Sunday (11/28)

In his letter to the Galatians, the apostle Paul wrote, “when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him…so that he could adopt us as his very own children” (Galatians 4:4-5 NLT). One of the gifts of Christmas is that God came to be with us here on earth (Matthew 1:23). As we begin this Advent season preparing for the celebration of Christmas that will take place at various times throughout December, including Christmas Eve during AUMC worship services and Christmas day within homes throughout the world, we also remember that Christ will return on an unknown day in the future. Spending time preparing for the celebration of the birth of our Savior, as well as evaluating our readiness for his return, are import focuses during a season that could tempt us to direct our attention elsewhere. In the midst of the busy holiday season, we can find ourselves so consumed with buying gifts, attending parties, and doing things that we miss the presence of hope, love, joy, and peace found in and through Christ. This daily devotional for the first week of Advent is designed to help you focus on Jesus each day as you prioritize spending time with the God who wants to be with you.

 

 

Monday (11/29)

To prepare your heart and mind to focus on Christ, read part of the hymn lyrics from “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” by James Montgomery:

 

He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth;

love, joy, and hope, like flowers, spring in his path to birth.

Before him, on the mountains, shall peace, the herald, go, and righteousness, in fountains, from hill to valley flow.

 

Read Genesis 12:1-3, as well as the apostle Peter’s message in Acts 3:24-26 to a crowd of onlookers when he healed a man who had been unable to walk. Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abram/Abraham about 2,000 years after what took place in Genesis 12. Peter revealed in his message that through Christ the people of the entire earth have been blessed.

 

How have you been blessed by Jesus?

 

Prayer

Lord, you fulfill your promises even when that fulfillment comes many generations after it was made. Help me to see and know how blessed I am because of Jesus. Forgive me when I am impatient. I want to wait well today and throughout this season as a patient person. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

 

 

Tuesday (11/30)

Read part of the hymn lyrics from “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”:

 

He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth;

love, joy, and hope, like flowers, spring in his path to birth.

 

Read God’s message to Abram/Abraham in Genesis 17:1-19 and the fulfillment of the promise about Sarah bearing a son in Genesis 21:1-7.

 

Who are the older saints and elderly Christians that you know who reveal, or revealed to you, a strong faith in God? What can you learn from them?

 

Prayer

God, you fulfill your promises. Forgive me when I am impatient. Spirit of Christ, help me to be patient today and throughout this season. Amen.

 

 

Wednesday (12/1)

To prepare your heart and mind to focus on Christ, read part of the hymn lyrics from “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”:

 

Before him, on the mountains, shall peace, the herald, go,

and righteousness, in fountains, from hill to valley flow.

 

Read the promise God made to Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, in Genesis 28:10-22.

 

God promised to bless all the people of the earth through Jacob and his descendants. Jacob responded to the Lord by making a vow, setting up a pillar as a memorial of worship, and giving the God of his father and grandfather a tenth of everything given to him. How have you responded to God’s blessings for you?

 

Prayer

Lord God Almighty, I praise you. Everything I have is yours, even the breath I

breathe. Help me to be aware of how blessed I am because of you. Forgive me

when I am ungrateful. I want to bless others today with my words, actions, and

resources. Help me to see and seize my opportunities to be a blessing. Amen.

 

 

Thursday (12/2)

Read part of the hymn lyrics from “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” by James Montgomery:

 

He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth;

love, joy, and hope, like flowers, spring in his path to birth.

Before him, on the mountains, shall peace, the herald, go, and righteousness, in fountains, from hill to valley flow.

 

Read Genesis 49:10, Jacob’s prophetic words spoken to his son named Judah. According to the genealogy in Luke 3, Jesus is a descendant of Judah.

 

Are you intentionally living in submission to the reign and authority of Jesus? If so, how?

 

Prayer

King Jesus, I humbly submit to you. Sit on the throne of my heart and let your will be done in my life. I am yours. To the best of my ability, I surrender all that I am and all that I have to you. In your name I pray. Amen.

 

 

Friday (12/3)

Read part of the hymn lyrics from “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” to center your heart and mind on Christ:

 

He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth;

love, joy, and hope, like flowers, spring in his path to birth.

Before him, on the mountains, shall peace, the herald, go, and righteousness, in fountains, from hill to valley flow.

 

Read the prophetic message about the Messiah in Isaiah 7:14 that was shared by the prophet about 700 years before Jesus was born. Matthew, the gospel writer, recognized that Jesus’ birth was a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, so he included it in his account of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection. It is found in Matthew 1:18-23.

 

One of Jesus’ names is “Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.” How have you seen, heard, or experienced God’s hope, love, joy, and/or peace with you this past week?

 

Prayer

Immanuel, I am comforted by the hope I have in you. You love me even when I am unlovable. Help me to love others like you do. Your joy is a special gift. Help me to rejoice no matter what I go through. Your peace is better than any peace that the world can to provide. Guide me to be a peacemaker in my family, with my friends, within the church, in the community, and wherever I go. Thank you for being with me now and always. Amen.

 

 

Saturday (12/4)

How are you going to remember and observe the Sabbath this weekend (Exodus 20:8-11 & Deuteronomy 5:12-15)? The sabbath is a day each week that is set apart from the others to worship God, rest, and enjoy life-giving recreation. You may need to begin by setting aside an hour on Saturday or Sunday to develop a new habit of observing the sabbath. It might be helpful for you to incrementally observe the sabbath by setting aside an increasing portion of a day each weekend until you are eventually able to worship, rest, and engage in living-giving recreation for an entire day each week.

 

Read Psalm 96, then join the psalmist in singing, praising, and rejoicing. You may find it helpful to sing a familiar hymn, Christmas carol, or contemporary Christian song.

 

Solitude & Silence. You are encouraged to find a place where you can quietly be alone for at least ten or fifteen minutes. During your time of solitude & silence with God, you may want to lay down, sit on a comfortable chair, couch, or swing, or go for a walk. During the solitude, silently listen for the internal whisper of the Holy Spirit. For many believers the Holy Spirit does not speak in an audible voice. Instead, the Spirit will place a thought, phrase, verse from scripture, song, image, person, or idea in your heart and mind. Notice the physical sounds you hear and the way your body feels during this time of silence. Try to shut out the thoughts of to-do lists, plans for the day, etc. Simply be with God. After the ten to fifteen minutes, then read the Bible verses listed below.

 

Read Genesis 1:1-2:3. What do these verses reveal about God and the Sabbath day?

 

Pray in response to our Creator, Sustainer, Savior, and King, God with us.

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online.