Advent Daybook, 4: Savior of the Nations Come
An Advent daybook for these 24 days of prayerful expectation. Join me, won't you?
For an introduction read this post: Advent Daybook explained. You can see previous Advent daybook 2018 posts here.
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Look: Love One Another, Laura James
(source)
Listen: "Savior of the Nations Come” from Advent No. 2, Holy City Hymns (lyrics)
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“‘Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,’ says the Lord; ‘I will place him in the safety for which he longs.’
The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.”
*
”There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. You would shame the plans of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge.
Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.”
*
”The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills, and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say:
’Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.”
Sunday Scripture readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary (Year C). Daily Scripture readings are taken from the Book of Common Prayer (Year 1).
Pray & Do:
On Wednesdays through Advent we’ll practice a 5-minute contemplative prayer method adapted from Joshua Banner’s booklet “40 Ways To Spend 5 Minutes With God”.*
Read Psalm 13:5-6 below. Choose a word or phrase that especially speaks to you today.
Then re-write the passage in the form of a prayer.
Now pray the prayer you have composed. You can even write it down on a small piece of paper to carry with you and turn to it throughout the day.
“But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.”
Write your own psalm-prayer
Re-write Psalm 13:5-6 in your own words to pray throughout the day.
* Josh Banner is the Director of Invitation, a practice of spiritual formation through a podcast that is invigorated by the movements of the Holy Spirit in a prison. I’ve enjoyed this podcast for it’s guided meditations and gentle teaching on prayer. You can receive a copy of the excellent booklet “40 Ways To Spend 5 Minutes With God” and support The Invitation at the Kickstarter’s $15 level.
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(See all Advent Daybook posts from 2017 here)