Waiting with Hope
Today’s Advent Bible Verses:
Psalm 130:5 ESV
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
Advent is a season of waiting. We anticipate the celebration of Christ's birth and His promised return. However, waiting can be challenging in a world that often promotes instant gratification, where we expect our needs to be met immediately.
Psalm 130:5 offers a different perspective on waiting. The psalmist, crying out from the depths of despair, finds solace not in immediate answers but in patient expectation: "I wait for the Lord; my soul waits." This waiting is not passive; it is an active and hopeful anticipation. It engages the whole being—the "soul waits."
This active waiting is grounded in God's word: "...and in His word I hope." The psalmist doesn't wait aimlessly; their hope is anchored in God's promises. Similarly, our Advent waiting should be rooted in the Scriptures, the prophecies that foretell Jesus' birth, and the promises of His second coming.
This Advent, let us embrace the waiting. Let us not grow weary or lose heart. Instead, let us turn to God's word, immerse ourselves in its promises, and wait with expectant hope. Let us remember that God is faithful, and His timing is perfect.
Prayers
A Prayer for Today:
Lord, teach me to wait upon You. Help me find hope in Your promises, even when waiting is difficult. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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