Weekly Faith Focus
Greetings friends,
I ask that as we begin our spiritual journey together we begin to take some time daily (if you are not already) to read the Scripture and pray. I thought it would be beneficial for us to focus on the same passage of Scripture for the week. This week, we will focus on Sunday’s texts (See below). If you were not present in worship on Sunday and have not yet watched it, I encourage you to do so. The Scripture used on Sunday was Luke 1:5-25, the story of Zechariah in the Temple with the angel Gabriel, and the telling of how Elizabeth would become pregnant with John the Baptist. John the Baptist would “Prepare the way for the Lord,” as the Old Testament prophecies foretold. Luke is one of the Synoptic Gospels, along with Matthew and Mark, which tell the stories of Jesus with a similar point of view. Luke was written by Dr. Luke, a Gentile physician (Col. 4:14) who had heard the stories of Jesus from eyewitnesses (1:1, 2), and traveled frequently with the Apostle Paul. Luke also wrote the book of Acts, and both are written to “most excellent Theophilus” (1:3; Acts 1:1), which means “lover of God.” Luke is the longest and most comprehensive of the four Gospels, and is where the narrative of Jesus’ birth is found.
Format-this is a repeat from every week, and will be consistently present for anyone new and as a reminder for all. It is listed at the bottom for review and for anyone who is new to this exercise. Please remember that it is a suggestion. There is no pressure to do it in the format suggested, to do everything on the days that are listed, or to even to answer all the questions. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you. If one question takes up the time because you are moved in your spirit, then stay with it. The idea of this it to spend some intentional time with the Scriptures, in the presence of God, and in prayer and reflection- in whatever way that works for you!
Scripture: Luke 1:5-25
5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
Other Scriptures referenced:
Luke 1:67-79 (Zechariah’s Song, esp. vv. 76-79)
67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71 salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—
72 to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
DAILY QUIET TIME WITH GOD:
Monday: v.5 “In the time of Herod king of Judea”- Herod was a brutal king, killing even members of his own family due to paranoia about his throne. He actually built many things, and generally raised the prosperity of the nation. However, the climate was oppressive and dark, as he ruled like a cruel tyrant. Have you ever had to live in an atmosphere where people had power over you, and due to what they said or did, created a dark and oppressive atmosphere? Some have experienced this with a colleague, boss, teacher, or even family. It’s an unhealthy climate, not only causing pain at the time, but often having a negative lasting impact upon people who have not yet healed from it. If someone or a situation came to mind, take some time to work through that with God. If forgiveness is needed, work through that- not saying that what happened was okay, but that you will no longer allow it to have power over you. Forgive, and release it to God. Ask God if there is anything you have been holding on to that is not of God- bitterness, resentment, hatred, anger, defeat, shame, fear, etc. If so, confess it, ask for forgiveness, and let it go. Pray for healing and restoration of self- with confidence, strength, and power that comes from God. If you are still in that atmosphere, pray for protection of your heart, mind, and spirit, and keep yourself filled with the promises of who you are in Christ. Ask God about your next steps toward being in a healthy environment. v.5 “There was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron”- Abijah was of the 8th order of priests of the 24 divisions (1 Chronicles 24:10). All priests were descendants of Aaron, who was the first high priest of Israel. Noting the “priestly division of Abijah” would have given clarity to the time of year he was serving- the 8th calendar slot. Noting that Elizabeth was also connected to the priestly order, not only shows how both Zechariah and Elizabeth are in the priestly lineage, but pointing to Aaron, the original priest, elevates Elizabeth in the story. Take a moment and reflect upon your own heritage. What has passed down over the generations? Is there something wonderful that would be good to pass on? Any expectations? Anything that has passed on but should be stopped- I sometimes refer to these as generational curses and they include things such as negative mindsets, behaviors, etc. that people learn and develop through the family, even though they may not be good, and they continue to get passed on. Pray as you sift through your generational heritage, and let God determine your role in continuing things that are wonderful, and stopping things that are not. Ask for God’s wisdom and power to live into it, for God’s glory. Give thanks to God, because he is loving and faithful, and will do it through you.
Tuesday: v.6 “Both of them (Zechariah and Elizabeth) were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.” The word “righteous” is dikaios in the original Greek and means correct or just, especially in the eyes of God. Thayer defines it as “approved by God.” “Blameless” is without fault, by omission or commission- to be above reproach because they are morally pure. As opposed to ritually pure, this points to their character. So, they were actively participating in their faith, not only going through the motions, but having a heart and mind in alignment with God while doing so. That’s actually the purpose of all of the commands, decrees, etc.- that through participation it would illicit a response in our heart, mind, and spirit, developing a character that is in alignment with God. Have you ever experienced just “going through the motions”- when you were practicing your religion, but it wasn’t having any impact on your life? I think most of us have. Ask God to show you those times, and reflect on what was going on. Reflect upon whether God is calling you to change, add, or avoid something. Have you ever practiced your faith and discovered the transformative power of it within yourself? Describe it. Ask God to give you more of that response, and to work within you to prepare you for greater and greater responses of transformation and blessing. Thank God for all that God gives! v.7 “But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.” At the time, it was believed (not taught, but what people thought) that not having a child was a curse derived from sin in someone’s life. Therefore, Luke wanted the reader to know that was not the case. At the same time, imagine living in a culture where your entire identity was wrapped up in whether or not you had a child, and yet you could not. Though not the exact circumstance, we do live in a culture (from family to the greater society) that has expectations about what and how we “should” be achieving, accomplishing, etc. Quite often these are unrealistic expectations, and yet judgements from others can still come if/when we do not “succeed.” As Christians, we change our expectations into what God wants for us, and what God wants us to do, knowing that God gives the guidance and power to do so. Yet, we still live in a culture where we will experience judgements, and it can sometimes be difficult and painful. Ask God if there are any areas, or people, where you have been negatively influenced by unrealistic expectations or judgments of others. Pray for healing if necessary. Pray for protection from the enemy, keeping your heart and mind safe and focused on God. Pray for wisdom and discernment to see and know the difference. Elizabeth’s identity in the culture was defined by not having a child, but her real identity was found through her faith in God. For us too, our identity is in Christ. If you ever feel depleted, defeated, depressed, take some time to remember who you are- saved by grace, beloved child of God, co-heir with Christ, and so much more.
Wednesday: v.7 continued “not able to conceive, and they were both very old”- Zechariah and Elizabeth had hopes for a child, and yet it didn’t happen, and now it seemed too late. Their hopes and dreams for what they wanted for their life, what they imagined it would be, did not happen. Many of us have experienced something like this. As children especially, we have big dreams, and then life happens, and much of what was hoped for and dreamed of did not happen. Take a moment and reflect upon some of the big dreams you had as a child, as a teen, and as an adult. What of those actually happened? How does whether or not any of it happened make you feel? As you reflect, can you perceive how God was moving throughout your life? If not, ask God to show you. I am reminded of the movie often shown at Christmas, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The lead character, George Baily, had many hopes and dreams. Then, life happened, and none of his hopes and dreams occurred. George comes to realize at the end of the movie what is actually important, what has value, and to be thankful for the life that he has. Take a moment and thank God for he life that you have. V.7 cont. Zechariah and Elizabeth continued in their faith, in spite of not receiving what they longed for. So often people will turn away from faith, angry and disappointed, when life does not turn out as they had hoped. Imagine if this story ended at verse 7. We would learn from this story how important it is to continue. It is pleasing to God. They were not practicing their faith trying to get what they wanted from God, because it says they were both very old. Instead, they practiced their faith out of love for God, in spite of not receiving what they had wanted. God is good and loving, and worthy to be praised, no matter the circumstances. Take a moment and praise God!
Thursday: v.8-10 “Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.” Imagine this scene. There are at least 20,000 priests, so being chosen was an enormous honor and privilege. It was something that, if chosen, he would be able to participate in only once in his life. In his old age, it was something he must have hoped for throughout his life. The priest would go in alone to stir the coals and place incense upon them while offering up the prayers of Israel. The smell of the incense brought the holiness of God to mind, and the smoke rising up brought the imagery of prayers being raised. It was a holy time, with hopes that there would be a word from God. The people stood outside, waiting and praying. Typically, the priest would be in there a short time, then go out to the people to give a report of God. However, usually there wasn’t one, since God had been silent for 400 years. The priest would then send the people away with a blessing. There was pressure, and yet anticipation may have been diminished due to no one having experienced God in so long. For us today, since Christ ascended and we have the indwelling Holy Spirit, we have incredible opportunity. No longer does a priest need to be the receiver of God’s message, we can receive it directly. Every moment can be a holy moment, with the presence of God. Have you ever had a time when you entered into a moment meant to be holy, worship for example, but did not have much anticipation that you would experience God? If so, describe what was going on and why you felt that way. I invite you to prepare yourself for all moments, especially holy moments, to expect to experience God. When you open yourself to the possibility, becoming aware and watchful, you will experience God more often and more profoundly! If necessary, God will occasionally break through, even if we aren’t prepared, as we witness in the rest of this story. v.11 “Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense” “Angel” in the original Greek is ággelos (phonetic spelling (ang’-el-os)) and it means messenger or delegate- sent by God to proclaim God’s message. There is much speculation about why the “right side” of the altar is mentioned, including that “right side” indicates honor and authority. It could mean that the angel was on the same side as the showbread, or bread of presence, indicating the angel’s purpose, which was the prophetic for Israel, and toward John the Baptist who would become a prophet. It could also be that the angel’s placement meant that the angel was not blocking the exit, so Zechariah was free to leave at any time, yet he chose to stay and hear the message. Angels are throughout the Bible. Sometimes people will call someone else an angel when they do something kind, but angels are supernatural beings that commune with God Almighty, and serve in the world on God’s behalf. There are many people today that will testify that they have encountered an angel. Have you? If so, I would love to hear your story! v.12 “When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear”- startled, or troubled, because no one else was supposed to be in there, but gripped with fear because throughout the Bible angels are described as terrifying! v.13 “But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.” “Do not be afraid”- sometimes the things of God can feel scary, but God is love and peace and protection. Enter into encounters with God boldly, without fear, for God is good. “Your prayer,” in theory, because he was praying as a priest on behalf of the Israelite people, would have been repentance and restoration for the people. “Has been heard”- amen! God hears our prayers, even when sometimes it feels as if our prayers have fallen on deaf ears and we experience what we perceive as silence. Though God was “silent” for 400 years, God was still active and preparing for the arrival of Christ into the world. Take a moment and consider any prayers that you have prayed and felt as if they were not heard. Ask God about those prayers, and listen. God is hearing and responding. It may not always be the response we expect, or even want, but God definitely answers. If you are having trouble hearing, quiet yourself, come to a place of God’s peace within, and listen closely. Sometimes it’s helpful to write down any thoughts or images that come to mind. Ask for clarity and understanding. As you work through those prayers, be mindful of any feelings that arise and take them to God. Repent if necessary. As needed, ask for healing and hope. v.13b “Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John”- this will be John the Baptist! God heard and is answering Zechariah’s prayer for the nation, while also answering his prayer for a child, as John the Baptist will be a large part of God’s greater plan for the redemption of the world! “John,” which means “God is gracious, offering mercy and kindness.” It was unusual to be told what to name the child, as usually the child takes a name from the family. But by God naming the child, it meant God would have authority over and through the child, and even the name of the child would give God’s message. v.14- 17 Gabriel, the angel said about John: “He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous- to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” “Joy and delight”- of course! “Rejoice”- definitely! “Great in the sight of the Lord”- not in the sight of others, but in the sight of the Lord. This is something we all, as Christians, strive for. Not greatness by the standards of people, but God sees us as great through the lens of Christ, and we are great in the sight of the Lord when we live into God’s greater calling and purpose for our life. Continue to pray for God’s will to be done through you, and step boldly into it. “Wine, fermented drink”- like the vows of a Nazarene. This does not mean that God is forbidding all alcohol for Christians, as Jesus drank wine. But, God may be asking you to forgo drinking it, if that is something God has placed on your heart. For Christians, drinking a little alcohol is permitted, but getting drunk is forbidden. And, if drinking would cause anyone else to stumble, whether by encouraging someone who cannot/should not be drinking to do so, or by harming your witness in front of others who may not understand or receive it, etc.- then it is forbidden. “Filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born”- wow!! God knew him, named him, called him his own, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit while still in the womb. What does this say to you about God? About John? About yourself? “He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God”- “their God” is interesting in the context of bringing back. However, many of us have experienced times when we would say that God was our God, and yet we also needed to turn back. Most have experienced times of backsliding, distancing, and a need to repent. Consider those times- what brought you to repentance/turned you back? What do you think you could do to ensure you do not experience this need again? “he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah”- Elijah, the great prophet of the Old Testament who preached repentance and the power of God worked through him, and John’s ministry would be patterned after him (see Matt. 11:14, 17:12). “To turn the hearts of the parents to their children” is a quotation from Malachi 4:5-6, the last words of the Old Testament, and God’s revelation is continuing where it had ended. “The disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous”- continuing the idea of repentance. “To make ready a people prepared for the Lord”- raising an expectation and anticipation for Christ’s coming, and also prepare people’s hearts to welcome and receive him. It’s the season of Advent, a time for expectation, anticipation, and readiness for God in our life, the fullness of God’s promises for us, and for Jesus’ second coming. This requires continual examination, repentance, vulnerability with God, openness to the Holy Spirit, and a willingness to receive and live into what God wants for us. Expectation and anticipation brings joy, excitement, and hope! Pray for God to prepare you for the Lord, and to fill you with excitement, joy, and hope!
Friday: v. 18 “Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years”- Zechariah wanted absolute assurance beyond a face-to-face encounter with angel! Sometimes, even with faced with something as concrete as an angel with a promise, it can be difficult to believe. Logically, it doesn’t make sense, so it’s hard to accept. We can also keep ourselves from believing in order to protect ourselves from being disappointed, from being made fun of, or from looking as if we are expecting too much. We can run into this with praying especially, having doubts and then lowering our hopes and expectations for what we are asking of God. We begin to adjust, making sure that our preconceived ideas of what is possible and probable are what is asked for. But God wants us to believe, trust, and hope! God wants us to pray in boldness, with power and authority, and in God’s will. The next time you go to pray, check yourself- are you entering into prayer with hope and expectation? If not, take some time worshiping until you get there, and then pray. V.19 “The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not be able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time”- notice the difference between Zechariah’s description of himself, “an old man,” vs. Gabriel! Gabriel is on a mission from God, just as we all are, and we too have the opportunity to be in the presence of God. Gabriel was sent to tell Zechariah this good news- why do you think God wanted Zechariah to know, vs. just having it happen on its own? What does telling Zechariah accomplish? Consider that Gabriel tells Zechariah “you will be silent… until the day this happens”- in other words, it’s happening whether you accept it or not. “Silent and not able to speak”- what are your thoughts about this- punishment for disbelief, a gift to help with reflection and healing, or something else? What do you think was the effect of Zechariah’s silence on those around him? Take a moment and reflect on what Zechariah must have been feeling throughout this experience. When have you experienced those same feelings when encountering God, dealing with faith, etc.? Take some time to pray about what God wants for you, what God wants you to do, what God wants you to be believing for, etc. If you begin to struggle, ask God for the help needed to be open, accepting, and receiving.
Saturday: v. 21 “Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple”- There would’ve been hundreds of people there. Many commentators suggested that at least some of the people would have believed he died in there due to his sin (assumed because he had no child). Since priests were generally in there a short time, the long wait would’ve made people anxious. He was supposed to come out, say a blessing over the people, and then the Levites would sing a song. V.22 “When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak”- I’m envisioning intense charades. We have no idea of what he was actually able (or willing) to share with the people at that time, or even if the people believed him. V.23 “When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion”- Zechariah and Elizabeth had intimate relations when he returned- but, he was unable to speak. It is likely that he somehow shared his experience, and the prophecy of having a child, with his wife. Imagine the fear mingled with hope. Elizabeth secluded herself away from others until the time when her pregnancy would show enough so that people would believe her. In that time, she could reflect, pray, prepare- for the child, for interactions with others, and especially with God. v. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people”- Based upon her actions and statement, how would you describe Elizabeth’s feeling about what God was doing and her experience with it? Take a moment and imagine the pain that Zechariah, and especially Elizabeth, had been experiencing from others for years. Imagine the pain and shame they carried. Perhaps you have experienced this type of hurt at some point in your life. If some circumstance or person comes to mind, and especially if it raises emotions, it likely means that God would like you to deal with it. Pray about it, and work through it with God. Forgive, letting go of the pain. Pray for healing. Pray for restoration of self-image. Pray for strength, peace, and confidence. There are many in the world that experience this. Pray to make sure that we are all part of the solution and not part of the problem. Even if someone is saying or doing something that you disagree with, always be respectful, acting in love and kindness. Pray thanks to God for the light of Christ within, that it may shine upon others and bring light into any darkness. I invite you to read “the rest of the story” and reflect upon both Elizabeth and Zechariah gaining their voice!
- 57- 66 57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. 59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” 61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.” 62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
*Zechariah’s response, known as “Zechariah’s Song,” when he began to prophesy about the Messiah and John, is above, under “Other Scriptures.” I encourage you to read it when time allows, as it is beautiful.
Other items:
Responsive Reading (adapted from Zechariah’s Song, Luke 1:68-79)
Leader: Blessed are You, the Lord our God,
People: because You have redeemed us.
L: You raised up a mighty Savior for us
P: to show us the mercy You promised
L: to remember Your holy covenant,
P: to rescue and enable us to serve You without fear
in holiness and righteousness before You all our days.
L: As John the Baptist did many years ago,
P: We prepare the way for You,
L: To give the knowledge of salvation
P: through the forgiveness of sins,
L: In Your tender compassion,
P: The rising sun from heaven shines upon us
L: To give light to all who live in darkness
P: To guide our feet into the path of peace.”
All: Glory be to You, Our Eternal Light of Hope
Unison Prayer
God of hope,
You bring healing to our world.
With expectant hearts
We prepare for the grace that You share,
The love that You give, and
The promise of Christ our Savior. Amen.
Song Lyrics:
My Hope is Built UMH#368 (Rome First)
- My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
Refrain:
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.
2. When Darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil.
(Refrain)
3. His oath, his covenant, his blood
supports me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay.
(Refrain)
4. When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found!
Dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne!
(Refrain)
Angels From the Realms of Glory UMH #220 v.1,3,4 (Delta)
- Angels from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o’er all the earth;
ye who sang creation’s story
now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Refrain:
Come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn king.3. Sages, leave your contemplations,
brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great Desire of nations;
ye have seen his natal star:
(Refrain)4. Saints, before the altar bending,
watching long in hope and fear;
suddenly the Lord, descending,
in his temple shall appear:
(Refrain)
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel UMH #211 v.1,2,6,7
- O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
- O Come, thou Wisdom from on high,
And order all things far and nigh
To us the path of knowledge show
And cause us in her ways to go.
(Refrain)
- O Come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by thy justice here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight
(Refrain)
- O Come, Desire of nations bind
All peoples in one heart and mind
From dust though brought us forth to life
Deliver us from earthly strife
(Refrain)
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus UMH#196
- Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.2. Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.
Format (this is a repeat from last week, and will be consistently present for anyone new and as a reminder for all):
Find a quiet place and time to focus on the Word, and to hear from God through it. It doesn’t have to be long, for some it will be longer than others. I encourage you, if possible, to do this practice in the morning. You will then find that God brings it to your mind throughout your day.
For greater impact I encourage you to get some paper and a pen and journal daily what thoughts and impressions God brings to mind. Write out also your own thoughts and your own prayers, making sure to leave space within your time for God’s response. Listen intently, and notice what rises up within you- what you are thinking, feeling, memories that arise and ideas that spring up. It may be something God would want you to address within yourself and/or with others. It may be something God is inspiring you to begin or end. God’s possibilities are infinite! After time, it is often beneficial to go back and read what you have written, and notice how God has been moving in your life (and praise God for it!).
Begin with prayer, quieting yourself within and opening up to hearing what God would like to reveal to you. Praise God for who he is, for loving you, being with you, and more. Then ask God to speak to you; to open your heart and mind to hear his message. (if you are journaling, you could write out the prayer)
Read the Scripture passage over twice; once as a read through, and the second time slowly, meditatively. Notice what God illuminates for you. Notice what words or ideas are “jumping off the page at you,” impacting you from the Scripture. Ask God why that is being highlighted for you. What is God saying to you? What is God asking you to say, do, change, pray about, etc.? What is the application for my life today? **Most importantly- what am I going to do about it? (If you are journaling you could write it all out, which reinforces it in a greater way)
I have put together some daily questions based upon the Scripture. You may use those, but also feel free to deviate away from it if God is leading you there. They are simply offered to prompt contemplation with God. There is much more in this passage, feel free to delve in more!
At the end of your time pray again. I recommend praying throughout, but the ending prayer would include praise, thanking God for revelation, and asking for the Holy Spirit to continue to reveal, bringing to mind God’s will. Ask God for the courage, empowerment, and opportunity to do what you have determined God is asking you to do.
Leave a Reply