A Time for Hope - Advent Devotions 2019
Thursday, December 19 - Lisa Talton
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.
The Advent season is a hopeful and joyous time as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We tend to make more time to spend with our family and friends. There seems to be more petitions/opportunities from organizations to help our neighbors in need.
It’s easy to be joyful when things are going well in our lives. However, Christmas time can also be a stressful time for some people. When Paul commanded that Christians rejoice in hope, it wasn’t a command to be happy, but a command to have the right perspective on our situation. While I was searching for a verse for the Advent Devotional, I felt like God was slowly guiding me until I came across Romans 12:12. Lately, I have been letting the daily stresses overcome the true joy and hope that God has given us. It was a perfect reminder that although life can be difficult, God has given us so much to be thankful for.
At Christmas, we can lose focus on what is most important. We may stress about getting all of the baking done or decorating the house for Christmas. We may worry about not having enough money to buy that special gift for our loved ones. But, instead we need to take the time to celebrate the hope that we have in Jesus.
How will you make room for hope during this Christmas season?
Dear God, We praise and thank you for the hope you give us through Jesus. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.
The Advent season is a hopeful and joyous time as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We tend to make more time to spend with our family and friends. There seems to be more petitions/opportunities from organizations to help our neighbors in need.
It’s easy to be joyful when things are going well in our lives. However, Christmas time can also be a stressful time for some people. When Paul commanded that Christians rejoice in hope, it wasn’t a command to be happy, but a command to have the right perspective on our situation. While I was searching for a verse for the Advent Devotional, I felt like God was slowly guiding me until I came across Romans 12:12. Lately, I have been letting the daily stresses overcome the true joy and hope that God has given us. It was a perfect reminder that although life can be difficult, God has given us so much to be thankful for.
At Christmas, we can lose focus on what is most important. We may stress about getting all of the baking done or decorating the house for Christmas. We may worry about not having enough money to buy that special gift for our loved ones. But, instead we need to take the time to celebrate the hope that we have in Jesus.
How will you make room for hope during this Christmas season?
Dear God, We praise and thank you for the hope you give us through Jesus. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.