Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day twenty-one. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide.
Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 seconds of silence to think about something you’re thankful for, and to thank God for it. Let’s begin now.
[15 seconds of silence]
Now we’ll move on to our petitionary prayer. Today we’ll pray that joy will be accessible to people going through difficult periods—divorces, moves, job losses, job changes, etc. Let’s take 30 seconds to remember our loved ones.
[30 seconds of silence]
Our Scripture reading today comes from Matthew 6:19–24. It says:
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
We’ll close today by meditating on the phrase:
The eye is the lamp of the body … if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness.
Take a few moments now to meditate on the idea that what we set our sights on determines who we are inside. The eye is the lamp of the body … if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness.
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