This is the first Sunday of Advent. The word Advent means “Coming” and Advent is a season of the church year when many Christians observe a time of preparing for both the celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. The first Sunday of Advent normally focuses on hope.
We are reassured by people who lived in the past and proved by their lives that, when we focus our hope on God, we will have a wonderful future with Him.
No matter where we find ourselves in life today, we are encouraged to open our hearts and minds to remember and celebrate that Jesus truly is the reason for the season. We need to invite Him to work in our hearts to get us ready to see Him face to face and to spend eternity with Him in His Father’s House.
Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. (Luke 1:68-70 NLT)
Whether in addiction or recovery we don’t have to reflect on our lives for too long before we realize that we are in desperate need of help. The founders of A.A. also recognized that and is the reason the first three steps of the 12-Step Program remind us that: --1) we are powerless; 2) that there is a power greater than ourselves in whom we should believe; and 3) we need to decide to turn our will and our lives over to His care.
We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live. (Luke 1:74-75 NLT)
Prayer: Loving God, Thank You that I do not have to live in the shame of my past. I am also thankful for the hope I have today because Jesus Christ came to earth to be my Saviour. Thank You for rescuing me from my enemies so I can serve you without fear, in holiness and righteousness, for as long as I live. Amen
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