Week 2: JOY
Monday 12/15
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind.” (Romans 12:2a)
"Christmas is getting all you can get, while the getting is good."
Sally from A Charlie Brown Christmas
It is Advent season again, and it is fair to ask why we celebrate it. Our ordinary days are pressed for time, and the holidays often can mean even more activities and to-do lists. However, it’s exactly because these reasons that we need to honor Advent. We don’t want to reflect the culture, we want to affect the culture, especially at Christmastime.
First, Advent is a time to examine. Pausing to read and pray gives us the opportunity to ponder our own lives against the lives of Mary, Joseph, and others in that first Christmas story. Second, Advent can be a cultural re-set. The ‘get-as-much-as you-can’ culture is all around us, and it is so easy to get pulled into that mindset. Instead, focusing on the approach of Christmas reminds us to love as God loves.
Next, the observance of Advent is insurance against depletion. Face it, there really is such a thing as a post-Christmas letdown, whether it’s the echo of an empty house or just a little too much of everything. Advent draws us back to the first Christmas filled with life-steadying examples.
Lastly, the mystery and marvel of Christmas leads to inspiration. Traditions like Advent can be a way to acknowledge and celebrate the miracles within the Christmas story, providing us a way to think about and share the real meaning behind Christmas.
Lord, help us to set aside time to spend with you, delving into the Christmas story. Use the familiar to surprise and recalibrate us. Help us to see and learn again lessons to inspire us to live and love others for you. Amen.
Tuesday 12/16
“For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given…and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 NIV)
Handel's Messiah concert, composed solely from scripture set to music, is used all over the Christmas media landscape, showing up in commercials and movies. The Messiah’s score for Isaiah 9:6 is familiar, even to the most casual observer of Christmas. It begins with the choir singing an arrangement of the verse that rises until “and he will be call-ed…” before pausing for just a half moment. At this point, listeners all but lean forward, waiting, expectant - for the bursts of music that prophesy and announce the names of the long-awaited king, Jesus.
And sure enough, the voices burst forth: Wonderful! - full stop - Counselor! - full stop - Mighty God! - stop - Everlasting Father - pause - And in case anyone missed the seriousness of this next claim, the tone descends and the pace slows for: the Prince of Peace. No soft and fluffy sentiments here. Jesus will ultimately pay with his life to bring us real joy and peace.
In each of those full stops, we have a split second to think about the scripture being sung and proclaimed so clearly. Jesus is both wonderful and a counselor, as well as a wonderful advisor and confidant. He is mighty in that he is not a deity that sleeps or who needs to be awakened. He is the one who upholds us with his righteous right arm (Isaiah 41:10). In the mystery of the Trinity, He is our everlasting Father. Everlasting literally means “lasts forever.” Jesus takes on the role and responsibilities of being our caretaker, our home base, our safe place (Isaiah 8:14) perpetually and for eternity.
It is these prophesied names of Jesus that give believers hope and joy every Christmas and every day of every year. The next time we read this verse, or hear it sung, let each of us lean forward, waiting and expectant, for our hope and joy, the name of Jesus.
Lord, restore our hope and joy in you. In all things you are wonderful, mighty, and everlasting. Counsel us in your wisdom and help us to listen and obey. Be our mighty God, the one we run to for sanctuary. Finally, be our prince of peace and create a sense of wholeness within us as individuals and as a community of believers. Amen.
Wednesday 12/17
“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
(Romans 14:17 NLT)
Several years back there was a popular acronym that was making the rounds: K.I.S.S. – Keep it Simple Stupid (I prefer Sweetie). I find that this acronym is still apropos today, and even more so. We live in a society that thrives on making things as complicated as possible. Take for instance the renewed push toward healthy eating. There are so many different plans with so many rules and requirements. You practically have to be a gourmet chef, an executive administrator and an acrobat to successfully carry out many of these meal plans. What happened to the simplicity of eating healthy, limiting high calorie foods, and taking a daily walk around the block?
Whenever I think about how complicated we like to make things, I am reminded that Jesus’ instructions for living a life of joy is simple. If we live our life in the Holy Spirit, we will live a life of goodness, peace and joy. We do not work up this joy by our own effort or merits. This joy is a by-product of our relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. It is simple and uncomplicated, like the birth of a baby one night in a stable.
Often times, we have a hard time seeing the simple and uncomplicated because of the confusion and difficulties that our world revels in. As we experience this Advent season, amidst the complications of life, let the simple joy of preparing for Jesus’ reign in our hearts and homes. Let’s bring K.I.S.S. back into play – let’s Keep it Simple Sweetie!
Dear Heavenly Father, let us experience afresh and anew the simple joy of the Advent season; the joy of celebrating the birth of Jesus
and the joy of our relationship with Him. Help us, by Your Holy Spirit, to keep it simple. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Thursday 12/18
“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”
(Luke 2:8-11 NLT)
Shepherds, out in the field doing their shepherd thing. Suddenly, they saw a bright light as an angel of the Lord appeared to them. They were the very first to hear the message of great joy that the Messiah is born.
“One of the most beautiful qualities of joy is the abiding sense of ‘enoughness’. Unlike the ephemeral states of pleasure and satisfaction, joy does not induce a craving for more, because joy is enough.” (https://www.robertholden.com/blog/5-qualities-joyful-people/) Our joy is enough because the source of our joy is enough: Jesus.
Joy “is fearless and untroubled by the world. It is as if nothing in the world can tarnish or diminish the essence of joy.” (https://www.robertholden.com/blog/5-qualities-joyful-people/) Our joy is not dependent on the ups and downs of this world; it is dependent on our relationship with the One who came to the world on Christmas.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the joy available to us in Jesus. Help us not to allow our joy to be tarnished by the ups and
downs of this world. Thank You that our joy is enough in Jesus. In His Name, Amen.
Friday 12/19
“A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, ‘God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” (Luke 1:39-45 NLT)
The first response to the Christ child was a leap of joy and the filling of the Holy Spirit. This was a foreshadowing of what the birth and life of Christ would bring into the world, joy and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Mary and Elizabeth lived in an oppressive and world-weary time. Joy was a rare and precious commodity.
We, today, live in an oppressive and world-weary time. Our world is looking for meaning and joy in all the wrong places. During this Advent season, we should be looking toward the manger for meaning and joy. The joy we find with Christ is not dependent on our situation or circumstances. Mary was definitely not having her first child in the best of circumstances. However, she found joy in fulfilling the plan that God had for her. She found joy in the expectation of the arrival of the child she was carrying.
There will be many opportunities during this busy time of year to let our joy slip. We must remind ourselves that our joy is grounded in our relationship with Jesus, not in what we do, what we have, or what we feel. Let the joy of our relationship with Jesus be our focus this Advent season.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to bring joy and the Holy Spirit to our weary world and our searching hearts.
Help us to find the joy of Jesus in every circumstance and every life situation. In His Name, Amen.
Saturday 12/20
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord
is coming soon.” (Philippians 4:4-5 NLT)
Joy to the world. Tidings of comfort and joy. Joyful all ye nations rise. We hear these words streaming out of every social media outlet, out of every store, and on every street corner. It is good to hear these joyful strains during this season. However, is there joy in the world? Are nations rising in joyful expectation? Are the people around us experiencing tidings of comfort and joy?
We are admonished in Philippians to ‘always be full of joy’. We walk in joy as we walk with Jesus. We are not only to walk in joy, but we are also to show the world our joy by our behavior. We are to bring the joy we have in Jesus to every situation and circumstance of life. We are to remain in the joy of Jesus amidst the hustle and bustle of this busy season. We are to express a joyful expectation of experiencing Jesus afresh and anew on Christmas day. We are the ones to bring tidings of comfort and joy to those who are lonely and struggling. We should pray that ‘joyful all ye nations rise’.
Listen for those proclamations of joy during this Advent season. Be mindful that joy is with us throughout the year as we continue to walk with Jesus. And be a dispenser of joy whenever and wherever this Advent season.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that our joy is in Jesus. Enable us, by Your Holy Spirit, to bring tidings of comfort and joy to the
hurting and the lonely. Keep us prayerful, keep us aware. In His Name, Amen.
Sunday 12/21
““I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” (John 15:9-11 NLT)
Joy and love are inextricably connected. When we feel loved we experience joy. That which brings us joy is not the things we have accumulated or the experiences we have had. Our most profound joy is connected to our relationships; to the people we love. An unexpected expression of gratitude from our spouse brings joy. A hug from our child generates joy. Time spent with a friend gives joy.
The love of the Father experienced through our relationship with Jesus is the source of the greatest joy. This joy remains despite how we feel, despite what we have done or not done, because God’s love for us remains. Jesus came to us as a tiny baby so that we would understand real love and thereby understand real joy. He came to tell us and show us how to be filled with His love and joy. We experience His overflowing joy when we remain in Him and obey His word.
Our joy comes first from our relationship with Jesus, and second, from our loving relationships
with other people. The Advent season is a perfect time to bring joy to others through expressions of love, a kind word, an encouraging note, a demonstration of gratitude, and not merely to those we are already in relationship with.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love and the joy of being in relationship with You. Show us how to share Your love and joy with others
this Advent season. Help us to remain in You so that our joy overflows. In His Name, Amen.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind.” (Romans 12:2a)
"Christmas is getting all you can get, while the getting is good."
Sally from A Charlie Brown Christmas
It is Advent season again, and it is fair to ask why we celebrate it. Our ordinary days are pressed for time, and the holidays often can mean even more activities and to-do lists. However, it’s exactly because these reasons that we need to honor Advent. We don’t want to reflect the culture, we want to affect the culture, especially at Christmastime.
First, Advent is a time to examine. Pausing to read and pray gives us the opportunity to ponder our own lives against the lives of Mary, Joseph, and others in that first Christmas story. Second, Advent can be a cultural re-set. The ‘get-as-much-as you-can’ culture is all around us, and it is so easy to get pulled into that mindset. Instead, focusing on the approach of Christmas reminds us to love as God loves.
Next, the observance of Advent is insurance against depletion. Face it, there really is such a thing as a post-Christmas letdown, whether it’s the echo of an empty house or just a little too much of everything. Advent draws us back to the first Christmas filled with life-steadying examples.
Lastly, the mystery and marvel of Christmas leads to inspiration. Traditions like Advent can be a way to acknowledge and celebrate the miracles within the Christmas story, providing us a way to think about and share the real meaning behind Christmas.
Lord, help us to set aside time to spend with you, delving into the Christmas story. Use the familiar to surprise and recalibrate us. Help us to see and learn again lessons to inspire us to live and love others for you. Amen.
Tuesday 12/16
“For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given…and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 NIV)
Handel's Messiah concert, composed solely from scripture set to music, is used all over the Christmas media landscape, showing up in commercials and movies. The Messiah’s score for Isaiah 9:6 is familiar, even to the most casual observer of Christmas. It begins with the choir singing an arrangement of the verse that rises until “and he will be call-ed…” before pausing for just a half moment. At this point, listeners all but lean forward, waiting, expectant - for the bursts of music that prophesy and announce the names of the long-awaited king, Jesus.
And sure enough, the voices burst forth: Wonderful! - full stop - Counselor! - full stop - Mighty God! - stop - Everlasting Father - pause - And in case anyone missed the seriousness of this next claim, the tone descends and the pace slows for: the Prince of Peace. No soft and fluffy sentiments here. Jesus will ultimately pay with his life to bring us real joy and peace.
In each of those full stops, we have a split second to think about the scripture being sung and proclaimed so clearly. Jesus is both wonderful and a counselor, as well as a wonderful advisor and confidant. He is mighty in that he is not a deity that sleeps or who needs to be awakened. He is the one who upholds us with his righteous right arm (Isaiah 41:10). In the mystery of the Trinity, He is our everlasting Father. Everlasting literally means “lasts forever.” Jesus takes on the role and responsibilities of being our caretaker, our home base, our safe place (Isaiah 8:14) perpetually and for eternity.
It is these prophesied names of Jesus that give believers hope and joy every Christmas and every day of every year. The next time we read this verse, or hear it sung, let each of us lean forward, waiting and expectant, for our hope and joy, the name of Jesus.
Lord, restore our hope and joy in you. In all things you are wonderful, mighty, and everlasting. Counsel us in your wisdom and help us to listen and obey. Be our mighty God, the one we run to for sanctuary. Finally, be our prince of peace and create a sense of wholeness within us as individuals and as a community of believers. Amen.
Wednesday 12/17
“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
(Romans 14:17 NLT)
Several years back there was a popular acronym that was making the rounds: K.I.S.S. – Keep it Simple Stupid (I prefer Sweetie). I find that this acronym is still apropos today, and even more so. We live in a society that thrives on making things as complicated as possible. Take for instance the renewed push toward healthy eating. There are so many different plans with so many rules and requirements. You practically have to be a gourmet chef, an executive administrator and an acrobat to successfully carry out many of these meal plans. What happened to the simplicity of eating healthy, limiting high calorie foods, and taking a daily walk around the block?
Whenever I think about how complicated we like to make things, I am reminded that Jesus’ instructions for living a life of joy is simple. If we live our life in the Holy Spirit, we will live a life of goodness, peace and joy. We do not work up this joy by our own effort or merits. This joy is a by-product of our relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. It is simple and uncomplicated, like the birth of a baby one night in a stable.
Often times, we have a hard time seeing the simple and uncomplicated because of the confusion and difficulties that our world revels in. As we experience this Advent season, amidst the complications of life, let the simple joy of preparing for Jesus’ reign in our hearts and homes. Let’s bring K.I.S.S. back into play – let’s Keep it Simple Sweetie!
Dear Heavenly Father, let us experience afresh and anew the simple joy of the Advent season; the joy of celebrating the birth of Jesus
and the joy of our relationship with Him. Help us, by Your Holy Spirit, to keep it simple. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Thursday 12/18
“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”
(Luke 2:8-11 NLT)
Shepherds, out in the field doing their shepherd thing. Suddenly, they saw a bright light as an angel of the Lord appeared to them. They were the very first to hear the message of great joy that the Messiah is born.
“One of the most beautiful qualities of joy is the abiding sense of ‘enoughness’. Unlike the ephemeral states of pleasure and satisfaction, joy does not induce a craving for more, because joy is enough.” (https://www.robertholden.com/blog/5-qualities-joyful-people/) Our joy is enough because the source of our joy is enough: Jesus.
Joy “is fearless and untroubled by the world. It is as if nothing in the world can tarnish or diminish the essence of joy.” (https://www.robertholden.com/blog/5-qualities-joyful-people/) Our joy is not dependent on the ups and downs of this world; it is dependent on our relationship with the One who came to the world on Christmas.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the joy available to us in Jesus. Help us not to allow our joy to be tarnished by the ups and
downs of this world. Thank You that our joy is enough in Jesus. In His Name, Amen.
Friday 12/19
“A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, ‘God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” (Luke 1:39-45 NLT)
The first response to the Christ child was a leap of joy and the filling of the Holy Spirit. This was a foreshadowing of what the birth and life of Christ would bring into the world, joy and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Mary and Elizabeth lived in an oppressive and world-weary time. Joy was a rare and precious commodity.
We, today, live in an oppressive and world-weary time. Our world is looking for meaning and joy in all the wrong places. During this Advent season, we should be looking toward the manger for meaning and joy. The joy we find with Christ is not dependent on our situation or circumstances. Mary was definitely not having her first child in the best of circumstances. However, she found joy in fulfilling the plan that God had for her. She found joy in the expectation of the arrival of the child she was carrying.
There will be many opportunities during this busy time of year to let our joy slip. We must remind ourselves that our joy is grounded in our relationship with Jesus, not in what we do, what we have, or what we feel. Let the joy of our relationship with Jesus be our focus this Advent season.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to bring joy and the Holy Spirit to our weary world and our searching hearts.
Help us to find the joy of Jesus in every circumstance and every life situation. In His Name, Amen.
Saturday 12/20
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord
is coming soon.” (Philippians 4:4-5 NLT)
Joy to the world. Tidings of comfort and joy. Joyful all ye nations rise. We hear these words streaming out of every social media outlet, out of every store, and on every street corner. It is good to hear these joyful strains during this season. However, is there joy in the world? Are nations rising in joyful expectation? Are the people around us experiencing tidings of comfort and joy?
We are admonished in Philippians to ‘always be full of joy’. We walk in joy as we walk with Jesus. We are not only to walk in joy, but we are also to show the world our joy by our behavior. We are to bring the joy we have in Jesus to every situation and circumstance of life. We are to remain in the joy of Jesus amidst the hustle and bustle of this busy season. We are to express a joyful expectation of experiencing Jesus afresh and anew on Christmas day. We are the ones to bring tidings of comfort and joy to those who are lonely and struggling. We should pray that ‘joyful all ye nations rise’.
Listen for those proclamations of joy during this Advent season. Be mindful that joy is with us throughout the year as we continue to walk with Jesus. And be a dispenser of joy whenever and wherever this Advent season.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that our joy is in Jesus. Enable us, by Your Holy Spirit, to bring tidings of comfort and joy to the
hurting and the lonely. Keep us prayerful, keep us aware. In His Name, Amen.
Sunday 12/21
““I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” (John 15:9-11 NLT)
Joy and love are inextricably connected. When we feel loved we experience joy. That which brings us joy is not the things we have accumulated or the experiences we have had. Our most profound joy is connected to our relationships; to the people we love. An unexpected expression of gratitude from our spouse brings joy. A hug from our child generates joy. Time spent with a friend gives joy.
The love of the Father experienced through our relationship with Jesus is the source of the greatest joy. This joy remains despite how we feel, despite what we have done or not done, because God’s love for us remains. Jesus came to us as a tiny baby so that we would understand real love and thereby understand real joy. He came to tell us and show us how to be filled with His love and joy. We experience His overflowing joy when we remain in Him and obey His word.
Our joy comes first from our relationship with Jesus, and second, from our loving relationships
with other people. The Advent season is a perfect time to bring joy to others through expressions of love, a kind word, an encouraging note, a demonstration of gratitude, and not merely to those we are already in relationship with.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love and the joy of being in relationship with You. Show us how to share Your love and joy with others
this Advent season. Help us to remain in You so that our joy overflows. In His Name, Amen.
Week 3: PEACE
Monday 12/22
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)
Waiting is like being put in time-out; it is not easy, and I really do not like it. It is hard to be still. In the wait, our minds often wander to worry, fear, or impatience. Yet Isaiah reminds us that God Himself keeps us in perfect peace when our minds are steadfast, fixed on Him. Peace is not something we manufacture; it is something God gives as we trust Him.
In the midst of waiting—whether for answers, healing, or breakthrough—God’s peace steadies our hearts. Advent teaches us that waiting is not wasted time; it is holy time. Time where God shapes us so we can trust Him more deeply.
When we choose to place our thoughts and trust in God’s promises instead of our problems, peace begins to guard us. This is the gift of Advent: peace in the waiting, because the One we wait for is faithful.
Reflect on one area of your life where you feel unsettled. Write it down and surrender it to God.
Lord, help me to trust You in the waiting. Keep my mind steadfast and my heart at peace as I rest in Your promises. Help me to be still and know you are God. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Tuesday 12/23
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Trouble does not knock politely - it moves in and makes itself at home if we are not careful. Jesus never promised us a trouble-free life. In fact, He said plainly that we would face difficulties. Yet He also promised peace - His peace - in the midst of those troubles. Advent reminds us that peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of Christ.
When we face trials, we can take heart because Jesus has already overcome the world. His victory is our assurance that no hardship, no pain, no loss can steal the peace He gives. The Prince of Peace entered a troubled world, and He still enters our troubled hearts today.
This is the hope of Advent that even in the chaos of life, Christ’s peace is stronger. His presence calms storms, quiets fears, and gives courage to keep going.
Encourage someone who is facing difficulty by sharing this verse with them.
Father God, YOU are the Prince of Peace, remind me that You have overcome the world. Fill me with courage and calm in the midst of my struggles. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Wednesday 12/24
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)
Prayer is the doorway to peace. When anxiety rises, God invites us to bring everything - our fears, our needs, our gratitude - before Him. Open your heart and let the SONshine in. The promise is not that circumstances will instantly change, but that His peace will guard our hearts and minds.
Advent is a season of prayerful anticipation. As we pray, we are reminded that God hears us, loves us, and He is near. His peace is like a shield, protecting us from being overwhelmed by worry.
The act of thanksgiving in prayer shifts our focus from what we lack to what God has already done. Gratitude opens the door for peace to enter.
Pray for someone else’s need today, not just your own.
Father God, I bring my worries before You. Guard my heart and mind with Your peace as I pray. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Thursday 12/25
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)
Where there is hope, peace follows close behind. Hope and peace are inseparable. When we trust God, He fills us with both. Christmas is the fulfillment of our Advent hope – the hope that Christ has come, the hope that He is with us now, and the hope that He will come again.
It is not about wishful thinking; it is a confident expectation rooted in God’s promises. As hope rises, peace follows, because we know our future is secure in Christ.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to overflow with hope and peace, not just hold it quietly. Our peace becomes a testimony to others that God is faithful.
Share a testimony of God’s faithfulness as you celebrate His birth.
Father God, fill me with peace as I trust in You. May my life overflow with hope by Your Holy Spirit. Help me to find the courage to share my story of peace and your faithfulness with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)
Waiting is like being put in time-out; it is not easy, and I really do not like it. It is hard to be still. In the wait, our minds often wander to worry, fear, or impatience. Yet Isaiah reminds us that God Himself keeps us in perfect peace when our minds are steadfast, fixed on Him. Peace is not something we manufacture; it is something God gives as we trust Him.
In the midst of waiting—whether for answers, healing, or breakthrough—God’s peace steadies our hearts. Advent teaches us that waiting is not wasted time; it is holy time. Time where God shapes us so we can trust Him more deeply.
When we choose to place our thoughts and trust in God’s promises instead of our problems, peace begins to guard us. This is the gift of Advent: peace in the waiting, because the One we wait for is faithful.
Reflect on one area of your life where you feel unsettled. Write it down and surrender it to God.
Lord, help me to trust You in the waiting. Keep my mind steadfast and my heart at peace as I rest in Your promises. Help me to be still and know you are God. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Tuesday 12/23
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Trouble does not knock politely - it moves in and makes itself at home if we are not careful. Jesus never promised us a trouble-free life. In fact, He said plainly that we would face difficulties. Yet He also promised peace - His peace - in the midst of those troubles. Advent reminds us that peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of Christ.
When we face trials, we can take heart because Jesus has already overcome the world. His victory is our assurance that no hardship, no pain, no loss can steal the peace He gives. The Prince of Peace entered a troubled world, and He still enters our troubled hearts today.
This is the hope of Advent that even in the chaos of life, Christ’s peace is stronger. His presence calms storms, quiets fears, and gives courage to keep going.
Encourage someone who is facing difficulty by sharing this verse with them.
Father God, YOU are the Prince of Peace, remind me that You have overcome the world. Fill me with courage and calm in the midst of my struggles. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Wednesday 12/24
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)
Prayer is the doorway to peace. When anxiety rises, God invites us to bring everything - our fears, our needs, our gratitude - before Him. Open your heart and let the SONshine in. The promise is not that circumstances will instantly change, but that His peace will guard our hearts and minds.
Advent is a season of prayerful anticipation. As we pray, we are reminded that God hears us, loves us, and He is near. His peace is like a shield, protecting us from being overwhelmed by worry.
The act of thanksgiving in prayer shifts our focus from what we lack to what God has already done. Gratitude opens the door for peace to enter.
Pray for someone else’s need today, not just your own.
Father God, I bring my worries before You. Guard my heart and mind with Your peace as I pray. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Thursday 12/25
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)
Where there is hope, peace follows close behind. Hope and peace are inseparable. When we trust God, He fills us with both. Christmas is the fulfillment of our Advent hope – the hope that Christ has come, the hope that He is with us now, and the hope that He will come again.
It is not about wishful thinking; it is a confident expectation rooted in God’s promises. As hope rises, peace follows, because we know our future is secure in Christ.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to overflow with hope and peace, not just hold it quietly. Our peace becomes a testimony to others that God is faithful.
Share a testimony of God’s faithfulness as you celebrate His birth.
Father God, fill me with peace as I trust in You. May my life overflow with hope by Your Holy Spirit. Help me to find the courage to share my story of peace and your faithfulness with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.