2025 Advent Devotional
25 Day Advent Devotional
Day 1 — December 1 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-2
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!
As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil,
come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!
For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
Dwelling
Advent begins in longing. The most wonderful time of the year starts in darkness. The season of comfort and joy begins with ache and angst. Where are you longing for Christ to come close and make all things new?
Carol Meditation
“O come, o come, Emmanuel....”
Prayers of the People
Pray for those who long for peace and cry out for God to draw near.
Spiritual Practice
Find a moment now or later today for solitude and silent prayer.
Day 2 — December 2 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-2
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
Dwelling
The people of Israel knew the darkness of exile, loss, and silence from God. Yet Isaiah speaks hope into that darkness as he proclaims that a light has dawned. Advent invites us to stand in that same tension. The world is still darkened by suffering, yet God’s promise of light has come in Christ. Though sometimes it feels more like a sunrise than turning on a light switch.
Carol Meditation
“O come, o come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel.”
Prayers of the People
● For those who are oppressed, marginalized, or suffering, that God’s justice may shine forth and bring relief.
● For light to break into our darkness
Spiritual Practice
Light a Candle and read Isaiah 9:1-2 again. What phrase or word sticks with you? Why? Spend time in prayerful reflection
Day 3 — December 3 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Psalm 13
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.
Dwelling
One of the beautiful gifts of the Psalms is how many of them deal with the angst and ache of unanswered prayers. So many cry out to a God who feels distant and absent. It is amazing that God not only chose to have these words recorded in Scripture, but chose them to be included in the book that gives us language and instruction for prayer. Through Psalms like Psalm 13 we see that we can come freely before God with our hurts and longings.
Carol Meditation
“Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.”
Prayers of the People
● For those suffering under violence or injustice, that God’s light may bring hope and relief.
● For ourselves, that our hearts and hands may be instruments of God’s peace.
Spiritual Practice
Silence and Solitude. Light a candle symbolizing the light of God’s teaching.
Day 4 — December 4 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Habakkuk 1:2-4
How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?
Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.
Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
Dwelling
Once again we see that God welcomes the honesty of our cries and angst as acts of faith, not rebellion.
Carol Meditation
Come, thou long expected Jesus,born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee
Prayers of the People
● For God’s shalom to restore a world at war.
● For God to answer the cries of justice from the oppressed
and marginalized.
● For reconciliation in our own lives.
Spiritual Practice: Journal about where you are longing for peace.
Day 5 — December 5 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Isaiah 2:5
Come, descendants of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the Lord.
Dwelling
God calls us to walk in the light of the Lord like a new day dawning. Imagine the slow rising of the sun, how darkness gradually gives way to warmth and clarity. What if walking in the light of the Lord was less about finding a well-lit path and more about living in the gradual arrival of God’s light in our lives and in the world?
Carol Meditation
O come, O King of nations,
Bind in one the hearts of all mankind. Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace.
Prayers of the People
● For those living in fear or uncertainty, bring Your peace and comfort.
● For those carrying heavy burdens, grant hope and strength. ● Help us to walk faithfully in Your light and share Your love
with others.
Spiritual Practice
Light a candle and sit in silent prayer considering what it means to walk in the light of the Lord.
Day 6 — December 6 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-2
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
Dwelling
God speaks comfort to a weary world. Imagine a harsh wilderness beginning to bloom, a path being cleared where obstacles once stood. What valleys in your own life need raising, what mountains need leveling, and what rough places need smoothing for God’s glory to shine? Sit with this promise that preparation and renewal are underway.
Carol Meditation
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here; until the Son of God appear.”
Prayers of the People
● Comfort those who feel weighed down by life’s hardships.
● Prepare our hearts to receive You, clearing away the
obstacles of sin and fear.
Spiritual Practice
Light a candle and sit in silent prayer. Where are you longing for God’s comfort?
Day 7 — December 7 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-2
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.
Dwelling
God’s Kingdom often grows from places that seem dead or hopeless. Consider what seems lifeless in your life or in the world. What hidden shoots of hope and justice might God be nurturing even now?
Carol Meditation
“O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.”
Prayers of the People
● For hope in places of despair.
● For wisdom and guidance for those in positions of influence.
● For communities recovering from loss or oppression.
● For ourselves, that we may bear fruit in justice, mercy, and
peace.
Spiritual Practice
Sit in silence and write down one “stump” in your life where God might bring new growth. Pray for patience and attentiveness to that growth.
Day 8 — December 8 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Isaiah 11:3-5
He will delight in the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his
waist.
Dwelling
The coming King’s justice is unlike human judgment—it is merciful, discerning, and rooted in righteousness. Reflect on where justice is needed in your own heart or community. How can you mirror God’s justice in small but faithful ways?
Carol Meditation
“The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”
Prayers of the People
● For those who suffer injustice, oppression, or poverty.
● For God’s Kingdom to come in tangible ways to our
neighborhoods and workplaces.
Spiritual Practice
Reflect: Where or who in your life is in need of God’s mercy?
Day 9 — December 9 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Isaiah 11:6-9
The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Dwelling God promises a radical peace in creation. Imagine animals, enemies, and humans living in harmony. Where could you practice this radical reconciliation and trust in your own life?
Carol Meditation “Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace.”
Prayers of the People
● For peace among nations and communities.
● For reconciliation in broken relationships.
Spiritual Practice
Spend 10 minutes imagining in your mind or writing on paper what a world filled with God’s perfect peace would look like. Let this vision shape your actions today.
Day 10 — December 10 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Isaiah 11:10-12
In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.
In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the surviving remnant of his people...
Dwelling
God’s Kingdom draws all people toward Himself. Even when divisions seem permanent, God is at work gathering a faithful remnant. Reflect on where God might be calling you to gather, welcome, or reconcile with others.
Carol Meditation
“Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.”
Prayers of the People
● For those who feel lost or isolated.
● For God’s guidance in building community and healing
divisions.
● For faithfulness to God’s call in our families, workplaces, and
neighborhoods.
● For the nations to recognize and honor God’s reign.
Spiritual Practice
Reach out to someone you’ve been distant from, offering reconciliation or encouragement.
Day 11 — December 11 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Isaiah 25:6-7
On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples,
a banquet of aged wine—
the best of meats and the finest of wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations;
Dwelling
God promises a feast of victory and restoration, even in a world still marked by oppression and death. Advent draws us to live in the tension between the banquet already prepared and the suffering we still see. How might we bring glimpses of this feast—hospitality, generosity, mercy—into our own communities today?
Carol Meditation
“God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay...”
Prayers of the People
● For the hungry and marginalized.
● For those waiting for justice and restoration.
● For courage to share God’s abundance with others.
Spiritual Practice
Offer a tangible act of hospitality today.
Day 12 — December 12 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Isaiah 25:8
He will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth.
Dwelling
God promises ultimate restoration and the end of mourning, yet grief and loss remain. Advent teaches us to hold hope and lament together. Where in your life or the world do you long for God to wipe away tears and defeat death?
Carol Meditation
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Prayers of the People
● For those experiencing loss or mourning.
● For God’s Kingdom to bring comfort and hope.
Spiritual Practice
Sit in silence and offer your own grief to God, trusting in His promise to redeem and restore.
Day 13 — December 13 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Isaiah 56:6-7
And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to minister to him,
to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants,
all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant—
these I will bring to my holy mountain
and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations.”
Dwelling
Reread. What word or phrase sticks with you?
Carol Meditation
Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings.
Prayers of the People
● For building relationships with our neighbors.
● For wisdom to practice justice and hospitality in our daily
lives.
Spiritual Practice
Invite someone outside your usual circle to worship, coffee, or conversation, practicing God’s expansive welcome.
Day 14 — December 14 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Isaiah 11:6-9
The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Dwelling
Reread. Imagine this radical scene let it shape your actions today.
Carol Meditation
No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make his blessings flow. Far as the curse is found.
Prayers of the People
● For peace among nations, communities, and families.
● For courage to reconcile and forgive.
Spiritual Practice
Spend time in quiet prayer and invite Jesus into a difficult situation or relationship that you are facing.
Day 15 — December 15 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:10-14
This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 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. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Dwelling
Reread. What phrase or word sticks with you? Why?
Carol Meditation
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Prayers of the People
● For endurance to press on through a difficult situation. ● For hope to come to those in the darkness of despair.
Spiritual Practice
Journal about something you are waiting for and what gives you hope.
Day 16 — December 16 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Exodus 16:1-5
The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”
Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”
Dwelling
Reread. What phrase or word sticks with you? Why?
Carol Meditation
God with us is now residing; yonder shines the infant light:
Prayers of the People
● For patience to wait on the Lord.
● For faith that what God provides is enough.
Spiritual Practice
Spend time in silent reflection around where you are getting your fill. What is nourishing you right now? Is it from God or for yourself?
Day 17 — December 17 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-3
“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Dwelling
Sit with the words “Arise, shine.”
Where in your life do you sense God calling you to rise?
Where is light breaking through the darkness around or within you? Let these questions rest gently in your spirit.
Carol Meditation
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings.
Prayers of the People
● For those walking in darkness or despair
● For the weary and the waiting
● For the nations longing for peace
● For the Church, that we may shine with God’s glory
Spiritual Practice
Light a candle and pray, “Arise, shine, for your light has come.”
Day 18 — December 18 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Lamentation 3:21-26
Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
Dwelling
Reread slowly. What word or phrase sticks with you? Why?
Carol Meditation
O come, O Bright and Morning Star, and bring us comfort from afar! Dispel the shadows of the night and turn our darkness into light.
Prayers of the People
● For those walking in darkness or despair
● For the weary and the waiting
Spiritual Practice
Light a candle and reread the words of Lamentations 3:21-26
Day 19 — December 19 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture:John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Dwelling
Sit quietly with the words: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Let them rest in your heart.
Where do you notice light in your life today?
Where do you feel darkness that needs Christ’s presence?
Carol Meditation
“Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light...”
Prayers of the People
● For those who long for healing.
● For those living in the darkness of loneliness
● For those whose holidays have been darkened by the grief
of loss.
Spiritual Practice
Light a candle and reread the words of John 1:1-5. What word or phrase sticks with you? Why? Take it to God in prayer.
Day 20 — December 20 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture:John 1:9-13
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
Dwelling
John reveals a tender tension: Christ comes near, yet many do not recognize or receive Him. Where do you feel this in your own life—places where Christ approaches but you hesitate or resist? Hold this honestly before God. And hear the good news: all who receive Him and believe in His name are given the right to become children of God, not by human effort but by God’s grace.
Carol Meditation
“Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th'incarnate Deity, pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel.”
Prayers of the People
● For those who do not yet know Christ.
● For those who feel unloved and unseen.
● For the church to be a witness to the Light.
Spiritual Practice
Practice the Spiritual Practice of Examen. Here is how:
Become still and ask for God’s light.
Review your day with honesty and gentleness.
Notice moments of receiving Christ’s presence—even small ones.
Notice moments of resisting or overlooking Him.
Give thanks for the gift of being God’s child.
Ask for grace to receive Christ more freely tomorrow.
Day 21 — December 21 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture:John 1:14,16-18
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth...Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
Dwelling
Herein lies the tension of the Christmas story: the eternal God became finite. The immortal God became mortal. Yet His glory comes wrapped in humility, His fullness offered through vulnerability. Grace and truth stand before us in a human face, inviting us not only to behold but to receive. Where do you struggle to embrace a God who comes so near, so ordinary, so gentle? Where do you long for His fullness—grace upon grace—to meet your own emptiness?
Carol Meditation
“Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.”
Prayers of the People
● For deeper awareness of Christ dwelling with us today.
● For those who struggle to believe God is near.
● For the church to embody Christ’s grace and truth.
Spiritual Practice
Carry an insight into your day, noticing how God’s presence shapes your interactions and choices.
Day 22 — December 22 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Dwelling
Joseph faces a profound tension: faithful to the law, yet confronted with a situation beyond his understanding or control. Fear, doubt, and societal expectation press in, yet God’s messenger invites him to trust, to act in obedience, and to welcome the miraculous. In our own lives, God often asks us to step into uncertainty, to receive the
unexpected, and to participate in His unfolding plan. Like Joseph, we are called to courage, trust, and the obedience that brings God’s presence into the world.
Carol Meditation
“O come, O Wisdom from on high, who ordered all things mightily; to us the path of knowledge show and teach us in its ways to go.”
Prayers of the People
● For courage to trust God in unexpected circumstances.
● For wisdom to act with obedience and love in difficult
situations.
● For those facing fear, doubt, or uncertainty in their lives.
● For families and communities to receive God’s presence with
open hearts.
Spiritual Practice
1. Light a candle in a quiet space each evening.
2. As the flame burns, reflect on Joseph’s courage to trust God’s plan.
3. Pray silently: “Lord, help me receive your presence and act in faith, even when I do not understand.”
4. Sit for a few moments in stillness, allowing God’s light to fill your heart.
5. Extinguish the candle as a symbol of carrying God’s light with you into the day.
Day 23 — December 23 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Luke 1:5-25
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
Dwelling
Zechariah and Elizabeth lived faithfully, yet faced the sorrow of childlessness and the weight of old age. In the temple, Zechariah encounters God’s messenger and is confronted with the impossible: life renewed, hope restored. Doubt and fear arise, and God responds not with punishment but with grace, allowing Zechariah time to reflect on God’s power and faithfulness. This story invites us to sit with our own doubts and unmet longings, trusting that God’s promises unfold in His perfect timing. Even when we struggle to believe, God’s word will come to pass.
Carol Meditation
“The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”
Prayers of the People
● For hope in the midst of long seasons of waiting.
● For courage to trust God when His plans seem impossible.
● For those struggling with doubt or disbelief, that they may encounter God’s faithful presence.
● For families and communities, that hearts may be turned toward God’s ways.
● For the church, that we may live in faithful anticipation of God’s promises.
Spiritual Practice
Find a quiet space and take a few deep breaths.
Reflect on a “waiting” or “doubtful” season in your own life.
Day 24 — December 24 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Dwelling
Mary stands at the edge of the unimaginable: God’s plan unfolding within her, yet she cannot fully understand how it will happen. Fear,
wonder, and awe mingle in her heart. She listens, asks, and finally submits: “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” In our lives, God often asks us to trust beyond our understanding. The tension between doubt and faith is real, yet like Mary, we are invited to surrender and participate in God’s faithful work, trusting that His promise will not fail.
Carol Meditation
“O come all ye faithful, Come let us adore Him”
Prayers of the People
● For courage to trust God’s plan even when it seems impossible.
● For expectant hearts, that they may embrace God’s timing and providence.
● For those facing fear or uncertainty, that they may find peace in God’s faithfulness.
● For the church, to reflect the humility and obedience of Mary in service to God’s work.
● For ourselves, to say “yes” to God’s invitations in our daily lives.
Spiritual Practice
Choose a scene from the passage—Mary hearing Gabriel’s message, pondering in her heart.
Visualize the scene vividly—the angel, the words spoken, Mary’s emotions.
Place yourself in the story—stand beside Mary or witness the moment unfold.
Reflect and respond—ask God: “How are you calling me to trust today?”
Rest in God’s presence, allowing the Holy Spirit to deepen your awareness of His faithfulness.
Day 25 — December 25 Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply and pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: Luke 2:1-21
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Dwelling
While Caesar was showing his power, Jesus came born as a baby. While the angels sang of his magnificent birth, Jesus was wrapped in swaddling cloths. In humility and vulnerability, God entered the world not with armies or crowns, but with love and gentleness. His arrival reminds us that true power is found in grace, mercy, and presence, not in force or domination. Even in the midst of human authority and expectation, God’s kingdom begins quietly, tenderly, and unexpectedly.
Carol Meditation
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die, born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth.
Prayers of the People
● For humility, that we may recognize God’s presence in the small and ordinary moments of life.
● For peace in the midst of societal pressures, injustices, and human power structures.
● For openness to God’s unexpected ways, especially when they challenge our assumptions or comfort zones.
● For those who feel overlooked or marginalized, that they may encounter God’s love and hope.
● For hearts that treasure and ponder God’s works, like Mary, and share them with others as the shepherds did.
Spiritual Practice
Journal or share with others what it means for you to encounter Christ in unexpected or ordinary places.