Daily Dose For December 12

Memory Verse; He (Jesus) is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17 

Isaiah 18-20, Proverbs 9

The waiting of Advent teaches us to live in increments, in small pieces rather than large chunks. Waiting also teaches us to measure our progress slowly. Alcoholics and addicts know this more than most of us. They measure their recovery in single days. They know their waiting and recovery takes place one day at a time. (Holly Whitcomb)

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, and to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” - Luke 1:76-79

“Zechariah’s Song” (Luke 1:68-80) is recorded after John the Baptist’s birth. When Zechariah obediently agreed his name should be John, and not a family name, his trust in God restored his speech! 

Father,

Advent is a special time in which we prepare for Jesus’ birth. Even the birth of John, the one who would prepare the way for Jesus, was special. And how compassionate was your heart to restore Zechariah’s speech, giving him another chance to be faithful! Nothing you do, Father, is a coincidence. We love discovering you in the Christmas story of Jesus. Help us to remember that your work in our lives is just as special and specific.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

(https://www.ibelieve.com/holidays/family-prayers-to-pray-each-day-of-advent.html)

Daily Dose For December 11

Memory Verse; He (Jesus) is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17 

Isaiah 14:28-17, Proverbs 8

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” - Luke 1:47-48 

“Mary’s Song” (Luke 1:46-56) begins with her sheer joy over the fact that God had noticed her. He is a personal God, and notices all of His children. 

"I think that the call to receive Christ is more like Gabriel's visit to Mary where he asks us, will you carry the Christ, will you carry the salvation of the world?" Mike Wilkins

Father, On this day of Advent, we thank you for noticing us! Like Mary, we are blown away by the way you see all of us so personally. Jesus being born on Christmas means that our relationship with you can be personal through prayer, and your Word, and the Holy Spirit in us. Amazing is the way you created us and care for us so specifically. Like Mary, we praise you, Father, for WHO YOU ARE. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

(https://www.ibelieve.com/holidays/family-prayers-to-pray-each-day-of-advent.html)

Daily Dose For December 10

Memory Verse; He (Jesus) is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17 

Isaiah 13-14:27, Proverbs 7

“God has no fear of the slimy intimacy of touching his own creation.”—Kris Rocke and Joel Van Dyke, Geography of Grace

“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice, she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!’” Luke 1:41-42

Leaping was and is an expression of joy. Imagine, John in his mother’s womb divinely experiencing joy in the presence of Jesus!  

Father, The Advent season causes us to anticipate the joy of Christmas morning. Our prayer today is that the joy we feel at Christmas will last throughout the year! Will you bless our minds and hearts to remember and celebrate Christmas joy all year-round? In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

(https://www.ibelieve.com/holidays/family-prayers-to-pray-each-day-of-advent.html)

Daily Dose For December 9

Memory Verse; He (Jesus) is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17 

Isaiah 11-12, Proverbs 6:20-35

“This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David.” Matthew 1:1 

Advent is patience it's how God has made us a people of promise, in a world of impatience.  Stanley Hauerwas

Father,

Only you could orchestrate forty-two generations of storied history and fulfilled prophesy leading up to the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ. We are in AWE of your great plan for us. Each name we read in Scripture has a story attached, to help us learn more about who you are and who we are as yours. This Advent season, grow in our hearts a love and appreciation for your compassionate heart toward us. Thank you for preparing the way for us, and sending your only Son, Jesus, to save us. Great are you, LORD. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

(https://www.ibelieve.com/holidays/family-prayers-to-pray-each-day-of-advent.html)

Daily Dose For December 8

Memory Verse; He (Jesus) is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17 

Isaiah 9-10, Proverbs 5-6:19

“Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” - Luke 1:30-33

The angel’s news fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and, will call him Immanuel.” - Isaiah 7:14

“To be human is nothing less than to be caught in the great congested pilgrimage of existence and to join ourselves freely to it in the face of the evidence of its never-ending troubles.” 

― Eugene Kennedy, Joy of Being Human

Father,  Today we remember the earthly mother of Jesus and thank you for her example of great faith and trust in you. “‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?” Let our response to impossible situations be like Mary’s, inquisitive, but not doubtful of what our great God is capable of. “For no word from God will ever fail.” (Luke 1:35). Lord, help us take hold of the same hopeful faith Mary had, when she responded, “I am the Lord’s servant …May your word to me be fulfilled.” For you have great things in store for those who say ‘yes’ to you, God!  In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (https://www.ibelieve.com/holidays/family-prayers-to-pray-each-day-of-advent.html)

Daily Dose For December 7

Memory Verse; He (Jesus) is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17 

Isaiah 7-8, Proverbs 4:1-27

“I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” - Luke 1:19-20

“First, I have not minded so much leaving the Garden because God, blessed be his holy name, has never abandoned us.” 

― Katerina Whitley

Father, Forgive us for our unbelief. We, like Zechariah, have a hard time believing things we cannot see or make sense of ourselves. Jesus said he came so that we would live life to the full (John 10:10), but we can’t experience that fullness when we doubt you and your ways. Help us to trust you, Father. Increase our faith! We want to live life to the full. Teach us, as we prepare our hearts this Advent season, how to embrace the truth of Christ in order to fully live. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (https://www.ibelieve.com/holidays/family-prayers-to-pray-each-day-of-advent.html)

Daily Dose For December 6

Memory Verse; He (Jesus) is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17 

Isaiah 6, Proverbs 3:1-35

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth with bear you a son, and you are to call him John.” - Luke 1:13

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. – Luke 1:41

This is the homely heart of Incarnation, this meeting of God in man with men and women, this simple face of divine graciousness in ordinary life rather than in the hymns of church fathers or in the dry elaborations of theologians.” 

― Eugene Kennedy, Joy of Being Human

Father,

It is a joy to discover the way You pieced together Jesus’ earthly family. He had brothers, sisters, and cousins, just like we do! Though Savior of the world, He experienced life on earth as we do. Because of this, we can relate to Jesus in a special way. He truly knows how we feel and understands both the best and hardest parts of living on Earth. We’re thankful that Jesus’ calls us friends, and that he has grafted us into his family. He is always with us. We are never alone. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.  (https://www.ibelieve.com/holidays/family-prayers-to-pray-each-day-of-advent.html)