Today is Thursday, Dec. 15, the nineteenth day in the Advent season.
Morning
Praise and Thanksgiving.
Let’s begin our prayers with Psalm 89. Do we ever praise God and worship in a way we could describe as a “celebratory shout”?
Let’s also pray these words:
“Loyal, Loving God, we do thank you for your wondrous acts, in particular the act of the cross, where we find our salvation. Your great plans for a remade heaven and earth exceed our imaginations, and yet you incorporate us into them fully. May we bless you with our hearts, our voices and our material resources, knowing that whatever we give you will increase your kingdom in this world now, to your glory. Amen.”
Confession. Let’s search our hearts, recognize our sins, confess them to the Lord, and accept forgiveness. What new possibilities in our lives have been created by the act of confession?
Petitions. Using our “outside in” pattern, let’s ask God to intervene in global matters, in national needs, in our communities, schools and workplaces, in our churches and homes, and in our personal lives. Who are the specific people needing prayer?
Scripture: Galatians 3:23-29
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, resting securely as citizens of Christ’s kingdom.
Methodist Life 