Simple Truth and Simple Praise: Advent Daybook 2

An Advent daybook for these weeks of prayerful expectation.

Pray: Heavenly Father, make me more like Jesus and more like the true self you've created as I savor your loving presence today. Please guide my thoughts and impressions by your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Look: Xenos, Stijn Rietman, 2015 - Source

Listen*: Simple Praise, Jon Guerra - Lyrics | Spotify | YouTube

Read**: Psalm 1-4, 7; Isaiah 1:10-20; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Luke 20:1-8

Excerpts:

"Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him."

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"But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah."

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"The Lord judges the peoples; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me. Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous— you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God! My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day."

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"Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.

If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

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"For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction...

... how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."

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"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night."

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"One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, 'Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.' He answered them, 'I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?' ... So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.' "

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"Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord. There are many who say, 'Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!' You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."

- Psalm 2:1,10-12 * Psalm 3:3-4 * Psalm 7:8-11 * Isaiah 1:13-17, 19-20 * I Thessalonians 1: 4-5a, 9b -10 * Psalm 1:1-2 *Luke 20:1-4, 7-8 * Psalm 4:5-8 (ESV)

Pray: Read or sing as your prayer the lyrics from today's song, Simple Praise by Jon Guerra

Lord, I'm tired

Tired of highs and loud displays

Speak simple truth

And I'll respond with simple praise

Holy, holy, holy

I'm learning how to say those words

Without duplicitous taint

I reach for mercy

I reach for kindness

I reach for simple praise

Lord, I love you

More than I know how to say

Speak simple truth

And I'll respond with simple praise

Do: As you read today's Scripture passages, pay attention to what word or short phrase especially stirs your heart.

Write that word or phrase in a journal or on a piece of paper you'll be able to see often. As you move about your day, recall this word or phrase as a way to collect your scattered self back into the loving, faithful presence of God.

You might also enjoy: A few simple ways to decorate for Advent

These daily devotional posts are available to those who subscribe at the Daybook ($5 a month) level.

For an introduction read this post: Advent Daybook Explained. You can see previous Advent daybook 2019 posts here.

* Listen to my entire playlist on Spotify: Advent 2020: Gracious Invitation. Add it to your account by clicking right clicking on the three dots and selecting "Save to Library".

** Sunday Scripture readings are taken from Year B of the Book of Common Prayer 2019 (Anglican Church of North America). Daily Scripture readings are taken from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and include both Morning and Evening Psalms (Year 1).