Experience the radiant spirit of the season with Thrive Worship’s devotional series. Each day, embrace uplifting reflections, prayers, and scriptures, fostering a deeper spiritual connection. Discover the profound joy of Advent through heartfelt meditations and empowering messages, guiding you to find joy, hope, and peace. Let this series brighten your path, renewing your spirit and preparing your heart for the joyous celebration of our Savior’s birth!
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Day 1
Scripture: Luke 2:10-11
Good News
I’m a wife and mother of two. These days I don’t have to set alarms for myself because my children will wake at the crack of dawn and sometimes at all hours of the night. It’s in those hours when I’m trying to keep my sanity while simultaneously lulling one of my little ones back to peaceful sleep that I’ll pass the time by reading the news.This, I highly recommend you do not do. Back when I was single, I could read tragic news about the world and still be able to go about my day with some sense of optimism. Now that I have a precious family of my own, reading of wars and the effects thereof on cities and local towns with regular families with little ones just like my own… well, now it hits differently.
It’s nearly impossible to open up your phone or turn on the TV and not feel the undercurrent of fear, hate, and disregard human beings can have for one another. Though we desperately desire the opposite. Every major headline brings yet another war or a socially unstable climate. In this Christmas season if I’m not careful I can get carried away by the dreadful news and forget about the Good News that came one starry night long ago.
This “God of the Hebrews” came to write a new story.
He came in the form of a baby boy – humble, pure, and with no blemish. He came to live a life of perfect, other-centered love. The kind of love that forgives. The kind of love that lays down its life for its enemies. The kind of love that casts out fear. He came to rewrite what it means to be human. In this story, the Bible calls Jesus the “second Adam”. For the first Adam lost our humanity but Jesus came to redeem and restore it by being EVERYTHING that this weary world is not.
There is no hate in Jesus. He is the antithesis of selfishness. The epitome of goodness. The opus magnus of the plan of salvation. HE IS THE GOOD NEWS!
In this advent season, let’s take in and commune with the glorious light that can snuff out the darkness and bring peace to our weary souls. Let’s take in the Good News.
Day 2
Scriptures: Luke 2, Philippians 2:5-8
The Humble Messiah
If I’m honest, the Christmas season can be one of the most stressful and anxiety inducing times of my year. As a worship leader at church and a father of 3 children, there have been Christmases when I somehow make it through all of the shopping, putting up the Christmas lights, gift-wrapping, the numerous Christmas services at church, the celebrations with friends and family, only to finally collapse on the couch around noon on December 25th and realize that in an effort to make Christmas as great and impactful as I possibly can for everybody around me, I’ve missed the entire point of what this time is about.
I had to ask God to give me a fresh perspective on what can be this whirlwind of season and do you know what I found? My focus is shifted not to the biggest and brightest moments of the story, but to the humble and quiet arrival of the incarnate love of God.
Jesus could have come in an incredible display of power and glory, making himself known to the most wealthy and influential people of the day, but instead chose such a lowly entrance into this world. Born as a helpless infant to a virgin and a carpenter, in a small quiet town, in a stable. And who did the angel first announce Jesus’ birth to? Shepherds! (Not even the good ones – these were the night shift shepherds!)
So what do I draw from this? He wants to meet us right where we are this Christmas. We don’t have to qualify. We don’t have to dress up for the occasion. We don’t have to be the biggest or the brightest or the loudest or the best. In fact, He wants to meet us in the quiet moments. He wants to meet us in the reality of our lives, exactly as they are. He wants to speak to us and remind us of his love for us. That’s why he came.
So what does it look like for us to not only let the humility of Jesus’ birth inform our heart towards this season, but also to let it shape the way that we in turn love others this year? Who in your life needs to be seen? Who needs to be encouraged? Who needs to be reminded of their worth and God’s love for them?
May we receive and spread the Love of Jesus like never before this Christmas Season!
Day 3
Scriptures: John 1:1-5, Genesis 1:1-2, John 1:14
The Word Made Flesh
What do you imagine when you think back to the beginning? Oftentimes I disassociate myself with the vastness of God. I forget that where I’m standing today was once formless until God did one simple thing: He spoke. The power of the very Word of God brought about everything we can see, touch, and experience. The good news is, the power of the Word doesn’t stop in the beginning.
Fast forward to Jesus’ coming – the Word that created everything we see – a vast power that brought light and life to our world was now a baby lying in a manger.
So what does this mean for us? In the Christmas season, it’s easy to get caught up in the stress of gifts, hosting family and friends, putting up Christmas lights, and making sure that every little detail is perfect. I think, if I can just find time to throw up a nativity scene I won’t forget what this season is all about. The reality is, that the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is a perfect recipe to lose sight of the wonder of that night. It wasn’t just a baby in that manger that grew up to do some great things, it was the Word of God made flesh to make his dwelling among us and ultimately to save us.
My challenge to you this year is to not lose sight of the power of the birth of Christ. How can that power transform this Holiday season from gifts and a Christmas tree into a life-changing walk with a savior?
May the power of the Word of God make a difference in your life this Christmas season!
Day 4
Scripture: Luke 1:17
Hope
Can you imagine what it must have been like to have God fall silent for 400 years before Christ came? His people were left with a grim prophecy from Elijah and found themselves without hope. But God was working behind the scenes and in the silence. He was making ready a “people prepared for the Lord.” This moment in Luke’s gospel where the angel is speaking hope over Israel is the same hope that we cling to today as believers. Becoming a people prepared for the Lord is not an easy thing. In our own human instinct, we try to prepare for the Lord by striving after perfection and examining our hearts. While these lead to righteous living, it is impossible to achieve a righteous state on our own. The truth is we come as we are to the Lord. This isn’t an easy concept for us to grasp because our finite minds tell us that preparation is required for achievement. Yet, the Gospel of Jesus Christ allows us to come before the Lord as we are with nothing capable of purchasing the mercy and grace He gives. This is why it is so hard for us to be a people prepared. It’s actually impossible. This is why the hope of Christ’s birth is the most invigorating hope we could ever cling to. It’s the hope that at our weakest, the moment we fully surrender and accept we have no power, He is strongest.
I remember one Christmas growing up when our family had very little money. So little in fact that my single mother had to break the news to us that we wouldn’t be able to do presents that year. Of course, my brothers and I were upset but we did our best to look forward to the holiday nonetheless. When Christmas morning came, we woke up with little excitement but made our way to the living room. We were stunned to see the living room busting at the seams full of presents! How? Somewhere along the line someone heard about our situation and decided they were going to provide the gifts we couldn’t afford. To this day I don’t know who bought those presents but I will always feel grateful for the moment I realized somebody gave me gifts that I couldn’t earn.
That’s our lot with Christ as well. We didn’t earn nor did we deserve the great gift of grace he gave us. But at Christmas, we are reminded that God sent His Son down to this earth to pay for the price of our sins. Now we may come as we are before the Lord because He has done the preparation. This is the hope of Christmas!