And we’re meant to do this together. In Psalm 33:20–22, the words “we,” “our,” and “us” are repeated seven times. It’s a reminder that God didn’t design us to carry hope or fear on our own. We are meant to walk with one another, strengthen one another, and wait on God together.
So with one voice and one hope, we pray: “Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us.”
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“3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
In the season of Advent, we take time to consciously await in anticipation both the day of Christ’s first coming and the day of his second coming. Our passage today beautifully illustrates the dynamic manner in which God carries out the start, progression, and end to this divine waiting and its fulfillment. Philippians 1:3-11 opens with a clear description of the Philippians’ start in their faith. Perhaps as Paul writes this letter from prison in Rome, he is reminded of his first journey in Philippi, where he sang (also) in prison with Silas before its walls came crumbling down. The partnership of the church formed in Philippi thereafter remains strong and encouraging to Paul even now.
This encouraged and joyful Paul then states, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” This famous verse often is used for encouragement of God’s faithfulness, promising that when God starts something, there will be an end, and not just an end, but a completion. Many, if not all of us, are in need of such encouragement – especially those whose hands have grown weary or feet become heavy without fully being aware that they have. In the day-to-day, we may instinctively push through to the next task, next worry, or next deficit.
Take a moment to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in your heart, mind or body which have grown weary over time.
Now if God started something so incredible in the Philippians, and would surely bring it all into completion at the end, what would it look like in between? Paul says a prayer for this in-between on behalf of the church: “it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more”. Paul’s affections for the Philippians was marked by their generosity and love, already abounding in obvious ways, yet Paul intercedes for them that it might abound “more and more.” This is how they might properly wait in Advent for the completion of Christ’s work in them. When Christ returns, it will all be finished – but in the meantime, Paul reveals our call to love well, and love deeper. In the joy and fervor Paul feels for this church, his prayer for them is that they may love more and more and more! This is what will keep them until the day of Christ.
Prayer
In response to the heavy areas Holy Spirit has revealed to us, we pray: Lord, as I wait for your promised completion within me, fill me with your love, so that my love may also abound more and more.
Week 2
Reflection Focus:
Zechariah’s silence became the soil where faith grew. Sometimes God pauses our voice so that belief can deepen in the quiet.
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Passage: Luke 1:11-25
11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
As we anticipate the coming of the prophesied Messiah, we reflect upon God’s goodness and faithfulness over our lives.
In today’s passage, we are introduced to a priest named Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth was barren, and both were of old age. As Zechariah is burning incense as an offering in the temple of the Lord, he encounters Gabriel, an angel of God. Gabriel came to deliver the good news that Zechariah’s prayers have been answered – his wife will bear him a son!
But, Zechariah’s immediate reaction is not to rejoice and give thanks to the Lord, but to wonder how this can be when his wife is advanced in years. Rather than magnifying God, Zechariah magnifies his circumstances, failing to recognize God's power and faithfulness due to his disbelief. As a result, though Zechariah’s lack of faith does not prevent God from fulfilling His promise, Zechariah is silenced, prohibiting him from sharing the good news that his wife is conceiving a child and fully enjoying this good news.
Oftentimes, we allow the circumstances of our lives to overwhelm our minds and hearts. And like Zechariah’s, our lack of faith prohibits us from fully enjoying God’s goodness and blessings over our lives. But we must remember the good news that He has given to us in Jesus Christ! The grace of God is sufficient for us, for His power is perfected in our weakness. Through His Son, God is rewriting our stories of brokenness into stories of redemption, that we may share in His glory.
In this Advent season, let us boast in our weakness and magnify the Lord. May we give thanks to God and rejoice in the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, as we increase our faith in the One who is greater than our circumstances.
Prayer Prompt
Lord, will you be magnified in my life. Humble me to recognize that I am deeply in need of you, and that your grace is sufficient for me. Increase my faith, that in my weakness I may place my hope and confidence in you. -
For 400 years, God’s prophetic voice had been silent. But with the arrival of the Prince of Peace, God spoke again—through Gabriel, Elizabeth, Mary, and now Zechariah—reminding His people that He had not forgotten His covenant or His promise of salvation.
Like God’s people, I’ve had a long season of waiting. I came to the U.S. in 2008 as an international student, without family or friends. By 2013, I became undocumented and faced ten years of fear—fear of being deported, fear of driving, fear of speaking English, fear of airports, fear of not belonging. I struggled to support my mom, pay bills, and continue in ministry.
But Jesus met me in every part of that journey. He held me in the valley and spoke confidence and courage over me as I ran to Him in all my fears. Jesus taught me to drive. I remember singing “Jesus at the center of my life” while practicing on my own to stay in the center of the lane! He helped me craft my first sermon and stood with me as I preached it in English. He held my hand as I walked through TSA lines and met me in every small and large fear.
Through it all, Jesus never left me. He finally released me from a life of bondage to sing a song of freedom. This year, after 18 years, I was able to return to Sri Lanka, my home, and my heart overflowed with gratitude like Zechariah. I lifted a song of praise for God’s faithfulness.
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
for He has visited and redeemed His people…
to remember His holy covenant…
that we, being delivered, might serve Him without fear.”
(Luke 1:68–75)This Christmas, the same Jesus who met me in every fear still comes to meet you—in your valleys, in your waiting, in your grief, and in your joy. He remembers His covenant. He comes to redeem, to deliver, and to free us to serve Him without fear.
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for coming and for continuing to come into every season of our lives. -
1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
As we continue anticipating the arrival of Christ, we pause to slow down and open our hearts to God. Our passage brings us to the moment when God meets Abram after a fierce battle to rescue Lot and recover stolen goods - a moment when Abram could have taken the glory and possessions for himself, yet chose to give everything to God.
What’s striking is that even though the text doesn’t mention Abram’s fear, God addresses it directly. He recognizes Abram’s inner thoughts and reassures him that He will protect and reward him. God shows that He knows Abram’s emotions before Abram ever speaks them - and He desires to meet Abram in them.
Abram responds by voicing that very fear: that he will not have a son and that God might not provide one. But God is faithful to His promises. He reassures Abram, invites him to look at the sky, and reveals the blessing He is eager to give. In that moment, Abram chooses to trust Him - and God declares him righteous because of that faith.
Take a moment to read today’s passage again and bring everything on your heart before God. God knows exactly what’s on our hearts; don’t shy away from opening up your heart to Him because He is faithful to meet you and comfort you. In the Advent season, let us look to Christ’s return as a hopeful reminder that our God is a God who is faithful and keeps His promises. He is certain to defend us and reward us with His presence. Let us have faith that He is a God of His Word and that we can trust Him.
Prayer Prompt
“Lord, open up my heart to yours and teach me to trust You when it doesn’t make sense. Give me faith to hope in you.”
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8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as uncountable as the sand by the seashore.
Let us continue to reflect on God’s steadfast goodness and faithfulness in this Advent season.Today's passage centers on the holy anticipation with which Abraham and Sarah waited for the Lord's promises to unfold. Abraham’s faith was not passive agreement; it was active obedience. Advent is a season of stepping out from the certainty of our present lives and into the mystery of God's unfolding plan. Just as Abraham left all that he knew to obey the Lord’s calling, we are called to surrender our desire for control and follow Christ without a detailed map for the future. The certainty of our hope is not found in a clear itinerary, but in the unwavering reliability of the one who calls us. As we await Christ’s second coming "not knowing where we are going," there is peace knowing who is leading us there.
Even after Abraham arrived in the Promised Land, he didn't settle down; he lived in tents. The tent is a reflection of Abraham’s eternal mindset: “For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.” Our life here, with all its joys, sorrows, and blessings, is temporary. We live in the tension of the “not yet,” as we await the permanent arrival of the King who will usher in His permanent and immovable Kingdom. Advent reminds us to fix our eyes on Jesus, not on the things of this world.
Take a moment to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas where you might be grasping too tightly in the temporary, hindering your anticipation for the eternal. What needs to be held loosely?
The waiting of Advent often stretches our patience, making the promise seem impossible or delayed. This is where Sarah’s faith speaks volumes. She looked at her impossible circumstances and chose to anchor her faith not to her own limitations, but to God's steadfastness. This is the faith that enables us to wait for the Second Coming with joy, even when the world seems to contradict the promise. We are reminded that our good God brings life and fruitfulness out of what seems barren. Just as He brought the Savior to a Virgin, a new creation will come from the ruins of the old. Faithful He has been, and faithful He will be.
Reflect on His great faithfulness as we pray: “Lord, we exalt you, for you alone are worthy of our praise. Holy Spirit, we ask that you fill us with deep, expectant joy as we surrender control and wait on you.” -
18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness[a] of Sarah's womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
During the holiday season, it becomes remarkably easy to lose sight of God's goodness. The pace of family gatherings, social events, and gift-giving can shift the heart toward stress, comparison, or frustration. Instead of dwelling on the many answered prayers and the faithfulness God has already shown, our focus can drift toward what is missing, what has not yet happened, or the endless “what ifs.”
Romans 4:18–21 offers a powerful reminder for Advent. Abraham believed God “in hope against hope,” even when every circumstance around him suggested the promise was impossible. His faith did not weaken. Instead, it grew stronger as he continued giving glory to God, fully convinced that the Lord was able to do exactly what He promised.
Advent invites the church into that same posture of hope. It calls God’s people to pause and remember the ways He has already moved prayers He has answered, doors He has opened, protection He has provided, and grace He has faithfully poured out. Reflecting on these testimonies strengthens faith for the promises still unfolding.
This season is not ultimately about busyness, traditions, or material expectations. Advent centers the heart on the God who keeps His promises. The birth of Jesus stands as the ultimate fulfillment of a miracle that arrived through circumstances that appeared unlikely, even impossible.
As the community journeys through Advent, may this be a time to slow down, acknowledge God’s goodness, celebrate His faithfulness, and trust Him once again with every hope yet to be realized.
Week 3
Reflection Focus:
Heaven’s song breaks into the world’s chaos, declaring peace that is not earned but gifted. Peace begins with praise - glorifying God in the highest places and welcoming His presence in the lowest.
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8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Devotional
I must have read today's passage hundreds of times over my lifetime, so much so that they have become only words on a page. I will be the first to admit that my sense of wonder has waned over the years and this account has almost become lore. But the events detailed in Luke 2:8-20 should evoke a sense of awe in my heart considering all that happens in these verses: 400 years of silence broken by the appearance of angels, brightly shining to fearful shepherds, proclaiming the good news of great joy that our Savior has arrived and how it's God’s pleasure to give his peace of a restored relationship with Him. This is absolutely incredible but I have the habit of reading this as if it was an ordinary occurrence and not an earth shattering event that it is.
Wonder is defined as a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable. Everything about today's scripture passage should evoke wonder in our hearts. Luke's account shows us that the living, loving, all-powerful, and gracious God is on the move to draw sinful people back to Him though His redemptive plan. It shows us God uses those whom society deems as unworthy to carry out his plan and spread His Good News - which is for you and me. This should be enough to take our breath away.
Wonder in our relationship with God is something we need to reclaim so we are loving Him with all facets of our being. Wonder is a spiritual emotion that connects us to something bigger than ourselves. Think about it like rekindling romance with our spouses. It takes intentionality to recover. Take time to connect with God our Father in worship, in prayer, in conversation throughout your day.
Prayer
"May I never lose the wonder of Your presence, may I always stand in awe of who You are. Oh the beauty and the gift of Your friendship, Is unlike anything I’ve ever known" - Fall Like Rain by Passion
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For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Devotional
The prophet Isaiah speaks to a people acquainted with spiritual darkness, people shaped by war, oppression, and suffering. To a weary and burdened people, uncertain of their future, Isaiah proclaims a message of hope.
Isaiah prophesies three profound promises. First, light will come to those living in darkness. Second, God will decisively defeat the oppressor who weighs heavily upon the people. Third, a son will be given, one who will rule justly and establish a kingdom that will reign forever.
As I reflect on this past year, these words feel especially close to home. We have witnessed devastating fires that destroyed homes, schools, and businesses. We continue to live amid deep political division and systems of oppression that disproportionately harm the most vulnerable. Many among us carry the weight of broken relationships, unresolved trauma, and quiet suffering.
And yet, it is to a hopeless people that a hopeful message is given:
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given.”This gift is freely given to a devastated people, an act of God’s grace.
Isaiah tells of this Messiah as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. As Wonderful Counselor, He is wise beyond all rulers, distinct and sovereign, able to accomplish what seems impossible. As Mighty God, He is strong and valiant, the champion who overcomes oppression and establishes victory. As Everlasting Father, a Father whose love, protection, and presence cover His children. And as Prince of Peace, He presides over a kingdom defined by shalom, a peace that restores wholeness with God and others, flourishing, harmony, and healing.
This messiah will bring about a kingdom marked by peace, justice, and righteousness. This is not a distant hope but God’s sure promise to restore the world through the Messiah. The light has come, the child has been given, and the zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
Prayer
“In the midst of our darkness, we hope in a Messiah who is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Build your Kingdom here.” -
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Devotional
During Advent, I often notice how much noise lives inside me: decisions, worries, expectations, and the quiet fear of getting it wrong. John 14:23-27 reminds us that Jesus spoke these words to people who were also unsettled about his departure. He does not promise the absence of trouble, but He does promise His presence and peace.
Jesus tells His disciples that those who love Him will keep His word, and in response, the Father and Son will come and make their home with them. This is a deeply personal invitation. Our relationship with God is not built on performance or certainty, but on an intimate relationship. We respond by loving Jesus and attending to His words, and through that, we experience closeness with God.
Advent is a season of waiting, but it is not passive. It is a season of experiencing closeness. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit, the advocate, who teaches us, reminds us of truth, and helps us discern. I’ve learned that the Spirit often leads not through pressure or urgency, but through peace. Jesus says, “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid,” and the peace He gives is different from the peace the world offers. It is not forced or frantic. It is steady and grounding.
When we are attuned to God, we feel seen and loved. The spirit helps us examine what is stirring within us and ask whether it comes from a peaceful place or a troubled one. This has become an important Advent practice for me- slowing down, listening, and asking the Spirit for help in discerning what is true and life-giving.
Advent invites us to wait with attentiveness. Jesus has come near, and through the Spirit, He remains with us. As we wait, we trust that His peace is already present and guiding us into deeper connection with Him.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, help us to slow down and listen. Teach us to recognize your peace and to trust your presence as we wait. Make your home within us during this Advent.
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Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
The world is charged with the grandeur of God.It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;
It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil
Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?
Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;
And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;
And wears man's smudge and shares man's smell: the soil
Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.
And for all this, nature is never spent;There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;
And though the last lights off the black West went
Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs —
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent
World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.
God’s Grandeur - Gerald Manly Hopkins
Devotional
When Paul wrote this letter, he was no stranger to hardship. From prison, he proclaimed that the Lord is near and exhorted the believers in Philippi to rejoice always. This led me to wonder how Paul could speak with such confidence and joy in the midst of chaos. He calls believers to set their minds on what is excellent and praiseworthy, teaching that as anxiety is exchanged for these things, the peace of God that transcends understanding will guard the heart and mind. By fixing his mind on the grandeur of God, Paul responds to suffering in a way that may seem illogical, yet is wholly fitting for the God who stands beyond the struggle.I have struggled with anxiety for years, often gripped by fear rooted in a lack of control over my circumstances and future. Many have not seen this side of me, but God has been a close companion through it all. Recently, I sensed the Lord prompting me to take a solo trip to New York City to particularly confront this fear. With anxiety close behind, my mind spiraled over unresolved details and the endless list of things that could go wrong, yet the Lord reminded me that He would be near and so I booked the ticket. Walking the city alone on my first day, God spoke clearly to my heart and pierced me with this simple statement: “I am greater than this city.” In that moment, my gaze shifted from the grandeur of the city to the far greater glory of God. I realized my Father’s greatness is my refuge and resting place. There is no city, circumstance, or thought unconquered by my great God, my Prince of Peace. In this truth, I have been made more than a conqueror.
Though we may not be behind bars, many of us know what it is to feel imprisoned by our thoughts and worries. As we behold Jesus, the greatest gift of love given to us, may we rejoice in the Lord always and hold fast to our identity as more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Prayer
Lord, you surpass all of my understanding, all my anxious thoughts, all the chaos in the world. Help me to behold you and to find my peace in your greatness. -
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Devotional
In Greek mythology, there’s the story of Sisyphus – a king condemned to an endless task. His punishment was to roll a massive boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down again and again. His life became a cycle of strain, effort, and futility. The burden was never lifted. The outcome never came.That image resonates because it names something deeply human. Many of us live as if we are Sisyphus, trying to hold everything together through sheer effort. Family responsibilities. Endless work deadlines. Even trying to maintain good standing with God through serving and striving. The list goes on. We push and push the boulder of life, afraid that if we stop, everything will fall apart. But the story of Jesus is profoundly different.
In Colossians 1:16–17, as Paul describes the supremacy and power of Christ, he writes:
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”The world is not balanced on our shoulders, but upheld by His power. The weight of our lives does not rest on our strength. Scripture doesn’t picture Jesus straining under the universe, it proclaims that He holds it, effortlessly, faithfully, completely.
Advent reminds us that the One who holds all things together did not remain distant. He entered our weary world. He stepped into human limits. And He invites us to stop living like Sisyphus, exhausted, burdened, and afraid, and instead to rest in Him.
We are not the ones keeping the world from falling apart. Jesus is. And that changes how we wait, how we rest, and how we live.
Prayer
Jesus, You are before all things, and in You all things hold together. This Advent, help us release what we’ve been striving to carry and rest in Your faithful, sustaining love.
Week 4
Reflection Focus:
Hope waits with open eyes. Simeon’s joy came not from seeing everything fulfilled but from seeing the first sign that God keeps His word.
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“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”Devotional
You know what I hate. Disneyland. I know, I know, I am supposed to love it. But for me, it is the long lines. You pay a fortune to stand in the sun, shoulder to shoulder, waiting an hour for a two-minute ride. And the whole time you are thinking, “This better be worth it.”
But that is also kind of life. We spend so much of it waiting for the thing we think will finally deliver. The next season. The next milestone. The next relationship. The next win. Once I get there, then I will be okay.
Luke tells us about a man named Simeon who was waiting too, but his waiting was different. He was waiting for the Messiah. And when Mary and Joseph bring the baby Jesus into the temple, the Spirit makes it clear, this is Him. Simeon takes Jesus in his arms and says, “My eyes have seen your salvation” (Luke 2:30). Not a private rescue, not a local hope. God prepared it “in the presence of all peoples” (v31), a light for the nations and the glory of Israel (v32). In other words, the thing we have all been waiting for has a face.
So what is our response?
Mary and Joseph marvel at what Simeon says. They already know who Jesus is, but wonder does not fade with familiarity. That is where our response starts too, worship and awe. If you have been around the church for a while, hear me. Do not let Jesus become background noise. Pray for fresh sight. Slow down long enough to be amazed again.
Simeon does not only comfort, but he also warns. This child is appointed for the falling and rising of many, and the thoughts of hearts will be revealed. Meaning, Jesus forces a response. No neutrality.
So here is the application. It is simple, but it is not easy. Where do you resist Him? Where do you keep Jesus at arm’s length? What part of your life is off limits? Money. Sex. Relationships. Forgiveness. Control. Your future. What do you get defensive about? What do you keep justifying? What do you keep hiding? That is not random. That is your heart being revealed.
So our response is not to drift, not to stay lukewarm, not to remake Jesus into a version we can manage. Our response is to marvel, surrender, trust, and choose to rise with Him.
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1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare[a] is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord's hand
double for all her sins.3 A voice cries:[b]
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”Devotional
In early 2021, I found myself at a crossroads in my faith. Overwhelmed and frustrated at the apparent silence of God, I made a stark decision to reject Him altogether and live a life where I was free to indulge in whatever pleased me. It only took a few months of this lifestyle for me to find myself on my knees in deep agony and unrest. What felt like one long unending night, I remember crying out from the depths of my soul pleading with God to save me. And almost immediately like a rush of wind, I felt an inexplicable warmth surround me. Out of the silence, the tender voice of God broke through: “Take comfort, for I am with you.”
I imagine the people of Judah experienced something similar. In Isaiah 1–39, we read of their plight – covenantal unfaithfulness, prophetic warnings, and the looming reality of judgment that would lead to exile. But in Isaiah 40, our passage for today, the narrative shifts dramatically. Out of the darkness, God’s tender voice speaks comfort and hope to His people: “Her warfare is ended” and “her iniquity is pardoned.” Judgment has run its course and, like the dawn breaking through the night, God assures them that they have not been abandoned. In fact, He affirms His promise of deliverance. “Prepare the way of the Lord,” Isaiah declares – words that would later find fulfillment in John the Baptist and, ultimately, Jesus Christ. This is the story of Advent. Out of a quiet, unassuming night, Christ is born – the light of the world stepping into darkness and declaring to His people, “Take comfort, for I am with you.”
So here’s my question: have you reached the end of yourself? Are you waiting for deliverance? This promise of hope is for you. God has not abandoned you. His redemptive plan stretches from the beginning of time, into this present moment, and to the end of the ages. In Jesus, we have an eternal hope.
Prayer
Jesus, you are the light of the world that came to bring to an end the age of darkness. This Advent, help us to find comfort in the hope that you bring.
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“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Devotional
Back in 2012, I met and befriended an older man unlike anyone I had ever known at the time – tattoos from head to toe, a tough and weathered exterior, the occasional profanity, and yet a deeply devoted and ardent follower of Jesus.
Zach was in his late 30s – intimidating at first glance – until a conversation began over a bible verse tattooed across his forearm: Romans 8:18. As we talked, he opened up about his difficult upbringing: gang affiliation, incarceration, his wife leaving him unexpectedly, and multiple attempts to take his own life. As he shared, tears flowed freely - he seemed all too familiar with the reality of loss, a man acquainted with grief.
I asked him, “What does Romans 8:18 mean to you?” He took a deep breath, paused for a moment, and replied, “In the seasons/moments of loss and grief, I fight to continually remind myself – this pain is not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed to me… It is the anchor of my hope.”
A question for reflection: “is the anchor of your hope weighty enough to keep you from drifting to despair?”
The Hebrew word for “glory” is “Kavod (כָּבוֹד)” – but it also means, “weight”. The Hebrew word for Glory is the exact same word for Weight. What’s the significance of this?
Apostle Paul writes that the “glory” that is to be revealed to us is simultaneously the hope that anchors us in our present suffering – quite literally, the weight that keeps us from drifting into despair and hopelessness. The glory of God revealed through the person of Jesus – the redemption of our bodies, the restoration of all things – is the only anchor weighty enough to sustain us in a world marked by suffering.
So let us fix our hearts on the weighty hope of glory – hope anchored in the person of Jesus.
Prayer
Come, ye disconsolate, where’er ye languish,
Come to the mercy-seat, fervently kneel.
Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish;
Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.— Thomas Moore, Come, Ye Disconsolate (1816)
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“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Devotional
Merry Christmas Tapestry Family!
Today, we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our final passage in our Advent Devotional comes from John 1:14 – a verse that beautifully culminates this season.
The Good News of Christmas is that Jesus does not remain distant. He comes close – personal and near. The word “dwelt” literally means to pitch a tent or to tabernacle. In other words, the way God saves the world is not by temporarily visiting it, but by fully entering it in the flesh. He took up residence. He chose nearness over distance.
Isn’t this what makes the Christian story so different – So unique, so powerful? The story of Jesus is not about humans climbing and clawing their way up to God. It is about God coming down to us.
And this has profound implications! In Jesus, God entered the messiness of human life. He was born in obscurity, grew up in an ordinary town, experienced hunger and fatigue, joy and sorrow. He laughed and felt deeply. Do you see the significance? The incarnation tells us that there is no part of the human experience that God is unwilling to enter.
And John says that in Jesus, we have seen His glory. Not a glory marked by spectacle or dominance – but a glory full of grace and truth. Grace that meets us wherever we might be. Truth that loves us enough not to leave us there. In Jesus, God’s glory is revealed not through distance, but through nearness. And this is Good News.
For those who feel unseen, God has drawn near. For those carrying shame, God has taken on flesh. For those longing for presence, God has made His home with us. Advent reminds us that God is not far off. He is Emmanuel — God with us.
Advent Prayer
Jesus, thank You for coming near. Help me slow down enough this season to notice Your presence— in my ordinary moments, my fragile places, and my longing heart. Make Your home in me anew. Amen.