Thursday December 2, 2021

Today is Thursday, December 2 and during this first week of Advent we explore what the Bible says about waiting.

As I begin this time of prayer, I pause and become still. I breathe slowly and deeply, and focus my mind on the presence of God. Come, Holy Spirit.

Pause and Pray

Lord God, I rejoice in the loving goodness you demonstrate toward me. I am so grateful for your presence and I place you first in my day. I am here to receive a word from you. Speak to my heart and mind in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

In all circumstances of life, I am grateful for God’s goodness and praise him for his unfailing love. I turn to the Lord with the words of Psalm 33.

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:20-22

Pause and Pray

The theme of much of Paul’s book to the Romans is hope. The hope of glory is held out for believers despite the sufferings of the present time. The hope we have will not let us down, because God has already been victorious through Jesus Christ. We are sons and daughters of God and our future is secure. Yet, in the meantime, we wait. We wait for healing, we wait for wholeness, we wait for adoption as God’s children, we wait for the world to be set right, we wait for God’s kingdom to come. In this passage from Romans, even the creation waits for redemption and groans with longing.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:18-23

Even though my current suffering does not compare to what the Romans were experiencing, I do have troubles, problems and hardships. I know God cares about me and my difficulties – both great and small. What would I name as my present suffering? What are my afflictions? Where are my challenges and places of struggle? I name these before God and compare this to the glory of Jesus Christ who overcame the world and all its sin. I know that Jesus will someday return to earth and his kingdom will be a kingdom of glory, goodness, peace and joy. I wait with eager expectation for that blessed day. I wait for the redemption of my frail human body into God’s forever kingdom where I will be lovingly adopted as God’s son/daughter.

Ask: When I face difficulty in my life, where do I find hope? Do I wait for God to bring goodness into my life with eager expectation?

Pause and Pray

Holy and loving God, I am grateful to be your beloved child and look forward to the day when Jesus Christ returns and his kingdom is fully realized. I look forward with eager expectation to the redemption of the world. I live with great hope that you are working all things together for good in this in-between time, blessing your children as they wait for your perfect timing. I read Romans again, listening for the message you have for me today.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:18-23

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

I ask God to direct my thoughts as I reflect on this passage from Romans. I consider the beauty of God’s creation. I reflect on times I have seen the created world subject to frustration, in bondage to decay and groaning for redemption. How do I relate to the frustration of nature? How am I in bondage and groan for redemption? What images of nature come to mind and how do these images inform my own life situation? I consider what God might be saying to me through these images and ask what God wants me to do in response to this scripture. How can I live my life more faithfully knowing that God’s glory is in the process of being revealed in the world? As childbirth brings new life, how will the birth of God’s kingdom bring new life to the world?

Pause and Pray

Creator God, you brought all of the world into existence and said it was good. Do not tarry, Lord, bring your goodness into fruition in the world. Work all things together for good and give us your grace to keep hope alive as we anticipate the beautiful future you promise us. We wait on you. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:11-13

As I leave this time of prayer and go throughout my day, I go with renewed hope and will endeavor to encourage hope in others. Amen.