Today is Friday, Dec. 9, the thirteenth day in the Advent season.
Morning
Praise and Thanksgiving. Let’s begin by prayerfully reading Psalm 23, a most familiar psalm. Perhaps a more modern translation will reveal something new to you.
Let’s also pray these words:
“Loving, Perfect Shepherd, you guide us, you rebuke us, and astonishingly, you died for us so we could be kept safe from sin and death. Keep us focused on your voice; do not let us be lured to other flocks and dangerous, worldly shepherds. We adore you and look to you with love. Amen.”
Confession. Let’s search our hearts, recognize our sins, confess them to the Lord, and accept forgiveness.
Petitions. As we pray for others, and ultimately, ourselves, where are we actually the answer to prayers?
Scripture: 2 Peter 3 :11-18. Peter speaks of the need to ready ourselves for the end of all things, which of course marks the beginning of something new and more glorious. Do his exhortations make sense to us?
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 let’s be mindful of how endings mark powerful new beginnings when we walk with God.
Methodist Life 