Wednesday December 22, 2021

Today is Wednesday, December 22 and during this fourth week of Advent we explore what the Bible says about seeking Christ in Christmas.

As I enter a time of prayer, I pause and become still. I breathe slowly and deeply, and focus myself on the presence of God’s Holy Spirit.

Pause and Pray

God, thank you for loving me. Reveal the message you have for me this Christmas through the power of your Holy Spirit. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, born in a manger and born in my heart anew. Amen.

I rejoice in God’s goodness and praise him with the words of a composite psalm of David recorded in 1 Chronicles 16.

O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually. 1 Chronicles 16:8-11

Pause and Pray

In this final week of Advent, it is the custom to light four candles on the Advent wreath. The light is growing and so is anticipation and hope. The darkness of doubt and fear is dissipating. The promise of love and joy is expanding. This week I focus on what the Bible says about seeking. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus encourages his people to pray and provides an incredible promise. If Jesus’ followers ask, seek and knock, they will receive, find and discover their hearts desire. God wants to give his children good gifts. I hold onto Jesus’ promise during these last days leading up to the celebration of Christmas. Jesus says this:

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:7-11

I ask God for what I need and also what I want. I try to have the faith to believe God hears my prayers, knows my needs and will provide. Jesus says that everyone who asks receives, that includes me. I seek something from God this holiday season, something that only he can furnish. I turn to God and name what it is I seek. Jesus promises me I will find it. I turn to the cross in confidence that my persistent seeking will one day be fulfilled. I consider the doors that are closed to me, the obstacles that I encounter, and the barriers that are erected. I knock and wait – for an answer, an opening, some hope. Jesus says that the door will open because of my knocking. God wants to give me good gifts, even me. So, I ask him. I ask.

Ask: What is my grown-up Christmas wish for 2021? What is it that I seek from God this year?

Pause and Pray

Loving Lord God, you are mighty, you are holy, you are God. Thank you for your encouragement to come to you in prayer with all my questions, needs, worries and concerns. Lord, I ask, I seek, and I knock. I trust you hear me, love me and will provide an answer to my appeals. I read Matthew again, listening for the message you have for me today.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:7-11

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

Even though this passage is familiar to me, I try to experience it from a new perspective. I imagine the joy of receiving whatever it is that I have asked of God. I imagine finding the very thing I have been seeking. I imagine persistently knocking on a door that finally begins to open. In prayer I entreat my loving Father for what I need – I beg for a piece of bread or fish and wait. Do I expect God to give me a stone or a snake instead? No, of course not. Just as I want to give good gifts to my family members, God wants to give me good gifts. I asked my family members for suggestions for what gift they would like this Christmas. I shopped for it, wrapped it and now anticipate them opening it in a few days. God is the greatest gift giver of all time and he wants to give me good gifts.

Pause and Pray

Sweet heavenly Father, thank you for loving me and providing for me with such care. I know you are aware of my needs even before I ask. You recognize the deepest desires of my heart and understand what I seek in life. Please come into my heart this Christmas and remind me how much I am loved by you despite my unworthiness. Amen.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13

As I leave this time of prayer and go throughout my day, I go clinging to the promise that those who ask receive, those who seek find and those who knock will have the door opened. I go to love others as Jesus has loved me. Amen.