The Sunday before Advent concludes the 6 month season in the church calendar called ordinary time with a focus on Jesus as "Christ the King."
The following practice is intended to help reflect on and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus to prepare your heart for the themes of Advent and Christmas. If we hope to truly anticipate Christ's future reign during advent and celebrate his incarnation at Christmas, why not go into this season with a deeper sense of his Lordship.
The goal is that we make space to grow in FAITH and WORSHIP. Faith to trust him fully out of allegiance to our King. Worship to bring our full attention to his glory and goodness.
Here's a simple daily practice you can follow for the next week until Advent begins.
- be silent before God for 2-5 minutes focusing every breath on receiving Jesus (inhale) and surrendering your distractions to him (exhale)
- take a moment to "welcome the Holy Spirit"
- Read through 1-2 of these scriptureseach day and pause to allow God to speak to you.
- Jeremiah 23:1-6; Luke 1:68-79; Colossians 1:11-20; Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Psalm 100; Psalm 95:1-7a; Ephesians 1:15-23; Matthew 25:31-46
- pray for one friend in need, one friend you hope discovers Jesus this season, or someone you're inviting to one of our Christmas events
- end with Peter's declaration of Jesus - “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69)
