Devotion for the Saturday of the Third Week in Advent

Theme for the week: Joy

Devotion for the saturday of the third Week in Advent (Day 21)

Reading: Philippians 4:4–7 (NRSV)

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

REFLECTION:

On this last Saturday in Advent, which is also the last Saturday before Christmas, what are you feeling? Do you have a sense of Advent delight? Are you feeling happiness because the coming of the baby in the manger is near? Is the growing light of the Advent wreath, signifying the growing strength of Light in the world giving you an unquenchable joy? Is the peace that is Christ giving you a sense of calm? May it be so for you!!

OR…is the annual Christmas frenzy wearing you down? Are you feeling heart palpitations because there are more items on your to do list than you have energy to do, or because you have more commitments than there are minutes in the day between now and Christmas morning? Are you moving so fast that perhaps you really don’t have time to even take a deep breath, much less read this devotion?

OR…is the melancholy of Christmas past weighing you down? Are you lonely because you have outlived many of your friends and family? Are you mourning someone who is no longer in this life, or missing someone whom you will not see this holiday season? Are you worried about a child, friend or other relative far away, perhaps serving our country in a troubled place in the world? Are you filled with fear because someone you love has taken a wrong turn in his or her life? Are you filled with anguish over a broken relationship?

Is there any stress, worry, grief or loneliness that is keeping you from feeling pure joy at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ? Rather than trying to give you any “computer distance” pastoral counseling, I suggest you re-read the passage from Philippians. Focus particularly on verse 6: “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Take a few minutes this morning and pour out your heart to God. Listen for God’s “pastoral counseling.”

PRAYER:

My prayer for you this morning, is that you will be able to open your heart, mind, body and soul to God, handing over to God anything that is weighing you down or stressing you out. May God hear your prayers. May God give your comfort and counsel. May God give you the peace that only God can give. Amen