Category: Life in Christ

Advent Daily Prayer: 03 December – Genesis 9:8-17; Revelation 4:3 ~ a sign of promise

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

“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: Genesis 9:8-17 NLT

Then God told Noah and his sons, “I hereby confirm my covenant with you and your descendants, and with all the animals that were on the boat with you — the birds, the livestock, and all the wild animals—every living creature on earth. Yes, I am confirming my covenant with you. Never again will floodwaters kill all living creatures; never again will a flood destroy the earth.”

rainbow-after-the-storm-1939-1920x1080

Then God said, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.” Then God said to Noah, “Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth.”

Morning Reading: Revelation 4:3 NLT

The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones — like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow.
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Prayer:

Lord God: You have given us a sign in the heavens of Your life-saving promise for all to see.

+ Give me eyes to see beyond the fleeting problems of my day and into the everlasting promise of eternity.
+ Guide me as I travel through this wilderness and protect me in the storms that threaten to overwhelm me.
+ Stay with me on the journey and hold me close to Your heart for I am hopelessly lost without You.

Lord God: You have given me the promise of eternal life; fix my eyes on Your throne of grace and cover me with Your mercy through Your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
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“Revelation Song” – Gateway Worship


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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: 02 December – Genesis 6-7; Romans 5:8-9 ~ walk with me

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

“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: Genesis 6-7 NLT

A World Gone Wrong

Then the people began to multiply on the earth, and daughters were born to them. The sons of God saw the beautiful women and took any they wanted as their wives. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years.”

…The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing — all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.” But Noah found favor with the Lord.

The Story of Noah

walking

This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. Noah was the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth!

“Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior….

Noah's Ark (1846), a painting by the American folk painter Edward Hicks Philadelphia Museum of Art
Noah’s Ark (1846),
a painting by the American folk painter Edward Hicks
Philadelphia Museum of Art

“Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat — you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring a pair of every kind of animal — a male and a female — into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood. Pairs of every kind of bird, and every kind of animal, and every kind of small animal that scurries along the ground, will come to you to be kept alive. And be sure to take on board enough food for your family and for all the animals.”

So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.

The Flood Covers the Earth

When everything was ready, the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the boat with all your family, for among all the people of the earth, I can see that you alone are righteous…. Seven days from now I will make the rains pour down on the earth. And it will rain for forty days and forty nights, until I have wiped from the earth all the living things I have created.”

So Noah did everything as the Lord commanded him.

Noah was 600 years old when the flood covered the earth. He went on board the boat to escape the flood — he and his wife and his sons and their wives. With them were all the various kinds of animals…. They entered the boat in pairs, male and female, just as God had commanded Noah. After seven days, the waters of the flood came and covered the earth….

For forty days the floodwaters grew deeper, covering the ground and lifting the boat high above the earth. As the waters rose higher and higher above the ground, the boat floated safely on the surface. Finally, the water covered even the highest mountains on the earth…. All the living things on earth died — birds, domestic animals, wild animals, small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the people. Everything that breathed and lived on dry land died. God wiped out every living thing on the earth — people, livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and the birds of the sky. All were destroyed. The only people who survived were Noah and those with him in the boat. And the floodwaters covered the earth for 150 days.

while-we-final-two

Morning Reading: Romans 5:8-9 NLT

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.
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Prayer: “Walk with me” song lyrics

Author of the world walk with me | Ruler of the earth walk with me | Calmer of the storm walk with me | Healer of my heart walk with me | How I need You, how I need You | Oh Jesus, walk with me

Light for every step walk with me | Giver of each breath walk with me

In Your presence Lord, there is peace, there is rest | In Your presence Lord, there is life that never ends | In Your presence Lord, there is joy, there is joy | In Your presence Lord, there is life that never ends
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“Walk With Me” – Jesus Culture (feat. Kim Walker-Smith)


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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: 01 December – Genesis 3:1-15 ~ cursed and crushed

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

“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: Genesis 3:1-15 NLT

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied.“It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”

“Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”

The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”

Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?”

“The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”

jesus crushes satan

Then the Lord God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
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Prayer:

Lord God, You created a “good” world – an environment at peace and in balance – a place for us to walk with You in fullness of life.

+ Forgive us for yielding to the temptation to want more, for believing the deceitfulness of the evil one.
+ Forgive us for the compounded mess we have made of Your creation, for the destruction and havoc we have wrought.
+ Thank You, Lord, for not abandoning us at the dawn of time, even though we had turned away from You.
+ Thank You, Lord, for Your promise and provision of One who would save us – Your Son, Jesus Christ.
+ Thank You, Lord, for the promise of Satan’s destruction – fulfilled already on the Cross.
+ Thank You, Lord, for the gift of Your Spirit who enables us to live in newness of life as forgiven people.

Gracious God, may we walk with You in fullness of life during this Advent season. Give us a new awareness of Your presence in us and around us, and protect us from the wiles of the evil one. Make us a joy-filled people as we celebrate Your coming as the Child of Bethlehem and anticipate Your return as the King of Glory. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
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“enemy’s camp-can you believe-look what the Lord has done”


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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: 30 November – Genesis 1:27-28; Genesis 2:16-17; Jeremiah 33:19-22 ~ the promise-keeping God

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

“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: Genesis 1:27-28 NLT

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

Morning Reading: Genesis 2:16-17 NLT

But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden — except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”

Promise Maker Keeper

Morning Reading: Jeremiah 33:19-22 NLT

Then this message came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “This is what the Lord says: If you can break my covenant with the day and the night so that one does not follow the other, only then will my covenant with my servant David be broken. Only then will he no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne. The same is true for my covenant with the Levitical priests who minister before me. And as the stars of the sky cannot be counted and the sand on the seashore cannot be measured, so I will multiply the descendants of my servant David and the Levites who minister before me.”
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Prayer:

Gracious God: Your Word is sure and true; You always keep Your promises. Prepare me – heart, mind, and spirit – to renew and refresh my relationship with You during this Advent season.

+ You are the Sovereign Lord – may I trust You in all things, big and small, personal and public, at home and throughout the world. Here’s what is troubling me today….
+ You are the Word made flesh – may I enter into the festivities and joy of Christmas, keeping the priceless gift of Jesus ever before me. Here’s where I need to maintain perspective today….
+ You are the Life-giving Spirit – may I become more like Jesus, a man of His Word. Here’s where I need to follow through and keep my word today….

Merciful God: guide me though the wilderness and protect me through the storm as I await Your coming in glory. Protect me from the wiles of the evil one and bring me home rejoicing into Your eternal presence. Through Jesus Christ, my Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
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“Even So Come” – Passion (feat Kristian Stanfill)


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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

1st Sunday of Advent, 29 November: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14; 1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 ~ vigilance!

First Sunday of Advent

Advent begins today. It is a 4-week season for preparing our hearts to behold our Savior, the prophesied Messiah. May this season draw our hearts back to reflect on what has already been done and propel us onward into a new year of expectation and readiness for His next glorious appearing!

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

Opening Prayer:

God our Savior, You utter a word of promise and hope and hasten the day of justice and freedom, yet we live in a world forgetful of Your word, our watchfulness dulled by the cares of life. Keep us alert. Make us attentive to Your word, ready to look on Your Son when He comes with power and great glory. Make us holy and blameless, ready to stand secure when the day of His coming shakes the world with terror. 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: “”Intro & Prepare Ye The Way”” – Michael W. Smith [A New Hallelujah]


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A Reading from the Old Testament: Jeremiah 33:14-16 (NLT)
[Jeremiah’s prophecy looks to the day when a son of David will bring salvation. Christians see this fulfilled in Jesus.]

Our Righteousness

“The day will come, says the Lord, when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good things I have promised them.

“In those days and at that time I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. In that day Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this will be its name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 (NLT)

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.
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The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.
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The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.
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The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant.
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“Psalm 25” – The Psalm Project


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A Reading from the Letters: 1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2 (NLT)
[Grow in love, says Paul; be blameless when the Lord comes in glory.]

And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.

Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 (NLT)
[Jesus warns his followers to be vigilant.]

vigilance eagle

“And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!”
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“Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”
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Hymn: “Lord I Need You” – Matt Maher


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Intercessions:

Because God is faithful and loving, we can approach Him with confidence.

+ For all believers – that we may be found ready when the Lord comes in glory…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all people of good will – that we may experience the mercy of God, who never tires of forgiving…. Lord, hear us.
+ For families, especially those who suffer – that they may find in the birth of Jesus a sign of hope…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who live in fear – that they may find new courage in this new year…. Lord, hear us.
+ For people burdened by addiction – that the liberation promised by the Lord may be theirs…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all who suffer, in mind or body or spirit – that they may experience God’s healing power…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all who have died – that they may have peace and rest in the Kingdom…. Lord, hear us.

Lord, You are a true friend to those who revere You: be our comfort and support in all our needs, we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Hymn: “Light Of The World” – Lauren Daigle


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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