Wednesday, December 20, 2017--Prayer Only

Good morning! My sincere apologies for having to miss the rest of the Advent devotional I began. I am grateful to be on the mend from a serious illness. Thank each of you who prayed for me.


Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Can it possibly be December 20th already? Five days before Christmas? The Advent calendar we share as a family in our evening devotional time is emptying, and the space under the tree is filling up. The tree graces our foyer, and Christmas music is being sung and enjoyed by each of us. During this time, it is such a blessing to pause and share our faith with our still-small children, prayerful that this wonder-filled season will evoke in them the joy that it stirs up in us. May your homes and hearts also be filled with the wonder of Christ’s coming this Christmas! God bless you today as we pray.

Prayer:

Thanksgiving:
Jesus, we love You. Father, we thank You for Your Great Plan of salvation. We thank You for the humble yet awe-inspiring beginning of Your redemption story and ours. Thank You for redemption. Thank You for restoring fellowship with us. Thank You for Your desire to draw all men, including our children and families, to You.

Confession:
I daily confess before You that I have great need for that redemption. I thank You that Your throne is a safe place to open my heart, and that I can trust You not to judge harshly but to forgive and restore. I desire to be fully intimate and dependent on You, Lord, so I open my heart for You to examine that I might be healed and made new. (Take time to journal and confess before the Lord. It is also healing, as well as Scriptural, to have a regular practice of confessing to a trusted believer. I confess to my husband and to my mentor, as well as one or two close trusted Christian friends. James 5:16 reminds us, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” If you have need of someone to confess with, please let me know. I am willing and able to share in that with you! There is always grace, forgiveness, mercy and healing at the foot of the cross.)

Supplication:
I lift my needs to You today, Lord. Jesus, I thank You that You always make intercession for me. In my struggles and trials You are here, and You will cause the outcome to work together for my good. (Take time in your journal to list your progress, victories, praises, requests, and challenges, even if they are ongoing and repetitive.)

Intercession:
I lift my children to You today. I give them to You, they are Yours. I relinquish control over their lives and ask that instead You will give me the grace to allow You to raise them through me. Show me if I am contributing to the problems they are struggling with. Give us wisdom for how to guide them. Plant seeds of salvation deep into their hearts, and create in them an hunger for righteousness and for the fruit of the Spirit. (Take time to journal victories, progress, needs, and concerns for each child in your family.)

Thanksgiving and Consecration:
Thank You, God for the time You have ordained for us to come together. I ask for You touch on this day, and that You will seal and protect my family.

Blessing and Benediction:
The Lord bless you
And keep you
The Lord make His face to shine upon you
And be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up His countenance on you
And give you peace.

Bless you this day as you parent!

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