Devotion Week 4
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For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.
And again, Isaiah says, The root of Jesse will appear, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; the Gentiles will hope in him.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the
Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:4,12-13
In the darkest times, it seems as though hope is a distant memory or farfetched ideal, never to be obtained. It is in those moments and seasons of life, when we need hope the most, it is always missing. Could it be in those times in our life we don’t find hope because we are desperately searching for something to grasp instead of being open to receive what the Lord has to pour into us? Instead of receiving we attempt to fabricate or manufacture hope for ourselves, seeking out pleasures, people, or preoccupations to supplement that which we are missing. The promise and gift of Hope from the Lord is that He will fill us to overflowing by the power of the Holy Spirit. May we receive from Him instead of seeking elsewhere.
Reflection
1. What are you seeking to fill you with hope other than Jesus?
2. God is hope and He desires to fill you with hope so much it overflows. How do you want God to satisfy your desire and need for hope?
3. Spend 5 minutes in silence, listening for God’s voice. Allow the God of hope to pour into you. Write down your experience.
Practices
Christmas Eve Service
Join us at one of our Christmas Eve Services, on Sunday, December 24th at 9am or 10:30am. Elementary kids will be with their family in the sanctuary during the service at both 9am and 10:30am services. Classrooms for Littles and Preschool kids will be open during 10:30am service only.
Worship
You may be tempted to end the Christmas celebration on December 26th, but set aside time to spend in worship this week. Worship God for His comings, the first at His birth, the second when He comes again, and the third when He meets you where you are.
Yearly Examen Prayer
“This form of prayer, which comes from the Ignatian tradition of Catholic spirituality, invites us to review and reflect on our day. During Advent, I typically use the examen prayer to look back on the year behind. In the examen we take time to notice the gifts God has given us through the day/year, times of joy and delight. We then express gratitude and reflect on what these moments reveal about ourselves and about God. We also pay attention to where we felt desolate, alone, or abandoned by God, and where we fell into sin and self-reliance. We then confess and repent of our sins – a particular vital practice in Advent – and invite God into these places of emptiness and pain in our lives.” – Advent: Season of Hope (Page 96-97)
Generosity/End of Year Offering
“Advent should be a time when we stretch to be more generous than is comfortable. It’s a time to give beyond our typical tithe to those who are most in need.” (Page 95) Whether it’s through our church’s end of year offering (endofyear.lancastervineyard.org), our Food Pantry & Outreach, or another organization that cares and reaches for the least of these among us, ask the Lord how He might want you to practice generosity this Advent season.