We are entering Week Two of Advent. Thank you for coming back and giving yourself the gift of a sacred pause. Last week, we worked on slowing down to capture stillness in our busy days. It was a time of sitting in the quiet and letting God join us in that space. There was no agenda and I pray it was exactly what it needed to be for you.
This week we are adding on a layer of intentionality. I’m naming it sacred intentionality because we are given a choice to dive deeper with God daily. This season of Advent is the perfect time to add sacred intentionality into our days as a way to release the busy and focus on God. A chance to not only call on God in our inhale and exhale but to invite Him in with intention and purpose.
Intentionality seeks to make a practice of something that tends to be elusive. Instead of just hoping something happens we will create a place where we choose to pause, seek, listen, and understand.
Week Two Reading Plan
With that in mind, we will read parts of the Gospel of Luke in order to go deeper into the story of the birth of Christ. Below you will find an outline of reading for five days this week. Reflection questions will follow, but the thought is for you to decide what works best this week. My hope is you choose to take the time to read the passages. Digging into the backstory with John the Baptist, Mary, and Elizabeth, Zechariah and ending with the birth of Jesus provides a beautiful background for the “why” “what” and “how”.
Click the link for the reading plan. It doubles as a printable for you to keep and savor throughout the week. Click HERE.
Verse of the Week
Prayer
Heavenly Father – Today I come before you humbly asking that your “yes” for my life is one I grab for myself. Provide the faith I need to know that stepping out with you is going to be okay. Hold tight to me when I falter and show me the next steps when I want to turn the other way. Thank you for your presence in my life and the patience you give me when I make mistakes and need to start over. You are my Hope and I can trust you as Mary did so long ago. I lift up this prayer to you, Lord. Amen.
Resources
Because of Bethlehem by Max Lucado
Come, Lord Jesus: The Weight of Waiting by Kris Camealy
Sabbath Offerings ~ The Third Sunday of Advent (disclaimer-it is all about sacred intentionality)
Thank you, dear Mary. May you be blessed especially this Advent time!
You’re welcome, Sue! Blessings on your Advent season as you prepare your own heart, mind, and soul for the arrival of Jesus.
Today, I really needed to pray the words of prayer you penned here. Say yes to Him and it’s going to be okay…..!
Thank you, God, for providing the words that allow others to open their hearts in prayer to you. May these words continue to strengthen and remind each person of who they are as God’s child. Blessings!
Oh Mary, thank you for this, especially this prayer: “You are my Hope and I can trust you as Mary did so long ago.” I echo this prayer, here in this place of pausing. May I lift my hand up to HIS, trusting He will lead. Blessings and love to you this week.
The prayer is one of my favorite parts of the Advent reflections. It provides a way to talk to God and let Him remind us of His great love. Thank you for being part of the journey.
Mary, yes we ‘will create a place where we choose to pause, seek, listen, and understand.’
I love how you remind us that this is intentional, purposeful, and incredibly meaningful.
If ever we needed to yearn for Jesus it would be right now.
Each day I am filled with a deeper awareness of the need for Jesus. May we always have a space for Jesus in every part of our lives.
Love your prayer. Yes, let us focus on and know the why and how and what of this season as we focus on who is most important this season.
I love how you shared how to focus on the “who” this season. Many blessings to you!
So good.
We can set aside time, light the candles, turn on the carols, and sip the hot drinks all in vain if our attention and INTENTION is not God-ward focused. Blessings to you as you enter the celebration.
I’m good at all the things you listed but I am also aware when those things become the most important. Life is unfocused and unbalanced as a result. May God be my first, last, and everything. Blessings on your week!