Advent Daily Prayer: 09 December – Deuteronomy 4:1-13; Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:23-26 ~ released from protective custody

The Season of Advent

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening sentence

“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way. He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’” (Mark 1:2-3 NLT)
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Morning Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-13 NLT

“And now, Israel, listen carefully to these decrees and regulations that I am about to teach you. Obey them so that you may live, so you may enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you. Just obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you.

“You saw for yourself what the Lord did to you at Baal-peor. There the Lord your God destroyed everyone who had worshiped Baal, the god of Peor. But all of you who were faithful to the Lord your God are still alive today — every one of you.

Moses and the Ten Commandments Barbara Goshu Painting on Wood Ethiopia — Moses and the Ten Commandments
Barbara Goshu
Painting on Wood
Ethiopia

“Look, I now teach you these decrees and regulations just as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy. Obey them completely, and you will display your wisdom and intelligence among the surrounding nations. When they hear all these decrees, they will exclaim, ‘How wise and prudent are the people of this great nation!’ For what great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on him? And what great nation has decrees and regulations as righteous and fair as this body of instructions that I am giving you today?

“But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren. Never forget the day when you stood before the Lord your God at Mount Sinai, where he told me, ‘Summon the people before me, and I will personally instruct them. Then they will learn to fear me as long as they live, and they will teach their children to fear me also.’

“You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while flames from the mountain shot into the sky. The mountain was shrouded in black clouds and deep darkness. And the Lord spoke to you from the heart of the fire. You heard the sound of his words but didn’t see his form; there was only a voice. He proclaimed his covenant — the Ten Commandments — which he commanded you to keep, and which he wrote on two stone tablets.

Morning Reading: Romans 3:20 NLT

For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

Morning Reading: Galatians 3:23-26 NLT

Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.

Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
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Prayer:

Lord God: Your Law gave us rules, boundaries and limitations so that we could live wisely and intelligently with You as obedient children.

+ Thank You for the protection and guidance that they provided.
+ Thank You for the revelation of holiness that they provided.
+ Thank You for the respect and love for You that they engendered.

Lord God: Through Your Son, Jesus Christ, You have released us from custody under the Law into the freedom of Grace.

+ Thank You for Your loving-kindness revealed in the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
+ Thank You for Your matchless gift of Life by grace, through faith in Christ Jesus.
+ Thank You for making us Your children, to live and reign with You forever.

Lord God: Your have given us Your Word and Spirit to live with us, to live in us, and to live through us.

+ Make us more like Jesus, who lives perfectly in tune with Your purpose and will.
+ Deliver us from any lingering bondage to sin and death so that we can live freely as Your children.
+ Set our hearts and minds on Christ’s return so that we may wait for Him with joyful expectation.

Lord God: You have adopted us into Your family through faith in Jesus Christ. Fill us with courage, strength and power to love and serve You today. Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You, one God forever. Amen.
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“No Longer Slaves “ – Jonathan David & Melissa Helser (Bethel Music)

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Canticle

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people. (Revelation 22:20-21 NLT)

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Advent Daily Prayer: 08 December – Psalm 105:1; Exodus 19:1-6 ~ my own special treasure

The Season of Advent

Advent Daily Readings and Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening sentence

Morning Reading: Psalm 105:1 NLT

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.

Morning Reading: Exodus 19:1-6 NLT

Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai. After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and set up camp there at the base of Mount Sinai.

Western Wall Jerusalem — Western Wall
Jerusalem

Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”
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Prayer:

Lord God: when Your people were wandering in the wilderness You renewed Your covenant with them and gave them Your Law to guide them. And now You have extended that promise to me through faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ.

+ Thank You, Lord, for rescuing me from sin and death – restore my wandering heart and renew a right spirit within me, especially during this season of expectant waiting.
+ Thank You, Lord, for giving me Your Word and Spirit – guide, direct and empower me to love and serve You in all things throughout the day.
+ Thank You, Lord, for including me in Your special treasure – set me apart from the unbelieving world and number me among Your holy people.

Lord God: give me wisdom and sound judgement in my daily decision-making today and deliver me from evil. Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.
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“Who Am I” – Casting Crowns

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Canticle

Blessing

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people. (Revelation 22:20-21 NLT)

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Advent Daily Prayer: 07 December – Psalm 105:1-10; Galatians 3:14 ~ same promise, same blessing | thank you

The Season of Advent

Advent Daily Readings and Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening sentence

Morning Reading: Psalm 105:1-10 NLT

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord.

Psalm 105_04

Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given, you children of his servant Abraham, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.

He is the Lord our God. His justice is seen throughout the land. He always stands by his covenant — the commitment he made to a thousand generations. This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant….

Morning Reading: Galatians 3:14 NLT

Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.
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Prayer:

“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.”
+ Faithful God: thank You for including me in the promise You made to Abraham and his descendants.
+ Thank You for adopting me into Your family through faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ.
+ Thank You for blessing me with life abundant and eternal.
+ Thank You for filling me with Your Spirit.

“Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.”
+ Gracious God: You welcome me into Your loving presence and desire more of me.
+ Fill me with awesome wonder at Your humility – coming to us as a child.
+ Fill me with awesome wonder at Your greatness – coming again to us in glory.
+ Fill me with the simple desire to linger in Your presence.

“He is the Lord our God. His justice is seen throughout the land.”
+ Mighty God: You reign with wisdom, justice, power and love.
+ Rule this world – that Your people might safely live in peace and prosperity.
+ Rule this land – that righteousness might be rewarded and evil punished.
+ Rule my life – that I might love what You love and hate what You hate.

May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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“Give Thanks (Psalm 105)” – Sean Dayton

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Canticle

Blessing

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people. (Revelation 22:20-21 NLT)

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

2nd Sunday of Advent, 06 December: Baruch 5:1-9; Psalm 126:1-6; Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6 ~ make a pathway for joy

aySecond Sunday of Advent

Our time of waiting continues as we prepare a pathway for the Lord.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening Prayer:

God of our salvation, You straighten the winding ways of our hearts and smooth the paths made rough by sin. Make our conduct blameless, keep our hearts watchful in holiness, and bring to perfection the good You have begun in us. We ask this through Him whose coming is certain, whose day draws near: Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
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Hymn: “Joy to the World (unspeakable Joy)” – Chris Tomlin

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A Reading from the Apocrypha: Baruch 5:1-9 (NRSVCE)
[Baruch looks to the day when God will guide all people, bringing them joy.]

Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God. Put on the robe of the righteousness that comes from God; put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting; for God will show your splendor everywhere under heaven. For God will give you evermore the name, “Righteous Peace, Godly Glory.”

joy-to-the-world1

Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height; look toward the east, and see your children gathered from west and east at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them. For they went out from you on foot, led away by their enemies; but God will bring them back to you, carried in glory, as on a royal throne. For God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low and the valleys filled up, to make level ground, so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God. The woods and every fragrant tree have shaded Israel at God’s command. For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him.
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 126 (NLT)

When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”

Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy! Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.
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“Shir Ha Ma’alot – Song of Ascents (Psalm 126)” – New Messianic Songs

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A Reading from the Letters: Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11 (NLT)
[Paul encourages the people of Philippi, and tells them to prepare inwardly for the ‘Day of Christ Jesus’.]

Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
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God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation — the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ — for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 3:1-6 (NLT)
[John the Baptist’s words and actions remind the people of Isaiah’s call to repentance.]

RepentancePathwayToJoy

It was now the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, the Roman emperor. Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea; Herod Antipas was ruler over Galilee; his brother Philip was ruler over Iturea and Traconitis; Lysanias was ruler over Abilene. Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness. Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,

“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him! The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth. And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.’”
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Hymn: “Prepare The Way” – Terry MacAlmon

Prepare the way | Make straight the path for Him | Let the King of Glory enter in | Let the King of Glory enter in

Intercessions:

Lord God: What amazing things You have done for us. As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth in humility, may we also prepare for Christ’s return in glory. Lord, hear us.

+ Remember Your people and move with righteous power throughout the world – that all believers may walk safely in the glory of Your presence…. Lord, hear us.
+ Comfort Your people, especially those of us suffering from the death and destruction of terrorism – protect us and deliver us from evil…. Lord, hear us.
+ Raise up those of us who are burdened and weighed down by our troubles – that we may know with certainty that justice and righteousness will prevail when Christ returns…. Lord, hear us.
+ Make straight the twists and turns in our lives, smooth out the rough places – that we may be witnesses to the salvation in Christ that You have already sent us…. Lord, hear us.
+ Fill us with the knowledge and understanding of what really matters – that we live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return…. Lord, hear us.
+ Produce in us the fruit of Your salvation, the righteous character produced in our lives by Jesus Christ — that we may bring You much glory and praise.
+ Give us complete confidence – that You will finish in us the good work You have already begun when Christ Jesus returns…. Lord, hear us.

Everlasting God, Your kindness fills us with expectation. Lead us with joy, in the light of Your glory, with the mercy and righteousness that comes from You. Hear us and help us in our needs, we pray, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Hymn: “Everlasting God” (Chris Tomlin)

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Benediction:

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. (Revelation 22:20-21)

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Advent Daily Prayer: 05 December – Genesis 17:1-8 ~ your God, your King, your land – forever

The Season of Advent

Advent Daily Readings and Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening sentence

Morning Reading: Genesis 17:1-8 NLT

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai — ‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.”

At this, Abram fell face down on the ground. Then God said to him, “This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them!

“I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.”
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Prayer:

El-Shaddai – ‘God Almighty – praise to You forever and ever! You are the Mighty One who made an everlasting covenant with father Abraham and today I stand before You as his spiritual descendant through Your Son, Jesus Christ.

+ Fill me with Your Spirit that I may serve You faithfully and live a blameless life.
+ Carry me through the darkness and guide me into the pure light of Christ.
+ Keep me focused on the victory over death and darkness that Christ has already won.
+ Give me clarity of purpose and certain faith in Christ’s coming in glory.
+ Number me among Your children – as an heir of the coming King.

Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, who reigns with Your and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.
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“Adonai El Shaddai ~ Lamb” – Joel Chernoff & Ted Pearce

We will lift you up, and praise Your Name | Adonai El Shaddai
We will lift you up, call on Your Name | Adonai El Shaddai

You carry me through the darkest night | Through the shadow of death into the light
You hold me up to help me see | The victory that comes by Your decree
O Praise the Lord, for now I see | And now I live, by Your love decree

I was lookin for love, I was lookin for truth | Lookin for Yeshua’s love and life anew
I’m no more carried along by sin | But rid’ in a wave of love that never ends
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Canticle

Blessing

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people. (Revelation 22:20-21 NLT)

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

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