Advent: Hope
This Sunday marks the beginning of Advent. For some, this might be a new term. Advent is a historic Christian tradition—a period when God’s people intentionally prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas while also looking ahead with eager expectation to His promised return.
Each Sunday of Advent highlights a different theme. This year, we’ll focus on Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. As we look at each theme, we’re asking the Lord to prepare room in our hearts—to make space for us to expect Him, welcome Him and know Him more fully.
This first Sunday, we reflect on hope. We all have things we hope for, for circumstances to change or to simply be better. But Advent reminds us that as believers, we have a Hope rooted in the eternal. Hope anchored in Christ Himself. Advent reminds us of this: we belong to a God who never changes, who keeps His promises and who is always faithful. To be clear, Advent does not ask us to stop wanting God to work in our circumstances. But rather, Advent infuses our prayers with an eternal perspective, reminding our hearts that all will be made perfectly well when Christ comes again.
So as we enter this Advent season, we invite you to remember hope. Remember that hoping in God means waiting patiently with expectation for Him to come again. Throughout Scripture, God’s people wait with anticipation for Him to act, to rescue and fulfill His promises.
In your life today, how are you waiting on the Lord?
We have a hope that will never put us to shame, and we know this because we have the love of God poured in our hearts by His Spirit (Romans 5).
Try This:
- Read Psalm 130 this week. Meditate on the words. In any and every brokenness, let your heart be reminded to hope and wait on Jesus.
- Listen to this Song: "O Come, All You Unfaithful"
- Light a candle every night before dinner. Let this candle be a visible reminder of the hope that Jesus has brought to the world.
For more Advent ideas, check out Bible Project’s Advent Guide!
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