Prayers for Advent

What exactly is the season of Advent? Advent simply means “arrival” and in this case, the arrival of Jesus. And as we anticipate the arrival of Christmas this year, we may ask ourselves, what is this all for? Is there really any point in learning of a baby born so long ago? Most often, the arrival of an event of a person is made all the more sweet by our anticipation. Could the anticipation and wait of Christmas change something in you?

Waiting Here for You: An Advent Journey of Hope is a devotional guide filled with hope for everyone who is waiting… waiting on a solution, a deal to go through, a diagnosis, a relationship, a breakthrough, or a rescue.

You’re not wasting time when you’re waiting on the Lord. Take hold of the chance to uncover the vast hope offered through the journey of Advent. Find peace and encouragement for your soul as anticipation leads towards celebration! Here are 10 prayers for Advent from Louie Giglio’s book “Waiting Here For You: An Advent Journey of Hope"

Just the Right Time

God sent Jesus down to us at just the right time. For centuries, people were waiting and longing for a Savior to come and save them. God knew the right time and place for him to send this Savior, and Jesus was born! God doesn’t come when we want Him to come. However God does always come at the right time.

Many of us are waiting for something, whether it is a solution to a problem, a relationship, or a breakthrough. We have to remember that God has a plan for us and we shouldn’t fear the period of waiting. He has not abandoned you! Let the birth of Christ encourage you through your waiting. God is working with you at this very moment – even if you don’t see it. Take peace in knowing that God loves you and he will present you with the perfect timing.

Prayer: Father, meet me in the waiting, the place where I long for what is not fully in view. Still my heart and give me the ability to know that You are near. I believe Your plans are good. I see it in the birth of Your only Son. But sometimes I struggle to see beyond the haze that surrounds me. Renew my confidence as I lift my eyes to You. Be glorified in my life during this season of expectation. Amen.

Jesus Sets You Free

Jesus is the only one who can set you free from your sins. Rejoice in knowing you are not a prisoner of this world – but instead you can be free from the pain and suffering! Jesus alone will be able to lift you up and squash out all of life’s disappointments and tragedies. If you feel you are stuck in a place of anguish, you will find peace in Jesus’ hands. Jesus is a Healer and will open your eyes to a path of righteousness. Reach out to Jesus and let Him take your hand. He has come not to take something from you, but to do something for you that no one else on earth can do.

Prayer: Father, when I was left for dead, discarded and trampled by my own foolish choices, You arrived just in time to save my life. Thank you. Jesus, I believe that you along set me free. Give me the grace to rest in Your freedom today and proclaim that same freedom to all those who are still bound. Amen.

Glory in the Highest

No one compares to the high and mighty God! At the end of each day, God is the last one standing over demons and false idols. No one comes close to the true and powerful Lord.

As you sit in your waiting, celebrate Jesus and the Lord and praise Him! Let your praise be so loud that it drowns out everyone else – all those who try and take away from your faith and spiritual walk. Do not let them break you down or teach you the lies of the devil. Instead, show God you know He is the only one for you! He rises up higher than any man or women on earth!

Prayer: Father, what shall I say to You? You have no equal or rival. My words and my thoughts are so small when compared to You. I have seen the starry night and it cannot hold a candle to Your glory. Expand my faith and give me words as I seek to join the anthem of Your praise. All praise is Yours, now and forever. I will walk in that truth today. I will believe it. And act like it. And pray like it. And give like it. And praise like there is none like You. Amen!

In the Valley of Death, You are There

Losing a loved one is difficult, saddening, and can feel completely unfair. You may think that God has taken away a piece of you and hurt you purposefully.

Fear not. Even when you are laying by a grave, God is there for you! God is not only close to us in this time of trouble, but He understands what you are going through. God had to give the ultimate sacrifice – His Son – to provide us with everlasting life. Even Jesus felt the pain of physically losing the ones He loved while he was here on earth. God and Jesus are in touch with you and understand your grief and heartache.

Remember, that with the Lord, death is not the end. Death does not have the final say. Instead, let us rejoice in knowing our loved ones are celebrating in Heaven. While death may be daunting and mourning too sad to comprehend – pray to Jesus and let His had comfort you in your time of need.

Prayer: Father, give me grace as I mourn the loss of those I love. Thank You for being more powerful than death. Because I trust in You, I know the grave will not be my final resting place. When You arose, I also arose. Because You are alive, I am alive in You. Amen.

Where Our Song Comes From

The Gospels are a celebration of Christ and gives us something to sing about! Let us be surrounded by the story of Jesus and stand with Him while we walk this earth. God’s sacrifice of Jesus let us replace the saddened songs of despair in our hearts to new songs filled with praise! Let’s give Jesus the praise He deserves for bringing us back to life! If you are alive and smiling today, let your heart sing with God’s mercy and joy. His salvation is where our song comes from.

Prayer: Father, thank You for hearing my cry from the pit. I receive Your grace today and stand on the solid ground of Your righteousness. Every time I think of how You rescued me, my mouth can’t help but sing Your praise. I love You and am so grateful for You. Let me whole life sing Your song. Amen!

Jesus is Our Feast

Jesus doesn’t just give you what you need; Jesus is what you need! Without Jesus, you would never be completely satisfied. You would have a hole in your heart that nothing else would be able to fill. You may currently have that hole deep in your heart and it’s yearning for something real! Material possessions, false idols, and relationships aren’t going to give you what you need and deserve.

Today is the day to open your heart to Jesus and accept that He is here for you! He will lift you up to the highest mountain top and fill your heart with love and compassion.

Prayer: Father, You alone know how hard I have searched for satisfaction in the people and things of this world. But they are broken, and I am too. You alone can fill my hungry heart. You alone have the love that is like no other. You never change. Open my eyes today. Show me Your riches and glory. Help me know You more. Let me see the feast of You that is set before me, so I may delight myself in You alone. Amen.

No Other Name

There is no one like Jesus Christ. We are so blessed to have a Father that loves us so much that he would send his Son down from heaven to save us from our sins. Jesus reigns supreme! Jesus’ name makes demons tremble at the thought. He’s got a name that breaks down all barriers. Jesus is the highest and strongest of them all.

Jesus is given to us. Take joy in knowing that if we choose to call on Him, we will be saved! There is no one like him, so never be fooled. Jesus is the path to light.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the Name of Jesus. Jesus, there is no other name like Yours. You humbly came and laid Your life down. Now You are exalted to the highest place of all. I bend my knees to You today. Your Name alone sets me free. I want my life and breath to make much of the Name that is greater than all others. Amen.

Light of the World

We live in a dark and sad world that is full of violence and injustice. This darkness surrounds us and there is a residue of sin blanketing the earth. Things are broken. People are hurting. We ourselves all need help.

The shining light ready to save this is our Lord Jesus Christ, and He wants to shine his light onto you. If you believe and trust in Him, Christ will come to you and show you His love! It conquers all! He may lead you where you don’t think you are supposed to go. That’s okay. Sometimes, the darkest of places on this earth are where God needs to shine His light the most. He wants to radiate His light from you. Let yourself be a vessel of God’s word and bring light to the devastation on the earth.

Prayer: Father, You are everlasting; You are a light for the nations. Arise and shine in and through me, for the night grows long. Give me patience and strength to be faithful until the light of Your kingdom fills the sky. By Your grace and according to Your mercy, open the eyes of those who walk in darkness. Help me not be one who constantly runs into the safety of the light. Give me boldness to proclaim the light I have found in You in the darkest places. Amen.

A Savior is Born

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God chose the shepherds to receive the greatest news ever heard; Jesus was born. God came to them because He knew the shepherds weren’t allowed in the church – as they had been considered unclean. But why would He choose them?

When we think about this, we can rejoice in knowing that God doesn’t pick and choose who can receive His grace and love. God didn’t send Jesus to come from a mansion filled with the highest of people. Instead, He chose a manger. Let’s celebrate that Christ has come. He came to those on the lowest run of the spiritual ladder. Grace will find you wherever you are on that spiritual ladder. No matter what troubles you may be going through, Christmas is a time to remember that Jesus was given to the world so that you had a chance at finding the love of the Almighty God!

Prayer: Father, it’s just You and me in this silent moment. In the stillness, I know You are near – and You are all I need. Thank You for stepping down from heaven to earth through Your Son, Jesus Christ. I’m so grateful for Your mission of love to people who could never earn or deserve it – people like me. I receive Your amazing, unconditional love. Through a babe, Jesus, You were Lord at Your birth. Angels escorted You as You arrived in the manger. King bowed down before You. I, too, surrender my life to You. I give You the good and the bad… everything. I’m trusting You with my present and my future. Servant King Jesus, be Lord in my heart today. Amen!