Day 17 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations.
Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day seventeen: Tuesday, Dec. 18. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today.
Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 20 seconds of silence to think about something you’re thankful for, and to thank God for it. Let’s begin now.
[20 seconds of silence]
Now we’ll move on to our petitionary prayer. Today we’ll pray that the kids and young people in our communities will find joy in their friendships and purpose in their lives. Let’s take 20 seconds of silence to pray.
[20 seconds of silence]
Our Scripture reading today comes from I Chronicles 16:8-14; 31-34. During the third week of Advent we focus on cultivating joy—remembering that we are surrounded by fellow travelers, trusting in God’s Love. Let’s listen for this in 1 Chronicles.
It begins:
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,you his servants, the descendants of Israel,
his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.He is the Lord our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!Let the trees of the forest sing,
let them sing for joy before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
We’ll close today by meditating on Psalm 16:9, which says:
“This is a good life—my heart is glad, my soul is full of joy, and my body is at rest. Who could want for more?”
Take a few moments now to meditate on how incredible it is to even exist, and on the goodness of life.
Our Concluding Prayer:
Creator, almighty and everlasting, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus my Lord. Amen