Tag: sanctification

Expect Christ: Day 20

~ Chuck Griffin ~ Leave a comment

Today is Friday, Dec. 16, the twentieth day in the Advent season.

Morning

Praise and Thanksgiving.

Let’s begin our prayers with Psalm 80.

Let’s also pray these words:

“Savior Like a Shepherd lead us! We give thanks for the gift of eternal life through the cross. We long for the promised life to come, a life we could experience even before our own deaths, if only we see you coming on the clouds. Lead us through the Holy Spirit now. Lead us visibly once again, ruling over all nations and peoples. Amen.”

What other words of thanks and praise might we lift up? When did we last count our blessings?

Confession. Let’s think about confession a little differently today. Imagine the perfect friend, the one you can tell anything without fearing rejection or reprisal. At worst, as you disclose your sins, your friend would say, “Don’t hurt yourself in such ways anymore.” Now go to God seeking such a relationship, trusting that understanding, forgiveness and healing will be offered.

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: 2 Samuel 7:18-22. Again, we might want to take a little time to read before and after today’s verses, gaining some context as we prayerfully consider what God promised King David.

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.

Remember how important controlled breathing can be as we settle ourselves into our relationship with God. He breathed into us the breath of life; the Spirit came as wind and a life-altering fire.

Sleep well, knowing the promises made to David are fulfilled for us, too.

Expect Christ: Day 19

~ Chuck Griffin ~ Leave a comment

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.

Expect Christ: Day 18

~ Chuck Griffin ~ Leave a comment

Today is Wednesday, Dec. 14, the eighteenth day in the Advent season.

Morning

Praise and Thanksgiving.

Let’s begin our prayers with Psalm 68. What an awesome God!

Let’s also pray these words:

“Great God of Heaven, words cannot capture your majesty in full! May the Holy Spirit fill us so that we may sense what is beyond words; as we bow our heads before you, may the thanks we give for our salvation be adequate and even pleasing to you. Keep us in your camp of friends. Amen.”

Confession. Let’s search our hearts, recognize our sins, confess them to the Lord, and accept forgiveness. As we search, are there places we fear to go? If so, let’s ask the Lord to lead the way.

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: Matthew 8:14-17.

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. May a vision of God give you joy.

Expect Christ: Day 17

~ Chuck Griffin ~ Leave a comment

Today is Tuesday, Dec. 13, the seventeenth day in the Advent season.

Morning

Praise and Thanksgiving.

Let’s begin our prayers with Psalm 42. We are reminded that Christ experienced all that we experience, including that feeling of abandonment we sometimes have, even though we know intellectually that God remains with us.

Let’s also pray these words:

“Dear Lord, thanks to you for those moments when you reveal yourself so powerfully, increasing our faith so our daily walk with you improves. As we praise you, may our encounters with your glory lift us up, readying us for a full life with you. Amen.”

Confession. Let’s search our hearts, recognize our sins, confess them to the Lord, and accept forgiveness.

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: Jude 17-25.

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. May a constant sense of God’s mercy give you peace and rest.

Expect Christ: Day 16

~ Chuck Griffin ~ Leave a comment

Today is Monday, Dec. 12, the sixteenth day in the Advent season. The sense that Christmas is almost upon us really begins to build now. If you have one of those “Days Until” countdown calendars, you may have flinched or gasped this morning, thinking of things undone. Breathe, and remember why we pause: to abide for a while with the one who saves us.

Morning

Praise and Thanksgiving.

Our prayerful reading to the glory of God is Psalm 45. What is the source of beauty? And when Christ draws his sword or fires his arrows at his enemies, what is our savior really doing, once we strip away all poetry and metaphor? What does that tell us about how we should fight alongside our king?

Let’s also pray these words:

“Dear Lord, like so many people around us, your beauty was not immediately evident to worldly thinkers. Only those seeking truth could find beauty in a message expressing divine humility and love for the undeserving. Now that we see the gift of salvation, may we exalt you and worship you as we should, declaring to the world what you have done. Lord, you are beauty and truth! Amen.”

Confession. Let’s search our hearts, recognize our sins, confess them to the Lord, and accept forgiveness.

Petitions. Let’s return to our “outside in” pattern, asking 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: Isaiah 29:17-24. Justice, particularly justice for the poor and powerless, has long been a part of God’s plan.

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. May visions of divine beauty fill your dreams.

Expect Christ: Day 15

~ Chuck Griffin ~ Leave a comment

Welcome to the third Sunday of Advent. Again, you are encouraged to treat Sunday as a true Sabbath, attending worship, where we have many opportunities to pray. Also, disconnect from the patterns of the week as much as possible! Believe it or not, God actually encourages us to do nothing of worldly importance from time to time. Ideally, the prayer patterns established over six days of the week lead you to a Sabbath of constant spiritual communion with God.

Here’s a text to consider today, as we move closer to the story of the incarnation.

Luke 1:67-69
John’s father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,

“Bless the Lord God of Israel
    because he has come to help and has delivered his people.
He has raised up a mighty savior for us in his servant David’s house,
    just as he said through the mouths of his holy prophets long ago.
He has brought salvation from our enemies
    and from the power of all those who hate us.
He has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
    and remembered his holy covenant,
        the solemn pledge he made to our ancestor Abraham.
He has granted that we would be rescued
        from the power of our enemies
    so that we could serve him without fear,
        in holiness and righteousness in God’s eyes,
            for as long as we live.
You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High,
    for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
You will tell his people how to be saved
    through the forgiveness of their sins.
Because of our God’s deep compassion,
    the dawn from heaven will break upon us,
    to give light to those who are sitting in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,
        to guide us on the path of peace.”

Here are some questions I would suggest as you dwell on these words. If you’re not familiar with Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, you might want to back up in Luke and understand his full story.

What would it be like to prophesy about your own child’s future?

Do we see how Christ marks a new dawn, one that guides us on the path to peace?

Expect Christ: Day 14

~ Chuck Griffin ~ Leave a comment

Today is Saturday, Dec. 10, the fourteenth day in the Advent season.

Morning

Praise and Thanksgiving. Let’s begin by prayerfully reading Psalm 41. There’s no doubt Jesus cared deeply for those on the margins of society, offering them healing grace.

Let’s also pray these words:

“Lord, if we are to glorify you, we need the courage to go among those who struggle to acquire their most basic needs. Enlarge our circle of praise, Lord; help us find brothers and sisters in Christ in unusual places. Thank you for the resources we have. 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: 1 Samuel 2:1-8. Hannah knew God could and would turn the world upside down.

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 you drift off, ponder this. Where would you invite God to turn your world upside down?

Expect Christ: Day 13

~ Chuck Griffin ~ Leave a comment

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.

Expect Christ: Day 12

~ Chuck Griffin ~ Leave a comment

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.

Expect Christ: Day 11

~ Chuck Griffin ~ Leave a comment

Today is Wednesday, Dec. 7, the eleventh day in the Advent season.

Morning

Praise and Thanksgiving. Let’s begin by prayerfully reading Psalm 2. As we read it, let’s pray our worldly leaders serve the Lord reverently every day.

Let’s also pray these words:

“Dear Lord, we praise you in part so that our minds and hearts are lifted out of the world for a moment. As we praise you for your great love and astonishing plan, we see our own compromise, the ways we shrink from our individual callings. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, continue to show us your better way. We bless you and glorify you! Amen.”

Confession. Where have we sinned? Where have we failed to trust in God’s plan for forgiveness?

Petitions. 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. Matthew 12:33-37.

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, knowing the Holy Spirit is re-creating our souls, and thus, our words, as we dream..