Devotion for the Thursday of the First Week in Advent

THEME FOR THE WEEK: HOPE

Devotion for the Thursday of the First Week in Advent (day 5)

READING: 1 Peter 5:6–11 (NRSV)

⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. ⁸ Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. ¹⁰ And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹ To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

REFLECTION:

By my calendar, there are only 23 more shopping days until Christmas. Our social calendar (meager as it is) has at least one event each weekend from now until Christmas. There are Christmas letters to write to out-of-town friends, cards to be sent to family, wrapping to be done, a tree to be trimmed, and at least a few batches of cookies to make. In my case, I am also thinking about festival worship services to be planned, sermons to be written, shut-ins to visit, and outreach to the community.

I don’t know about you, but if I don’t take time to slow down for prayer and reflection, anxiety about unfinished projects and activities can wreak havoc on my outlook on life. Unchecked anxiety is the “devil’s playground.” If I am not careful about preventing a lapse into anxiety, the devil can take some minor upset and blow it up until it becomes larger than life. This letter of Peter counsels us to cast all our anxieties on God because God cares for us. In the same vein, this letter warns us that “the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour.”

However, there is hope for you and for me. We have the promise, reiterated in this Bible text, that God, who has called us in Christ, will restore, strengthen and support us.

Take a deep breath, pray, and envision the power of God encircling you, uplifting and strengthening you. The anxiety begins to diminish, perspective is restored and the devil is once more pushed out of your life. Blessed Advent season to you!

PRAYER

May you cast all your anxieties on a gracious God, who has promised to restore, strengthen and support you. Amen