Category: Advent

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What is love? Love is choosing to become more and more like Jesus. 

PRAYERS:

Take the opportunity to write the following prayers down at least once a day to help these truths transform your life. 

Heavenly Father, help me to remember today and every day that I am totally, completely, wholeheartedly, and unconditionally loved by You. No matter what I do, no matter what I say, no matter what mistakes I’ve made…nothing, absolutely nothing can separate me from Your love. May this truth permeate every aspect of being and transform any unhealthy thoughts I may have about You, myself, or others. In Jesus’ name. Amen. (Romans 8:38-39, Romans 12:2)

Heavenly Father, help me to remember that it is Your ongoing kindness which draws me closer to You and leads me away from sin. Today, may I accept Your invitation to reflect the wonders of Your love and kindness toward others in everything I do and say. In Jesus’ name. Amen. (Romans 2:4, Ephesians 4:32, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Luke 6:27-36).

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(Begin with 1-2 minutes of silence)

What is love? Love is choosing to become more and more like Jesus. 

PRAYERS:

Take the opportunity to write the following prayers down at least once a day to help these truths transform your life. 

Heavenly Father, help me to remember today and every day that I am totally, completely, wholeheartedly, and unconditionally loved by You. No matter what I do, no matter what I say, no matter what mistakes I’ve made…nothing, absolutely nothing can separate me from Your love. May this truth permeate every aspect of being and transform any unhealthy thoughts I may have about You, myself, or others. In Jesus’ name. Amen. (Romans 8:38-39, Romans 12:2)

Heavenly Father, help me to remember that it is Your ongoing kindness which draws me closer to You and leads me away from sin. Today, may I accept Your invitation to reflect the wonders of Your love and kindness toward others in everything I do and say. In Jesus’ name. Amen. (Romans 2:4, Ephesians 4:32, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Luke 6:27-36).

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Throughout His ministry, Jesus called upon those following Him to love their enemies. In his book Everybody Always, Bob Goff acknowledges that he doesn’t have people he would consider to be enemies, but he does know others he believes are flat-out wrong about more than a couple of things. And while they may not be enemies, Goff recognizes that Jesus is calling him to love them. 

This message to love our enemies – or even those we may feel are flat-out wrong about more than a couple of things – isn’t an easy message to live by. In truth, being sacrificial and thinking of others as more important than ourselves is a significant challenge. But it is the calling Jesus asks us to fulfill. 

To put it another way, it’s easy to tell somebody they are doing something wrong. But being right doesn’t help change others’ hearts. Our hearts were changed by Jesus giving His life sacrificially. And we won’t change the hearts of others if we’re more interested in being right than we are in reflecting the love of God. Today, continue to ask God to help you reflect His love well.

What is love? Love is choosing to become more and more like Jesus. 

PRAYERS:

Take the opportunity to write the following prayers down at least once a day to help these truths transform your life. 

Heavenly Father, help me to remember today and every day that I am totally, completely, wholeheartedly, and unconditionally loved by You. No matter what I do, no matter what I say, no matter what mistakes I’ve made…nothing, absolutely nothing can separate me from Your love. May this truth permeate every aspect of being and transform any unhealthy thoughts I may have about You, myself, or others. In Jesus’ name. Amen. (Romans 8:38-39, Romans 12:2)

Heavenly Father, help me to remember that it is Your ongoing kindness which draws me closer to You and leads me away from sin. Today, may I accept Your invitation to reflect the wonders of Your love and kindness toward others in everything I do and say. In Jesus’ name. Amen. (Romans 2:4, Ephesians 4:32, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Luke 6:27-36).

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Picture this: you’re talking with a group of others (family, colleagues, friends) and somebody else’s name comes up. They’re not currently in the room, but their name comes up in the conversation. What do you say about them? 

While there are a lot of ways you can love others, one way that often gets overlooked is considering how well you speak of others even when they’re not present. 

The principle to live by is this: Don’t say anything about somebody else that you wouldn’t say if they were in the room with you. 

As Proverbs 11:12-13 reads:

It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor;

a sensible person keeps quiet.

A gossip goes around telling secrets,

but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

What is love? Love is choosing to become more and more like Jesus. 

READING & PRAYERS:

    ROMANS 2:4, 8:38-39, 12:2, 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18

PRAYERS:

Take the opportunity to write the following prayers down at least once a day to help these truths transform your life. 

Heavenly Father, help me to remember today and every day that I am totally, completely, wholeheartedly, and unconditionally loved by You. No matter what I do, no matter what I say, no matter what mistakes I’ve made…nothing, absolutely nothing can separate me from Your love. May this truth permeate every aspect of being and transform any unhealthy thoughts I may have about You, myself, or others. In Jesus’ name. Amen. (Romans 8:38-39, Romans 12:2)

Heavenly Father, help me to remember that it is Your ongoing kindness which draws me closer to You and leads me away from sin. Today, may I accept Your invitation to reflect the wonders of Your love and kindness toward others in everything I do and say. In Jesus’ name. Amen. (Romans 2:4, Ephesians 4:32, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Luke 6:27-36).

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(Begin with 1-2 minutes of silence)

Take a moment to think about what your calendar looks like over the next couple of weeks. Do you feel like your schedule has power over you, or do you feel like you have power of your schedule? Unfortunately, many may respond by openly acknowledging that your schedule has power over you. There’s so much to do and so much more that needs to be done, you feel like you won’t ever catch up.

Peter Scazzero, author of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, came to recognize that being with God was far more important than doing for God. Over a period of 25+ years, each member of his church staff agreed to intentionally pause to be with God two to three times a day to remember Him, spend time in communion with Him, preferably with Scripture, silence, meditation and prayer. Not only that, but they each took one full day every month to practice being in the presence of God. It took years of practice, but the results have been life-giving for their staff and their church. 

On a scale of 1-10, how committed are you to experiencing the love of God on a daily basis? 

What is love? Love is choosing to become more and more like Jesus. 

READING & PRAYERS:

    ROMANS 2:4, 8:38-39, 12:2, EPHESIANS 4:32

PRAYERS:

Take the opportunity to write the following prayers down at least once a day to help these truths transform your life. 

Heavenly Father, help me to remember today and every day that I am totally, completely, wholeheartedly, and unconditionally loved by You. No matter what I do, no matter what I say, no matter what mistakes I’ve made…nothing, absolutely nothing can separate me from Your love. May this truth permeate every aspect of being and transform any unhealthy thoughts I may have about You, myself, or others. In Jesus’ name. Amen. (Romans 8:38-39, Romans 12:2)

Heavenly Father, help me to remember that it is Your ongoing kindness which draws me closer to You and leads me away from sin. Today, may I accept Your invitation to reflect the wonders of Your love and kindness toward others in everything I do and say. In Jesus’ name. Amen. (Romans 2:4, Ephesians 4:32, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Luke 6:27-36).

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(Begin with 1-2 minutes of silence)

As a follower of Jesus, what if you woke up tomorrow morning and knew, deep within you, that you are totally, completely, wholeheartedly, and unconditionally loved by God. That it doesn’t matter what you may do or may say or what mistakes you’ve made or will make. Nothing, absolutely nothing can or ever will separate you from the love of God. What would that be like? 

And what if…you lived each day not only experiencing the profoundness of God’s love but you helped others to experience as well. In the same way God’s kindness draws you closer to Him, you reflect that same level of kindness so that others are drawn to Him too? 

As implausible as this may seem, it can be a reality. But an essential step in making this a reality is to change the ways you currently think. So over the next two weeks (or longer!) take time to write out the prayers provided below. Don’t just say them out loud, but write them down and allow the truths within to penetrate deep within you to help you become more and more like Jesus.

What is love? Love is choosing to become more and more like Jesus. 

READING & PRAYERS:

    ROMANS 2:4, 8:38-39, 12:2, JOHN 13:34-35

PRAYERS:

Take the opportunity to write the following prayers down at least once a day to help these truths transform your life. 

Heavenly Father, help me to remember today and every day that I am totally, completely, wholeheartedly, and unconditionally loved by You. No matter what I do, no matter what I say, no matter what mistakes I’ve made…nothing, absolutely nothing can separate me from Your love. May this truth permeate every aspect of being and transform any unhealthy thoughts I may have about You, myself, or others. In Jesus’ name. Amen. (Romans 8:38-39, Romans 12:2)

Heavenly Father, help me to remember that it is Your ongoing kindness which draws me closer to You and leads me away from sin. Today, may I accept Your invitation to reflect the wonders of Your love and kindness toward others in everything I do and say. In Jesus’ name. Amen. (Romans 2:4, Ephesians 4:32, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Luke 6:27-36).

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What usually comes to mind when you think of the word joy? 

In what ways have the readings this week helped you grow in your understanding of joy?

Take some extra time today to write out a prayer to God. Share your heart, fears, and feelings with Him, knowing He is intently listening, and believing He is with you in all things.

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The Apostle Paul wrote a lot of the New Testament. In fact, many Biblical scholars agree that Paul’s letters in the New Testament were instrumental for the spread of Christianity. 

Some of Paul’s letters, such as Colossians or Philippians, are very short and can be read in 10-15 minutes. Others, such as Romans or the letters to the Corinthians, are much longer. But those who take the opportunity to repeatedly read through Paul’s letters are likely to discover some common themes that were important for Paul. 

Two of Paul’s letters were written to the Thessalonians. Paul founded the church in this city but later had to flee because he preached in favor of the kingdom of God and not the kingdom of Caesar. Despite this setback, he continued to encourage the people. Toward the end of his first letter, Paul writes, Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thes. 5:16-18). Despite his circumstances — joy, prayer, and thankfulness — were regular themes for Paul. What would need to happen for these to be regular themes in your life? 

READING & JOURNALING:

     1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18, 2 CORINTHIANS 11:23-27

How do you think Paul was able to continually be full of joy, prayer, and thankfulness, despite the severe challenges he experienced on a regular basis? 

What would need to happen in your life so that 5, 10, even 20 years from now others would describe you a person full of joy, prayer, and thanksgiving? 

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, today I simply pray that the themes of joy, prayer, and thanksgiving will be the kinds of words people use to describe me 5, 10, even 20 years from now. May my life be one that truly reflects Your joy. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Each and every day you make hundreds and hundreds of decisions. You’ll choose what to wear, what to eat, what to read, what to watch, and so much more. But will you choose to live with a spirit of joy? 

For many of us, joyis a feeling and not much more. But the New Bible Dictionary points out that joy is a quality, and not simply an emotion. Some Scripture passages include:

• Psalm 16:11 indicates that joy can be a way of life due to experiencing the presence of God. 
• Philippians 4:4 says to rejoice in the Lord always. 
• Romans 15:13 indicates that you can be filled completely with joy. 

Passages such as these reveal that joy isn’t a temporary feeling of happiness or satisfaction. It isn’t something that comes and goes like hunger or thirst. Instead, you can be completely and totally fulfilled with the joy of the Lord. 

What choices will you make today so that you can better experience a life completely and totally fulfilled by joy? 

READING & JOURNALING:

     ROMANS 14:17, PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9, PSALM 16

What comes to your mind when you think of being satisfied by something vs. being fulfilled by it? 

What choices will you make today so that you can better experience a life completely and totally fulfilled by joy? 

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love are common this time of year. But I acknowledge that it’s easy to think about each of these as fleeting emotions that can bring temporary satisfaction, instead of recognizing them for what they really are – gifts from You that bring lasting fulfillment. Today, may the decisions I make reflect my desire to know You and experience the joy that only You can provide. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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How would you describe the very nature of God to somebody else? What is He like? If you were to get down to very core aspects of God, the very essence of who He is, how would you describe it? 

As we will see in greater detail next week, Love is at the very heart of the nature of God. But joy is also a part of the very nature of God. 

For example, Nehemiah 8:10 says, …for the joy of the Lord is your strength. This is a verse that’s easy to misunderstand. Some may read it with the thought that God gives or provides joy – which is true. But there’s more to it. 

First, we must remember that one cannot give what he doesn’t possess. As such, this passage indicates that God freely gives joy because He has it in abundance.

Second, we can rest in the knowledge that one of God’s greatest desires is that we experience real joy. As such, when we take steps to experience real joy, we are actually doing exactly what God desires us to do. He wants us to experience Him. He wants us to be with Him. He wants us to have joy.

READING & JOURNALING:

     NEHEMIAH 8:10

Do you struggle to believe that one of God’s desires is for you to experience lasting joy? If so, why do you think that is? 

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I confess it is sometimes difficult for me to understand that You truly desire me to experience joy. But Your Word is good and true. When I think about Your nature it’s clear to me that You really are full of joy and You give this joy freely to those who seek You. May I seek You today in everything. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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