Waiting Here For You, An Advent Journey Of Hope 7 Day Devotional. Day 7:

HUMILITY LOOKS GOOD ON EVERYONE

REFLECTION

Jesus is the King of Kings, yet He arrived as a humble servant. Humility is not thinking you are less, it is never forgetting the fact that it is Jesus who made you more. So, how do you become like Jesus? How do you develop a spirit of humility?

Humility is the byproduct of being with Jesus. Anyone who walks intimately with Him will not think more highly of himself than he should. To be loved by Jesus and invited into a relationship with Him, is all we need to right-size ourselves and to assume His gentleness and grace.

To be humble doesn’t mean you have to be weak. God has given you all you need to live confidently as His. The proud will never truly lift up God’s name in praise. Yet He raises the humble to new heights.

MEDITATION AND PRAYER

A Private Litany of Humility

From the desire of being praised, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being preferred, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of comfort and ease, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being criticized, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being passed over, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being lonely, deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being hurt, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering, deliver me, Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours.
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, strengthen me with your Spirit.
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, teach me your ways.

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
help me put my self-importance aside
to learn the kind of cooperation with others
that makes possible the presence of your Abba’s household. Amen.

Adapted from a prayer by Rafael,
Cardinal Merry Del Val, 1865–1930

Give Thanks

God never gives us more than we can handle. Though difficult, trying, and still healing God can see us through our lows as much as our highs.

No matter what you go through or continue to go through God is with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. We are the ones who forget about Him until we need him.

Daily repetition of being in the word, praying, devotionals every time calling out in thanks and praises in prayer, is how we will always remember daily God is with us we need only to speak with him and he will answer us.

We are weak by flesh and fall short for not one of us is perfect, only Jesus is perfect. I try to do things daily and yes I fall short and sometimes I think not now do later and too late too tired. It’s a battle of flesh and spirit daily till the Lord calls us home.

For the most part I have improved and trying to stay constant and share with everyone between this blog here and fb. I am juggling and being pulled in different directions that at times I need rest. Which even that is no excuse to miss a day but that just shows the weakness of the flesh. God can give us the strength and will power to continue if we ask him to help us when we don’t have the strength to carry on.

I want to be the best person God wants me to be and be used how he wants to use me. Will I do it right all the time, no.

I am working on combinding when I complain and worn down to if I say all that to then flip back around and give thanks. Yes today started smooth and then here comes a good size hiccup in the day. It started with some pain that just increased and then came a meeting which went longer over an hour which backed me up in work to try amd get done in a small period of time and had a migraine kicking in during the meeting.

So yes worn down tired and in pain and yes I could have kept the woes me attitude but I didn’t have time for it work to be done. Still conplained and then turned it around as it could be much worse than it is. Something to always see a positive even when things go wrong.

Complain if you need to say it out loud if it helps and then flip around and give thanks for it could be much worse then it is. Others are going through more difficult time and its lasting days or months or years compared to ones small problem that seems like a mountain at the time. Lean on others to help you ask them to pray for you to see you through and give thanks for those prayers and those who prayed. They didn’t have to take the time to stop and pray for you. They choose to do so because they love and care for you.

Give thanks for the good and the bad.

A most precious gift.

Linus Van Pelt: I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It’s not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love.

You decide to be content with what you have or get no matter how big or small. It’s your heart that needs to be examined if you can’t see the beauty even in the smallest of gifts or things in life. This Christmas season a lot of people will not be able to afford 100’s dollars of gifts. It the heart and thought put into the gift that matters. Even if all you have is a hug to offer someone because you can’t sfford a gift. Make homemade gifts this year and if you can make it a tradition for next year where one gift is homemade and others you can buy. Don’t worry about the money or how many presents under the tree if you can get a tree. It’s about spending time with loved ones its not about the presents under the tree.

It’s about the gift that entered the world, to save the world, and change the world. That sweet most precious gift of all. God’s gift to us Jesus. He sent his son down to save that which is lost so we could have eternal life for those we believe.

Today’s Devotional Verse

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:35‭-‬40 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.6.35-40.KJV

Waiting For You, An Advent Journey Of Hope 7 Day Devotional. Day 6:

JESUS IS OUR FEAST

REFLECTION

Jesus doesn’t just give you what you need; Jesus is what you need. Your heart was created by Him, for Him. You can fight and claw to gain the world, but without Jesus, you will never be completely satisfied.

If there is a growing discontent deep inside your heart—a hunger that hasn’t been completely satisfied by the people, pleasures, parties, material things, or accomplishments—today is the day to open your heart to the idea that it is Jesus that you were made for. But you have to walk away from “less,” and ask Him to become your “more.” Jesus is enough for you, and He is here.

MEDITATION

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

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, O Branch of Jesse’s stem,
Unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
And give them victory o’er the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Latin, c. 12th century
Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, Köln, 1710
Translated by John Mason Neale, 1818–1866, alt.
Stanzas 1 & 4

PRAYER

Father, You alone know how hard I have searched for satisfaction in the people and things of this world. But they are broken, and I am too. You alone can fill my hungry heart. You alone have the love that is like no other. You never change. Open my eyes today. Show me Your riches and glory. Help me know You more. Let me see the feast of You that is set before me, so I may delight myself in You alone. Amen.

Waiting Here For You, An Advent Journey Of Hope 7 Day Devotional. Day 5:

BE STILL

A time of stillness as we wait in hope on the Lord.

REFLECTION

Quiet moments are rare and it can be difficult to find stillness, but take a few minutes today to quietly and deeply consider the Lord. Try not to read or study or be distracted—just be still and meditate on the person of Jesus and all He has done for you. Think about His birth, His infancy, and the dawn of light rising over a dark and weary world. Think about His death and sacrifice, and the gift of life He extends to you. Meditate on His resurrection, His power over the darkness and the grave. Drink in His presence and in the stillness seek His face. And think about His coming, the day you will see Him face to face.

MEDITATION

Take a moment and just be quiet before Him. Think about Jesus and take confidence in Him.

PRAYER

Father, I am waiting here for You. Meet me in the silence. Meet me in this moment. Meet me in and through Your Son and by Your Spirit. Amen.