Presence

May my heart rejoice in Your love, O Lord.
Let me live each day anew.

Freedom

Lord, guide me always
to do Your holy will,
knowing that Your strength
will carry me through.

Consciousness

Dear Lord, open me to hear and receive Your Word today. May it bear much fruit in my life, and in the lives of others.

The Word of God

²⁵“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. ²⁶People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. ²⁸Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”^,

³⁴“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, ³⁵like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Inspiration

In Advent we are to prepare to celebrate the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ into our world as one of us. St Luke advises us to live so that we can stand with confidence before our God when he comes a second time to judge the world. May this time of Advent be for us a time of renewal and a deeper faith. 

Our God is always inviting us to come to him and to place him at the centre of our lives. Do I always put him in the first place in my life? God can never take second place.

Conversation

Your own words, Lord, taught me how to pray.
The beautiful “Our Father”
contains all I would wish to say.

Conclusion

Filled with the loving presence of God,
I ask Him to bless me and guide my steps
as I go to do His work in my daily life.

Amen