Today is Thursday, Dec. 8, the twelfth day in the Advent season.
Morning
Praise and Thanksgiving. Let’s begin by prayerfully reading Psalm 8. As people who seek holiness, we can sometimes beat up on ourselves a little as we consider sin. But let’s never forget that we are wonderfully made.
Let’s also pray these words:
“God on High, God with Us in Flesh, God Among Us as Spirit, we declare your majesty! Why do you love us so? The only answer can be that you are love. As we receive your loving grace, may we return it to you in blessings and to those around us who feel lost and forgotten. We know the well of grace never runs dry. Amen.”
Confession. Let’s search our hearts, recognize our sins, confess them to the Lord, and accept forgiveness.
Petitions. Again, as we ask for God’s intervention today, let’s try to see in our heads images of the people and places where we hope to see a miracle.
Scripture. Ruth 1:6-18. This is a portion of the Book of Ruth, which I think really needs to be read in its entirety. Perhaps you can set aside a little extra time today to hear this story.
Silence.
Noon
Let’s continue to pray this prayer together daily:
“Lord, we have entered a season of expectation. We remember the Israelites’ past desire for a savior to arrive, and we mirror what they felt as we long now for the return of Jesus Christ. Come Lord Jesus, come! We pray this with some trepidation, knowing we never feel completely ready for such a day, and that loved ones around us may not be ready. And yet we continue to pray, Come Lord Jesus, come! We trust that your grace at your return will so overwhelm sin and death that all will be set right. As we pray for your full arrival, teach us how to make ourselves ready, living as watchful people. Amen.”
Night
At a minimum, let’s spend some significant time in a quiet, reflective state before retiring for the night. Embrace the day’s spiritual victories and release the failures.
If you want to start a conversation about Christian meditation techniques, use the Comments section.
Sleep well, and as we dream, perhaps we will have visions of those who have loved us unconditionally.
Methodist Life 