A Prayer about Undeserved Grace:
Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you! Luke 1:28
Wondrous God,
As advent, the season of celebrating the wait for Christ to come,
begins today,
open our eyes to see the hope-full truth:
Grace is all about you!
In Greek, the word for “favored”
is “graced,”
so Gabriel is really telling Mary,
“Greetings, O graced one, the Lord is with you!”
What make us “graced”?
We are “graced” with your presence.
In this season leading up to Christmas,
may we exchange time stocking up on presents
and for moments soaking up your presence.
For indeed, that is the true meaning of Christmas—
you sent your Son to earth,
fully God, fully human,
a baby to be carried in the womb of Mary,
the graced one.
We didn’t deserve the present of your presence,
but you were determined to give it!
May we take time this season to rest
in your life-giving, undeserved grace.
In the name of our gracious Savior. Amen.
Read Luke 1:28; Ephesians 2:4-10.
Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.
![Have you seen the bright light?
The people walking in the darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2
Light of the World,
I remember being a teenager,
spending hours at the Young Life Christmas tree lot,
singing noisily along
with John Denver and the Muppets Christmas album,
huddling with my friends over a trash barrel fire,
selling Christmas trees
to happy (and some unhappy) families.
Then I would come home to a dark and empty house,
turn on the Christmas tree lights,
and sit in the darkness marveling at the twinkling glory.
I truly was a young woman
walking in darkness
who had seen a great light.
Tim Keller tells us that in the days Christ appeared,
the world was “filled with evil and untold suffering….
violence, injustice, abuse of power,
homelessness, refugees fleeing oppression,
families ripped apart, bottomless grief.”
As he says, “Sounds exactly like today.”*
Lord, in this season of Advent,
may we see the darkness of this world for what it is,
and may we see your great light,
your light which has overcome the darkness,
the light which is the life of all mankind.
And may we share this light
with all who live and walk in deep darkness.
In the name of your light-shining Son. Amen.
Read Isaiah 9:2; John 1:4-10; Matthew 4:16.
[Quote from Tim Keller’s Hidden Christmas.]
Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.
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