Advent Devotional: Make Room for Jesus

Scriptures: Colossians 3:2, Matthew 6:33, Hebrews 12:2

Day 1:Intro to Advent

The season of Advent can be an incredible gift for those who follow Jesus because it can give an opportunity to press pause, refocus, and prepare our hearts to celebrate the sacred moment of Jesus coming to our world. 

But if we’re not careful, busyness can become the mantra of our lives during the holiday season. That’s why intentionality during Advent is so important. If we don’t carve out time to make room in our hearts and minds to focus on our Savior, the holiday season can be taken captive by busyness. We may quickly find we’ve lost our hope, joy, peace and love in the process. 

The word Advent literally means “coming.” Jesus’ first coming as a baby was a picture of the incredible gift of hope that came to us. And He is coming again one day to save those who are eagerly awaiting Him. That is why we must be intentional about our focus. Our world is too loud and our sin is too big to let it take up residence in our heart. This advent season can be an opportunity for us to declutter our hearts and minds and make room for Him. 

For decades, Advent season has been a chance to focus on four incredible gifts that Jesus gave when He came to the earth…Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Let’s use this time of Advent to intentionally make room in our hearts so we can focus on these precious gifts from our Savior. 

Reflection:

• What is something that often steals your focus and distracts you from centering your attention on Jesus during the holiday season? Why? 
• What is one thing you could eliminate during this season so that you can make room to focus on Jesus? 

Pray:

Spend some time praying and thanking God for the gift He sent in His Son. Let him know the areas of your life that often fight for your focus and ask Him to give you eyes and ears to experience His hope this Advent season. 

Scriptures: Zechariah 10:4, Hebrews 6:16-20, Psalms 62:5-6

Day 2: Make Room for Hope

Hope is very powerful. It can actually mark us. It doesn’t matter your faith background, ethnicity, or income. We all need hope in our lives. Most times the way hope is delivered to us is through promises…promises that life will not always be as it is right now. Our God is a promise-maker but, more importantly, our God is a promise-keeper! Throughout the Bible, God made promises to His people that He would send His presence to the earth. And in doing that, they would have hope for a future. Today, we know that those promises came true and the fulfillment of hope came in the form of a baby born in a manger who grew up to be a King. As we go back into the Old Testament over these next several days and read some of God’s promises, we must know these promises are available for us today as well. 

Zechariah 10:4 says, 

“From Judah will come the cornerstone,from him the tent peg,from him the battle bow,from him every ruler.”

In this passage, Zechariah is talking about Jesus’ first coming and describes Jesus as a cornerstone. This is an important concept to understand when building our foundation of hope. The cornerstone is the foundation on which everything rests. Zechariah is setting the stage for God’s people to understand that everything depends on the coming of this Messiah Jesus. He would be what anchored the children of God and gave them strength. Still today He continues to be the firm foundation upon which we can rest our hope. From our finances to our families to our health, God is able to bear the weight of our lives. When we recognize the gift of hope He offers us, it can stabilize us even in the hardest of times. 

Reflect:

• Why is it important to recognize Jesus as the cornerstone of your life? 
• God promises to send his presence through Jesus. What is keeping you from believing that Jesus can be trusted to be your cornerstone? 
• What part of your life needs to be readjusted so that Jesus is the cornerstone? What could this look like? 

Pray:

Spend a few minutes praying to God. Tell him an area in our life you need to readjust so that your life can be built on Jesus. Try praying with your hands open to signify your willingness to give God control.

Scriptures: Isaiah 7:14, Jeremiah 29:11, Philippians 4:19

Day 3: Make Room for Hope

Hope is a promise of what is to come. It’s based on faith and a belief that what is unseen will eventually come to pass. The people of the Old Testament had been longing and hoping for a Messiah for a very long time. It was a hope that had been passed down from generation to generation. The prophets promised and assured and the people believed and waited. But wouldn’t you imagine that over time doubt must have crept in? We know that in our human tendencies it’s easy to let distrust seep in if there’s not some sort of concrete evidence along the way to prove validity. That’s why Isaiah the prophet is so key in this story of the promised hope of a Messiah. He said… 

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” – Isaiah 7:14

The word “sign” in this passage means “ a pledge”. God used Isaiah to remind them of hope. He pledged that He saw them in their hardships and struggles and He hadn’t forgotten they were waiting. The long-awaited divine hope in Jesus wasn’t far off but coming very soon. 

How often do we need that reminder of hope? When it feels like we’ve been waiting and waiting for an answer or a resolution, our human nature struggles to cling to hope. That’s why there is such importance in remembering God’s promises. He says He has a hope and a future for us (Jeremiah 29:11). That’s a promise we can cling to. 

Reflect:

• How has doubt been a disrupter in your faith journey? 
• Why is hope such a powerful tool for overcoming doubt? 
• What is one area you feel God is asking you to trust Him in? 

Pray:

Write out a prayer to God confessing your doubt and acknowledging that His promises are true. Then thank God for the promise from Jeremiah 29:11… 

“For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Scriptures: Isaiah 9:6, Psalms 32:8, Revelation 1:8, 1 Timothy 4:10

Day 4: Make Room for Hope

When the promised coming of Jesus was foretold in the book of Isaiah, God spoke through the prophet and decided to use several adjectives to describe Himself to His people. They were titles of prestige that displayed the great and glorious Messiah who was to come. They also were titles that offered hope and exemplified marvelous royalty mixed with compassion and wholeness. These promises that were given created anticipation and belief that, when the Messiah came to earth, there would be no doubt of who He was. 

“For to us a child is born,to us a son is given,and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6 

Wonderful. Mighty. Everlasting. This passage is a promise that God has given us an incredible gift of hope in His son Jesus. It’s a gift that no one else on this earth has ever been able to give. Jesus’ presence in our lives means we have hope in a wonderful counselor who will lead and guide us. Because Jesus is a mighty God, there is nothing too big for Him. We can marvel at His unlimited strength and find great hope in Him. In times we may feel like giving up, we can trust in the promise that Jesus is everlasting. We are promised that with Jesus, peace accompanies His presence no matter what is going on around us. Those words that Isaiah spoke of the coming Messiah are just as true today. Our Savior’s hope is everlasting. 

Reflect:

• Which description of Jesus (Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace) resonates most with you and why? 
• Which description of Jesus do you have a harder time believing and why? 

Prayer:

Today as you pray, go through the 4 descriptions of Jesus in Isaiah and tell God why you are thankful that He shows up for you in these ways.

Scriptures: Isaiah 11:1-5, Luke 21:29-31, Isaiah 43:19, Matthew 24:44

Day 5: Making Room for Hope

The prophet Isaiah said that, while pagan nations would fall, God’s kingdom would grow. Nothing could stop hope from spreading. In the midst of evil and unrest, God’s plan was still at work and could not be thwarted. God promised His Spirit would fall on this promised one. He would look differently than the kings of the past. This “new shoot” would spring up and come to save the world. 

“Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,the Spirit of counsel and might,the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.He will delight in obeying the Lord.He will not judge by appearancenor make a decision based on hearsay.He will give justice to the poorand make fair decisions for the exploited.The earth will shake at the force of his word,and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.He will wear righteousness like a beltand truth like an undergarment.” – Isaiah 11:1-5 (NLT)

The “new shoot” spoken of in this passage refers to a new branch or leaf budding on a fig tree. When Jesus later spoke to His disciples in a parable found in Luke 21:29-31, He referenced this same idea. He was illustrating to them the need to be watchful. Just as they would understand that new sprouts on a fig tree signified spring and new life, they were given hope that the future Kingdom of God would come soon. God’s rule would triumph and the Messiah would reign just as He said He would. They just needed to be ready. 

Why is this important to focus on? Because when we get apathetic and let life happen, we can lose sight of the future promises of God. We can become consumed by the problems in front of us instead of trusting the bigger picture of what God is doing. Jesus said in Matthew 24: 44 we must be ready all the time. He calls us to watchfulness…not just letting life pass by. When we live life with an eternal mindset, it changes the things we place our hope in and the way we wait. 

Reflect:

• What does it look like to be watchful when it comes to your spiritual life? 
• How does it change the way you operate in your everyday life when you have an eternal mindset? 

Pray:

Today pray this prayer…. “God help me to always be on the watch for what you are doing. I want to be constantly aware of the ways you are working so that I can help further your kingdom on earth. Then I can truly rest in the hope of one day experiencing eternity in Heaven with you.”

Scriptures: Micah 5:2, Luke 2:1-7, Ephesians 3:20, Revelation 21:5

Day 6: Make Room for Hope

It’s natural to think that in order for someone to be great they must come from greatness. No one noteworthy could ever come from humble beginnings right? But the story of the birth of Jesus negates that theory. Hope was birthed from a small, insignificant town that wasn’t even listed in the Biblical registry of towns. Bethlehem was unknown but would soon become the most recognizable town in the Bible. 

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,are only a small village among all the people of Judah.Yet a ruler of Israel,whose origins are in the distant past,will come from you on my behalf.” – Micah 5:2 (NLT)

When you make room in your heart to truly ponder the miraculous gift of Jesus’ birth it’s incredibly inspiring. It shows that the promise of hope can spring up out of anything! Hope isn’t defined by circumstances. It isn’t confined to what you can see. It’s apparent through Jesus’ humble beginnings that hope can come in spite of less than ideal circumstances. The fulfillment of God’s greatness from the prophet Micah would soon spring up out of an unsuspecting place and reach to the ends of the earth. 

How can that encourage us today? By reflecting on the humble beginnings of our Savior, we can see God’s power put on display. We can be encouraged to know that nothing is beyond God’s redemptive power. He can make ALL things new. 

Reflect:

• How does Jesus’ humble beginnings help us to understand God’s power? 
• Why is it important to remember all the unconventional ways that God has worked in your story? 
• How is your faith strengthened when you remember these God stories? 

Pray:

As you pray, admit the areas of your life that make you feel insignificant or unequipped to handle. Then ask God to rewrite the lies of hopelessness you have harbored with the truths of hope. Thank Him that His hope cannot be bound by earth but that He can redeem and restore anything.

Scriptures: James 1:17, Matthew 1:18-23, John 1:14

Day 7: Make Room for Hope

Opening presents on Christmas morning would be chaotic if you didn’t know who the gift belonged to. It could lead to confusion and tears, false hope and even disappointment when you realize the gift opened was intended for someone else. That’s why we are specific with the recipients of the gifts we give. Gifts are intentionally selected and purposely wrapped for a certain person. They are carefully thought out and intended to fill a need or a want for someone close to you. 

Over 2000 years ago, on a starry night in Bethlehem the gift of HOPE was wrapped up and placed in a manger. This precious gift was intentionally selected and made available to those who believed and accepted Jesus. God saw that the world desperately needed a Savior so He crafted the most beautiful and purposeful gift of hope for those He loves. 

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:18-21

God sent the gift of His Son because He knew we would need a visual representation of His hope. This gift would be called “Immanuel” because it solidified that God would be with His people. He would come to the earth, walk among those He created and bring hope to a very dark world. He saw the need for light and He gifted us with the greatest gift of all. Jesus was the best gift because He was given with each of us in mind. God wrapped Him up and wrote each of our names on the gift tag. On that Christmas night, we received the most specific gift of love we could ever receive. 

Reflect:

• How does it impact the way you view God when you see how intentional He was when He sent His son to the earth? 
• What is an area of your life where you have seen God intentionally work? 
• Why is it important for us to understand that Jesus is still with us today through the gift of His Holy Spirit? 

Pray:

Spend some time today in prayer thanking God for being so intentional with the gift of Jesus. Thank Him for this personal gift of love He sent on that Christmas night. 

Scriptures: John 14:27, Isaiah 9:6, John 16:33

Day 8: Make Room for Peace

Peace is not something that we easily stumble upon. Most days it’s not a natural rhythm of our everyday. In fact, our world actually exemplifies the opposite. We are rattled with chaos and turmoil the moment we turn on the news or look at our phones. With so much instability around us, our peace can become threatened on a daily basis. We’re bombarded with fear, we’re assailed with busyness and we’re overwhelmed with uncertainties. But when we read God’s Word, we see that peace is not just an imaginary concept we hope to have at some point in our life. It’s an attainable gift that was given to us when Jesus came to the earth on that monumental night in Bethlehem. 

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27

The word “peace” occurs 252 times in the New Testament. It’s translated as “one resting in quietness.” Doesn’t that sound amazing? We read in Isaiah 9:6 that Jesus is known as the “Prince of Peace.” God sent Jesus to be the “Leader of Peace.” He would need Jesus to blaze the trail and be a visual representation of peace to a troubled world. When we realize that peace is a gift that God is ready and willing to give us and not something that has to be earned, it can give us hope for all that is to come. We can rest in quietness knowing that God is with us and will never leave us. 

Reflect:

• How did God exemplify peace when He sent Jesus to be born? 
• What is an area of your life that makes “resting in quietness” seem impossible to you? Why? 
• How does it change the way you operate daily if you understand that peace is a gift from God and not something you must earn? 

Pray:

As you pray, thank God for sending His son to be the “Leader of Peace.” Acknowledge your need for peace in your life and offer to Him the areas of your life that you are struggling to have peace.

Scriptures: Philippians 4:6-7, Isaiah 26:3, Isaiah 41:10, 1 Peter 5:7

Day 9: Make Room for Peace

Have you ever felt true peace? Maybe it was when you sat by a campfire and admired the stars above your head in the quiet of the night. Maybe it was when you stuck your feet in the ocean and listened to the birds fly by as you heard the waves crashing around you. Your heart slowed, your mind settled and you felt like you had room to breathe. The cares of the world seemed to diminish in those moments as your gaze shifted from you to your creator. 

We read in scriptures that God’s peace is a peace that passes all understanding. It satisfies us in a way nothing else can. The apostle Paul relates well to us in Philippians when he says… 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7

When Paul talks in this passage about being anxious, the word he uses means “to have a distracting care.” It’s caring for things that cause you to take your eyes off Jesus. It’s actually the opposite of rest. What we learn from this scripture is that God’s peace is found when we present our requests to Him and trust that He will handle them. It doesn’t mean peace is found because He answers us right away or solves our problems. Instead when we live open-handedly with God and tell Him what we are struggling with, we admit that His way is best for our life. And then, by admitting our need for Him, we can experience a peace that passes all understanding. 

Reflect: 

• What is one instance this week where you have taken your eyes off Jesus and focused more on a distracting care? 
• Why is it hard to relinquish control to God over this area of your life? 
• How does trust and peace go hand in hand? 

Pray:

Talk to God about the instance above that you listed. Admit your need for control but ask Him to give you peace as you hand it over to him and trust His ability to take care of it.

Scriptures: Matthew 11:28-30, Psalms 4:8, Exodus 33:14, Isaiah 30:15

Day 10: Make Room for Peace

Life can feel extremely heavy at times. Pain, sin and brokenness seem to be around every corner. The weight of it all can feel overwhelming… like it’s just too much to bear. With all of those burdens weighing heavy on our hearts, our peace can get hijacked. But Jesus wants to give us the gift of rest. He invites us to come to him and rest and place those burdens on Him. He desires for us to experience peace through resting in His promises. In fact, Jesus spoke of this very thing in Matthew. 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

The word “rest” in this passage is translated as “an opportunity to cease movement in order to recover, refresh and collect strength”. It’s a non-negotiable for God. He WANTS us to come to Him. He deeply desires for us to hand over our burdens to Him and trust that He is able to take care of us. He promises He can carry them no matter how big the burden. Following Jesus doesn’t mean we won’t have trouble. It just means the weight of trouble will be lighter because we can trust Jesus to help us through it. Give him the reigns of your life. He can be trusted. 

Reflect: 

• How does resting in God’s presence lead to peace? 
• Why is it important to hand over control to God in our everyday lives? 
• What is one practical way you can rest in God today? 

Pray:

Name an area of your life right now that is causing unrest. Say it out loud and tell God what you are wrestling through. He is not afraid of the chaos. Come to him and rest in his presence. Remove all distractions and spend some time handing him your burdens. He can handle them. 

Scriptures: John 20:19-21, John 14:27, Isaiah 53:5

Day 11: Make Room for Peace

After Jesus was crucified and buried, His disciples were unsure what to do. They feared the Jews were going to come after them. So one evening just a few days after the crucixion, they gathered together and locked the doors. They had heard Jesus’ promises that He was the Messiah but, in those few days of uncertainty, they felt anything but peace. Things looked very hopeless. Until Jesus showed up. 

“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” – John 20:19-21

Surely the disciples were reeling as they witnessed Jesus standing ALIVE in the room with them that was locked. How did He get in? And how was He alive? The uncertainty and fear they had been feeling just minutes before came face to face with their new reality. Jesus was alive! He showed them His scars first..the nail scars in His hands and the wound in His side. He made sure they knew it was Him and saw the evidence of the pain He endured so they could be saved. And then He gave them peace. He said it twice in fact… that His peace would be with them as He sent them out into the world. Jesus knew that the world would not accept them. That’s why His peace was such a gift to them. Peace in the midst of uncertainty…it’s a gift that only our Savior can give. And one that He promises for everyone who follows Him. 

Reflect: 

• How is the peace Jesus offers different from the peace that the world offers? 
• What does “the peace of God” look like in your everyday situations? 
• Why is understanding Godly peace such an important part of growing in our faith? 

Pray: 

Ask Jesus to do the same thing for you that He did for the disciples that day. Ask Him to pour out His peace in your life. Ask Him for a supernatural peace that you don’t even understand. Thank Him for the sacrifice He made on the cross and the gift of peace that only He can give.

Scriptures: Romans 16:20, 1 John 3:8, Deuteronomy 20:4, Hebrews 12:1-3

Day 12: Make Room for Peace

It can often be hard with our human eyes to see battles being won for eternity. Evil seems to be rampant and brokenness abounds. Peace appears all but absent in the lives of so many around us. But when Jesus came on the scene in that tiny town of Bethlehem, God’s promise to save his people from evil was forever established. Satan no longer would be able to run rampant. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, he would be crushed and Jesus would bring freedom and healing to the world. 

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” – Romans 16:20 

So how do we hold onto peace in the midst of a broken world? While it can feel insurmountable at times, God promises that He will triumph in the end and we can trust that He is in control. When we understand the saving work of Jesus and how he has defeated the enemy it can anchor us in the midst of uncertainty. 

The more God’s Word is spread and the more God’s church is built up, the harder God’s foot crushes Satan. It’s through the Prince of Peace coming to this world that sin was defeated. We can continually trust that the enemy will not be victorious in the lives of those who follow Jesus. By setting our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, we can live in freedom and not in fear. 

Reflect:

• How does God’s promise of crushing Satan give you assurance when you’re in the midst of a trial? 
• How are God’s gifts of peace and grace related? 
• What is an area of your life that would significantly change if you allowed God to have victory over it instead of operating out of fear? 

Pray:

Offer the area listed above to God today and ask Him to give you freedom. Thank Him for His power and His almighty ways. Ask Him to strengthen you with peace to know that, if you have accepted Jesus as the Lord of your life, the enemy will never have power over you.

Scriptures: Isaiah 11:10, Zephaniah 3:17, Romans 15:12-13, Galatians 5:22-23

Day 13: Make Room for Joy

As we’ve read about and focused on hope and peace in the last several days, it can be said without a doubt that these attributes are not something we can manufacture on our own. They are gifts that are given to us through the gift of our Savior Jesus. Hope, peace and joy are not things that come naturally for us. If we were left to our own devices, the sin nature in us would not be able to produce these good gifts on our own. However when we follow Jesus, we receive these gifts of hope, peace and joy. Out of the overflow of His Holy Spirit in us, we can see good fruit being produced in our lives. Paul talks about this in Galatians… 

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” – Galatians 5:22-23

He also reminds us in Romans about God’s promise of these gifts when we trust Him. 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13

God fulfilled a long-awaited promise through the birth of Jesus and, in so doing, brought with Him joy and peace that overflowed into hope. The baby wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger was a picture of redemption…a way for God’s people to walk forward with joy. As the prophet Isaiah foretold, Jesus would be a banner of salvation for the people. They didn’t have to be afraid of the future. Their promised Messiah had come. And He would restore joy to a dark and broken world. 

Reflect:

• What is something that has impacted your joy lately? 
• How does understanding that true joy is not something you can manufacture but rather it’s an overflow of God’s Spirit in you change the way you approach time with God? 
• What is one area of your daily life where you desire to be a banner of God’s joy this week? 

Pray:

As you spend time with God today, acknowledge to Him if you feel like you are lacking in joy. Then talk with him about what could be impacting your joy. Ask Him to fill you to overflowing today.

Scriptures: Luke 1:38, Luke 1:46-49, Psalms 32:10, James 1:2-4

Day 14: Make Room for Joy

Have you ever met someone who exemplifies true joy -someone who has a bright light that radiates from them and is contagious to those they meet? Most likely, if you were to take a closer look into their life however you may be surprised at what you’d find. As someone who follows Jesus, you would see that the joy they have isn’t based on their current circumstances. Instead it’s an overflow of God’s Spirit. They recognize the work God is doing in their life and they have allowed Him to take up residence in their hearts regardless of their situation. They respond with joy and stand out as a light in the darkness. 

We read in Luke about the unconventional way Mary became pregnant with Jesus. In fact we read that she was confused and disturbed when the angel Gabriel first appeared to her to explain what was to come. She was not married and knew that this would create many questions and possibly a hard road for her and Joseph. But, instead of responding with fear she praised God with joy. 

“Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” – Luke 1:38

And then she went on to worship God through a song of praise… 

“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,and from now on all generations will call me blessed.For the Mighty One is holy,and he has done great things for me.” – Luke 1:46-49

Instead of responding negatively, Mary’s response to this life-changing announcement was one of joy and praise. She recognized all that God had done in her life. Joy changed the lens through which she viewed her circumstances. She trusted in God’s ways, knowing that she was part of a bigger plan of redemption He had for His people. She made room for joy in the midst of hardship. And, because of her response, our Savior was born to redeem us all. 

Reflect:

• How is the promise of joy connected to trusting God? 
• What is a current situation you are in that is jeopardizing your joy? 
• How can you step out in faith today to trust God and make room for His gift of joy? 

Pray:

Today take some time to thank God for all the ways you have seen Him work in your life this past week. Maybe you’ve seen Him redeem a situation that seemed hopeless or He has restored your joy in the midst of hardship. 

Scriptures: John 15:10-12, Isaiah 58:11, 1 John 3:24, Psalms 143:10-12

Day 15: Make Room for Joy

During Jesus’ last days on earth, He infused joy into his disciples in different ways. He gave plenty of instructions and He pushed them to see things through a new lens. He upended past notions of peace and joy and instead re-wrote the story. By helping them focus on obedience in following Him, He knew that joy would be a bi-product of this new way of living. In fact He told them, 

“If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”-John 15:10-12

Obedience is not always a fun word to address. It can be associated with negative emotions from childhood. It could have been used as a scare tactic or a push toward fear in your past. Whatever it may be, we don’t often associate obedience with joy. 

But when Jesus came on the scene, He wrote a new story for God’s people. Following Him in obedience wasn’t meant to be used as a fear tactic. Instead, His plan was that obedience could become an avenue of transformation for His people. He came to this earth to show us a better way to do life. He promised that, when we follow Him in obedience, He places His own joy in us. That’s an incredible promise! To have God’s gift of joy in us can dramatically change the way we live!

Reflect:

• Why does obedience sometimes prompt negative emotions in people?
• When have you experienced an unexplainable joy that came from following God in obedience? 
• How is Godly joy different from happiness? 

Pray:

Offer up an area to God today that you know you need to step out in obedience. Pray the words of Psalm 143 :10, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.”

Scriptures: John 16:20-24, Psalms 30:4-5

Day 16: Make Room for Joy

If you have ever experienced intense physical pain, you know it’s hard to stay focused on anything other than what you are feeling. The pain can be all-consuming, clouding your thinking and distracting you immensely. But if you know the pain will end, it makes it easier to endure in the end. 

While Jesus absolutely knew His death on the cross would be painful and incredibly hard, He knew it had to happen just as God had said so that great joy and hope could be found through His brutal death on the cross. When preparing His disciples, He compared the coming pain of the cross to a woman giving birth. These were His words to them… 

“I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.” John 16:20-24 (NLT) 

Jesus said anguish would give way to joy. And then He went on to tell them that no one would be able to take away their joy. That was because the joy He had instilled in them was one that not even painful circumstances of the world could destroy. It was a joy that came from a deep trust in God’s promise of deliverance and eternity. The promise of that deep joy can still be found today in the life of a believer. It’s a gift that is a fruit of His Spirit inside of us. Joy beyond measure that is rooted in the deep work of Christ is a precious gift that cannot be taken away. 

Reflect:

• When was the last time you experienced grief and pain? Why is it hard to see joy in the midst of pain? 
• What is your reaction and behavior when you are going through a hard time? 
• How does Jesus’s death on the cross point us to the promise of “grief turning into wonderful joy?” 

Pray:

If you are going through a hard time right now, ask God to turn your grief into incredible joy like He promised the disciples. Ask Him to plant the joy deep inside of your heart so that it transcends even the hardest of circumstances and sustains you beyond measure.

Scriptures: Psalms 32:1-2, Psalms 30:1-5, 2 Samuel 12:7-13

Day 17: Make Room for Joy

Reading about David in the Bible, we see that his life encompassed many valleys and also many hills. Throughout the story of his life, we read of brokenness and sin. We read of costly decisions he made and the impact they had. We read of vicious attacks that were made against him and of the battles he fought. We see the anguish he felt as we read the book of Psalms. Life was hard and his sin was heavy. 

But we also can read accounts of David’s victories. We can read in the Old Testament about how he defeated the giant Goliath. We can see how he reigned over all of Israel and took great care of the people that God had entrusted to Him. We can hear about how he admitted his sin and how God wiped His slate clean and forgave him. 

“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven,whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for thosewhose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,whose lives are lived in complete honesty!“ – Psalm 32:1-2

David’s song of joy that we read in Psalm 32 can also become a mantra of our own during this advent season. As we refocus our hearts and minds, it can give us an opportunity to celebrate God and the way He has rescued us from our sin. When we admit our need for Him and His forgiveness, joy can become the bi-product. Our grief can turn to dancing and our mourning into song- breathing life into our desolate souls in a way that only He can do. Making room for the Holy Spirit to convict us can result in the same joy-filled praises that David sang. Our guilt is cleared and our sin is no longer seen. May we let Psalm 30 be our song of joy today… 

“Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name.For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime!Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” – Psalm 30:4-5

Reflect:

• How can guilt and shame rob us of the joy that God wants to give? 
• What is an area that you need God to forgive you and clear your guilt so you can walk in freedom and joy? 
• What kind of impact can a joy-filled life that is free of guilt and shame have on those around you? 

Pray:

Today as you pray, ask God to restore you. Give him praise and adoration for His forgiveness in your life and the ways he Has redeemed your story. 

Scriptures: Matthew 2:9-11, Psalms 46:10, Proverbs 3:5-6

Day 18: Make Room for Joy

The story of the Magi surrounding the birth of Jesus is a captivating one. We read in scripture of wise men from the East who were looking for the King of the Jews. They were most likely astrologers who studied stars and so, because of their immense knowledge, they immediately knew this was no ordinary star in the sky. It signaled something greater than the world had ever known before. So they responded to the miracle and began a journey to find the promised King. They first stopped in Jerusalem and were intercepted by King Herod who had ulterior motives in finding the new King. But the wisemen saw beyond His schemes when his motives were revealed to them in a dream. Instead they went on a journey of their own to Bethlehem in hopes to find the promised Messiah. 

We can learn from scripture that their journey wasn’t a short one. It wasn’t something they knocked out in a few days. And they didn’t even know exactly what they would find or how long it would take to get there. Regardless of their uncertainty or hardships, they trusted that it would be worth it to be in the presence of the long awaited King. This is where we pick up in Matthew 2. 

“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” – Matthew 2:9-11

The Magi’s journey was birthed in trust and crowned in joy. Which is why their worship could not be contained when they met the promised King. Their journey was long but Jesus was worth it. 

How often are we afraid to step out in faith like the Magi and trust that God will do what He says He will do? Listen to His voice, let Him lead and be ready to experience His miracles. 

Reflect:

• Reflect on a time in your life when you knew God was working ahead of you but you had to trust His process. What did you learn about God and about yourself during that time? 
• How does the Magi’s faith prompt you to step out in faith? 
• How could you, by stepping out in faith and trusting God, impact those around you to do the same? 

Pray:

Spend some time with God asking Him to give you an opportunity to step out in faith and trust Him this week. Joy will come as we seek God in big ways in our life.

Scriptures: 1 John 4:9-11, Romans 5:8, Matthew 1:21, John 19:16-18

Day 19: Make Room for Love

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” – 1 John 4:9-11

The story of Jesus’ birth is the greatest love story of all time. It’s an account of the Almighty God sending His only son to save the world He created. That’s the ultimate show of love. God knew His son would be ridiculed, would be beaten and even put to death by the very people He so deeply desired to save. But He did it anyway because of His great love. 

God is the originator of love and love is a part of His divine nature. If anyone were to ever question God’s love for them, all they would need to do is be reminded of the cross. He only had one Son and He sent Him anyway. What a gift! He made us right with Him and wiped our sin slate clean by offering His Son as a penalty for our sin. Jesus paid the immense price for our brokenness and made us right so we could spend eternity with Him. That’s an incredible picture of love. 

So why is it important for us to make room in our heart for God’s love during this Advent season? When we accept the great love of Jesus in our hearts, it has the power to change how we live. It impacts what we value, how we relate to those around us and how we view ourselves. It gives us a glimpse of his mercy and grace that He freely gives. We’re reminded in Romans 5:8, 

“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

He came to the earth and died a brutal death on a cross to demonstrate how great His love is for us. Even though we sin and we fall short, He still loves us. His love isn’t based on anything we can do for Him…it’s all about the great gift of grace and love He wants to shower on us. Understanding God’s sacrificial love has the power to transform us during this Advent season and in the days to come. 

Reflect:

• How is God’s love different from the way humans quantify love? 
• Besides Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, what are some other ways you have seen God’s love in your life? 
• 1 John 4 says we love others because God loved us first. Who in your life needs to experience God’s love through you today? 

Pray:

Thank God for all the ways you have experienced His love in your life. Then ask the Lord to give you the awareness and opportunity to show love to someone today who needs it.

Scriptures: Romans 8:35-39, Psalms 103:11-12

Day 20: Make Room for Love

The apostle Paul was someone in scripture who experienced the great love of Christ in His life. He had spent many years adamantly against the things of God. We read how He watched and approved of Stephen’s brutal stoning. We see where he drug people from their homes and put them in prison in an attempt to destroy the church. He stood for everything that opposed God. So if God were to make an exception of someone He wouldn’t love, Paul would have been an easy person to name. Yet, God still showed his great love for Paul and pursued Him and redeemed His life. Not only did God do that for Him, but He used Paul to then advance His kingdom and demonstrate that same unconditional love to others. After Paul experienced God’s unconditional love, he wrote this passage… 

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:35-39

Paul says he was convinced that nothing could separate Him from the love of Christ! He had endured darkness. He had opposed God. He had sunk to great depths of sin. But then He experienced God’s love and that changed everything. 

Like Paul, you too could create a list of moments, character flaws, or situations that should keep you from God’s love. One reason God’s love is so powerful is that His love can conquer any barrier that we believe could keep us from Him. The example of Paul experiencing God’s love should bring great encouragement to all of us who believe the lie that we are beyond the love of God. Paul was convinced of this truth because his life was completely transformed. Sometimes it’s hard to make room in our lives for God’s love because we have allowed the belief that there are barriers that can keep us from Him. Live in the truth today that NOTHING can separate you from God’s love. 

Reflect:

• Why do you think God chooses to display His love to people who don’t deserve it? 
• What are some lies in your life that you have believed can separate you from the love of Christ? 
• How does pure, godly love change someone? 

Pray:

Lay out the deep parts of your heart to God where you have been harboring sin or bitterness. He can handle it! Ask Him to redeem all the broken parts of your story and thank Him that NOTHING can separate you from His love.

Scriptures: Psalms 36:5-10, Ephesians 2:4-5, Psalms 94:18-19

Day 21: Make Room for Love

Throughout the Bible we read of God’s unfailing love. That phrase is translated from the Hebrew word “checed” which carries with it meanings of strength, steadfastness and mercy. It is used mostly in the Old Testament before Jesus’ birth because the Lord had made a covenant with His people. They clung to that promise while they waited for the Messiah to come. 

“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,your faithfulness to the skies.Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,your justice like the great deep.You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.They feast on the abundance of your house;you give them drink from your river of delights.For with you is the fountain of life;in your light we see light. Continue your love to those who know you,your righteousness to the upright in heart.”- Psalm 36:5-10 (NLT)

David wrote this Psalm to meditate on the priceless treasure He had found in God’s love. When you read this passage you do not hear David boast in his riches or resources. Even though he was a wealthy man, David acknowledged that the thing He treasured most was the unfailing love of God. This love sustained him. This love covered him. This love guided him. David declared that God’s love gave him the ability to be able to move forward in trust no matter what was going on around him. Wouldn’t you like to know that you will have everything you need? Wouldn’t it be great to know that you are protected no matter what was going on? Wouldn’t you want the ability to see clearly even though it may appear dark and hopeless? This is all possible and available to you because of God’s love! 

The gift of God’s unfailing love gives us deep assurance. It’s a gift that has no price tag. It never fails and promises to strengthen us when we need it most. 

Reflect:

• From the Psalm 36 passage, which description of God’s love resonates with you the most and why? 
• How does understanding that God’s love is unconditional shape the way you view His character? 
• Reflect on a time when you experienced God’s love in a way you desperately needed. How did experiencing His unfailing love shape your faith? 

Pray:

Read Psalm 36:5-10 again but this time read the words as a prayer to God. Add some of your own descriptions of how you have seen God’s love and provision in your life.

Scriptures: Ephesians 3:16-19, Isaiah 54:10, John 1:14

Day 22: Make Room for Love

In our culture today, love is often conditional. It usually has boundaries and it almost always fluctuates depending on the limits of the giver. It mostly flows from feelings and it follows the inconsistencies of our heart. God’s love however has a much different definition. We see from the moment our Savior came to earth that God’s love had no limits. He knew He wanted to send His Son to save us but He didn’t let earthly circumstances keep that from happening. On that holy night, God’s marvelous love reached down and defied all human boundaries of love. John describes the gift of Jesus coming to the earth as this, 

“So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” – John 1:14

A few days ago we were reminded that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God. While it’s hard for our feeble minds to comprehend the limitless love of God, He desires for us to experience that love so we can be filled with the fullness of God. 

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” – Ephesians 3:16-19

God’s “agape” love in this scripture shows us just how vast and immeasurable His love is. It transcends all boundaries, all obstacles and all time. It’s not bound by hardships or difficult situations. God’s love is so great, we can’t even fully understand it. As we make room for God’s love and allow our roots to grow deeper, we are promised strength to move forward, regardless of what’s happening around us. 

REFLECT: 

• What limits do you find yourself putting on God’s love in your life? Why? 
• Why is it important to spend time in God’s word? How can that action help us become rooted in God’s love? 
• How does understanding God’s limitless love help you show grace to others? 

Pray: 

As you spend time with God today, thank Him for the ways that His love has been evident in your life. Ask Him to help you be able to fully comprehend how wide and how long, how high and how deep is His love for you. Then ask Him to give you an opportunity to pour that love out onto someone today.

Scriptures: John 3:16-17, Lamentations 3:22-23, 1 John 4:8

Day 23: Make Room for Love

We’ve read much about God’s love over the last several days. We’ve seen that it’s unconditional, that it’s unfailing and that it never changes. Today as we read one of the most well-known verses in scripture, let’s take time to really look at the way God showed his love to the world. 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” – John 3:16-17

This truth is what motivated God’s plan of salvation. It’s what set the whole idea into motion of sending Jesus to the Earth. God’s great love prompted Him to take action. He saw we would be lost without a Savior and God didn’t want His children to be condemned. So He sent His son to be born among His creation. He desired for us to be redeemed and restored so we could spend eternity with Him. And He knew this was the only way to do it. God’s great love is what saved the world. 

In fact, John wrote, 

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” – 1 John 4:8

God’s love is so unimaginable that it not only defines what He does for us but who He is. There is no room for questions about how much he loves us. Everything He does or says is driven by love. The weight of John 3:16 should cause us to fall on our knees before our mighty God and thank him with all that we are for the greatest gift we could have ever received. 

REFLECT: 

• What does what we learn in John 3:16-17 teach us about God’s character? 
• If you have been given the gift of love through Jesus, what should this love drive you to do? Get specific. 

Pray:

Pray and thank God by reading John 3:16 today out loud. Insert your name into the scripture as you thank Him. “For God so loved (your name) that He gave His one and only Son (for your name) that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but (your name) will have eternal life.” Thank Him for the marvelous sacrifice He made just for you.

Scriptures: Luke 2:1-20, 1 Corinthians 13:13

Day 24: The Final Gift of Love

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13

1 Corinthians chapter 13 is known as the love chapter. It explains that Biblical love is a decision to sacrificially seek out the best for someone else. It lists many characteristics of love, several of which we have read about this week. But this chapter concludes by stating that, out of all the gifts we receive, love is the greatest because it’s the only one that we carry with us to heaven. Faith won’t be necessary in eternity because we will already be face to face with Jesus. Once we are with Jesus, hope will no longer be needed either because He will have fulfilled all our anticipation. Love will be what defines eternity with Christ. Love will be the fulfillment of His promise to us. His plan all along to save us will be revealed when we look into the face of our Savior. What a glorious day that will be! 

This great gift of love came to us at the birth of a Jesus. Spend the last day of this Advent Devotional reading the Christmas Story in Luke 2. Allow this story to remind you of the great love God has for you. The best present you could ever receive is God’s presence. Jesus is everything God wanted to tell us in a person. God gives you hope, peace, joy and love. 

Reflect:

How have you experienced God’s presence in your life through this Advent season? 

What do you want to continue making room for in your life? 

Pray:

Tell God how you want to make room for him in your heart and life. Ask for hope, peace, joy and love. Then end your prayer by repeating the angel’s praise in Luke 2- “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”