New song of freedom

The 1st Sunday in Advent

Sing a new song to the Lord! Sing his praises from the ends of the earth! ~ Isaiah 42:10a

John's father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he spoke God's message: “Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel! He has come to the help of his people and has set them free." ~ Luke 1:67-68 (GNT)

KEY IDEA:

Together with the ancients we sing the new song of freedom through Jesus.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for the new song of freedom through Christ Jesus. I confess, though, that the old songs of slavery to sin are still stuck in my head like an annoying earworm. I need you to put a new song in there -- a catchy song that won't stop and of which I will never get tired. I'm looking forward to the melody of freedom that only Jesus can produce. Amen.

Change your ways

Turn back—right now, each one of you!—from your evil way of life and bad behavior... ~ Jeremiah 25:5 (MSG)

Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. ~ Luke 3:8a (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

The only way to prove that we are really on God's side is to change our ways so that we are doing what he says.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for the grace that empowers us to change and follow you. I can't change myself. As a matter of fact, on my own I don't even desire change. I say that I want to change but I'm so comfortable with even a raunchy life that it is painful to think of changing. So I am looking to you to take me by the hand. Lead me in the new direction. I want my life to be about doing what you want me to do. I repent. Amen.

Pride

First pride, then the crash— the bigger the ego, the harder the fall. ~ Proverbs 16:18 (MSG)

If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. ~ Galatians 6:3-4 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

Pride leads to all kinds of problems.

PRAYER:

Lord, you are the only one who should have a big ego. Yet you humble yourself to work with humanity and to send your Son to be one of us. You even welcome people like me into your presence. That's ironic because your gracious attention so easily get's turned into personal pride for me. I am cocky and overconfident -- eager to express my opinion about most everything. Save me from the sin of pride. I want to be a humble servant of Christ Jesus. For that is the only way to really serve him. Amen.

Presence

God said to Moses: “All right. Just as you say; this also I will do, for I know you well and you are special to me. I know you by name.” ~ Exodus 33:17 (MSG)

The angel greeted Mary and said, “You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.” ~ Luke 1:28 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

When the Lord is with us we end up blessed.

PRAYER:

Teach me to be quiet today, Jesus. Forgive my attraction to the noisy flash of every passing fad and fancy instead of the favor your presence. Teach me to hear and to see your promised presence in every person you send my way, today and always. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)