Advent

Each day, spend a few moments reading the Scriptures. Next, reflect, ask and pray using the prompts provided. Use this tool during the advent season to prepare your heart for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ this Christmas.

HOPE

Day 1

1 John 5:13-14

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.


Reflect on how it feels to be able to ask God anything and that He hears us. Ask how God might use you this Advent season, and pray that you are given opportunities to disciple others this Christmas.

DAY 2
Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Reflect on what it would look like to fully surrender your heart to the Lord. Ask Him for strength to lean on Him, and not on your own understanding. Pray for Him to make your path and plans in life clear.
DAY 3
Psalm 100: 1-5
         
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Reflect on how you can enter into each day with thanksgiving. Ask God how you can bless and share His name to others, and pray for the lives that would change by knowing Him.
DAY 4
Ephesians 6:2-3

“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

Reflect on how God is our Heavenly Father. Ask Him for ways you can experience His presence this Christmas season and pray that you can lean on Him in times of loneliness.
DAY 5
Matthew 1:21-23
 
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Reflect on the different names of Jesus you are familiar with. Immanuel means God with us. Ask God for ways we can be there for others like He is always there for us. Spend some time praising our Father who is always with us and will never forsake us.

DAY 6
Proverbs 17:22

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Reflect on what your spirit is currently. Are you in a season of joy, or experiencing a time of loneliness? Ask God how you can have a joyful heart, and pray it can continue for 2025.
DAY 7
Philippians 4:6-7
         
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Reflect on any anxiety you might be experiencing, or a time you previously faced these feelings. Ask God for His perfect peace, and pray for your heart and mind to be guarded through Jesus as you trust in Him.

PEACE

Day 8

John 14:27
     
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Reflect on how God has called us to not let our hearts be afraid. Have you been facing any fears recently? Ask God for strength as you walk through this journey, and pray that His peace will allow your heart to not be troubled.

DAY 9
1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

Reflect on how we all serve and praise the same God. Ask God how you can best serve Him and His people. Is he calling you to something special? Pray that He would reveal this to you in His perfect timing.
DAY 10
Psalm 18:28
   
For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.

Reflect on how God brings light into our darkness. Ask how you can be a light to others who might need it this season. Pray for those experiencing darkness, this could be yourself or others in your life, and ask God to be the light at your feet.
DAY 11
Psalm 149:1-6

Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly! Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King! Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre! For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands,


Reflect on the many ways we can praise our God. Worship, prayer, and sharing His good news with others are all examples of showing Him praise. Ask God how you might make public and private proclamations of praise to Him. Pray that the glory of God can be known by those around you and experience your praise for Him.
DAY 12
Genesis 2:19

Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.

Reflect on the fact that God is the creator of the universe. He made each of us uniquely in His image, as well as all of the beauties of nature. Ask God for ways you can love and care for the earth He created, and pray in thanksgiving for the place we get to call home.

DAY 13
John 1:10-13

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people[b] did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
 
Reflect on how Jesus walked this earth just as we do. Ask Him to reveal Himself as you continue to read and learn about His birth and time on earth. Pray for those who do not know Him yet, and for opportunities to share with the lost that Jesus came for them!
DAY 14
Psalm 95:1-2
           
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

Reflect on your favorite worship songs. Take some time to listen to the songs today. Make a joyful noise to the Lord and worship Him. Ask God what He will reveal to you in this time, and pray for new opportunities to proclaim His name.

JOY

Day 15

Philippians 2:1-2

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
 

Reflect on the comfort we receive from Christ. Ask God how you can be in the same mind as Him. How can the Holy Spirit speak through you and use you? Pray that you can have the same mind as the Lord as you walk in the Spirit.

DAY 16
Revelation 21:5

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Reflect on how God has made us all new. Despite our sins and failures, He has forgiven us and offered His perfect grace. Ask God how we can trust in Him more, and pray in thanksgiving for Jesus’ ultimate sacrificial gift.
DAY 17
John 5:24-25

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

Reflect on what it means to pass from death to life. Ask God for opportunities to hear from Him, and pray for encouragement to not pass judgment on others, but to speak the Lord’s truth in gentleness and love.
DAY 18
Isaiah 40:26

Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing.
 
Reflect on the stars in the sky and how God made each and every one of them. Ask God about His magnitude and greatness, and pray about your purpose and direction. How might God use you in 2025?
DAY 19
1 Peter 1:8-9

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Reflect on the love you have for Jesus. Ask Him for His inexpressible Joy, and pray that your faith continues to grow and develop as you lean on Him this Christmas and in the new year.

DAY 20
Luke 2:1-5

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

Reflect on how Mary must have been feeling with all the unknowns. Ask God how you can be at peace in times of uncertainty, and pray that you can surrender your worries over to Him.
DAY 21
Luke 2:6-7

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
 
Reflect on the true miracle of the birth of Jesus. Be bold and ask God for miracles in your life. Pray that His perfect timing and plan will guide you.

LOVE

Day 22

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

 
Reflect on God giving us His Son so that we may have eternal life. Ask God about our eternal life in heaven. Pray and rejoice that we will live forever together with Him in paradise!

DAY 23
Luke 2:8-9

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
           
Reflect on the glory and goodness of God. Ask for opportunities to glorify His name in the coming days of Christmas. Pray that whatever your Christmas might look like, that you can remember that Jesus is the reason to celebrate this season, and always.
DAY 24
Luke 2:10-14

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Reflect on this advent season. Ask yourself how you have experienced Jesus’ hope, peace, joy, and love in 2024. Pray in gratitude to God for sending our greatest gift, Jesus.