12/13/2025
Read: John 14:27 - “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Reflect: All of us want to live our lives in peace. Few people enjoy conflict or trouble. In peaceful times, we tend to make our plans thinking the peace will never end. But life doesn’t quite work that way. One diagnosis, one scandal, one conflict, one expensive accident, are all it takes to shatter this fragile peace. And the world offers many remedies to this. The peace of distraction, the peace of lies, the peace of ignorance... So when Jesus says He gives us His peace, and not as the world gives, He’s not saying He will stop all of the peace-ending events of our lives. With His peace, you can have an untroubled heart even in the midst of a troubled life. And unlike the peace of the world, which is usually just avoidance, His peace stares directly at the source of our pain or conflict, and rises above it by proclaiming the truth: Jesus came to this world to save sinners, paid the price for us all, and has brought us into the family of God eternally. His peace is based on Himself and what He has done. And this is not a peace that will fade; it will always be freely accessible to the children of God.
Respond: Give thanks to Jesus for leaving His peace with us, and giving us a peace much greater than the false peace of the world. Think of the things in your life that have or are currently disrupting your peace. Then bring those things to the Lord and ask for the peace of Jesus to rise above them.
12/12/2025
Read: Jeremiah 15:16 - “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.”
Reflect: This passage may sound strange to us at first. Jeremiah found God’s word and he ate it? But this imagery is actually used a few times throughout the Bible. Moses said we live not on bread alone, but on God’s word. Ezekiel told the people to eat the words he gave them. John in the Revelation vision ate the scroll given to him by the angel. And it helps us correctly think about our relationship with God’s word. Scripture is meant to be consumed by us, and after it is consumed, it must be digested. As we slowly meditate on the word of God, it works in us to transform our hearts and minds. Read what Jeremiah says next. “And your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” As we consume the word of God, it becomes an inner source of joy for us! When we truly digest (meditate) upon His word, we can recall all the promises and faithfulness of God at a moment’s notice, bringing us joy even in the darkest places. This joy is able to then fill our minds, replacing worthless thoughts that only seek to draw us away from our Lord. We must satisfy our hunger for God’s truth and let the joy of His word overflow from us!
Respond: Examine your heart: would you say God’s word is a source of joy for you? Especially during this season? Thank God for His word to us and ask Him to help you find joy in it!
12/11/2025
Read: Hebrews 12:2 - “...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Reflect: We all desire to have joy. And the motive most of the time, if we’re honest, is that we want to feel good. Joy is a feeling of deep happiness and contentment; who wouldn’t want that 24/7? But have you ever considered joy as a means of endurance? Hebrews says it was “for the joy set before Him” that Jesus endured the physical, mental, and spiritual agony of the cross. He knew He was called to this, He knew there was no other way. But it was as He looked forward to the immense joy of saving His Father’s children, of a final victory over sin and death and Satan, of millions if not billions of lives sanctified for His Father’s glory, that Jesus drew strength for enduring the cross. And if we, His people, look ahead to what waits for us, what do we see? We see an eternity without pain, suffering, or death; we see a close, intimate, face-to-face relationship with God Almighty; we see so many loved ones waiting for us. For me, this future brings great joy. And that joy can do for us what it did for the Lord Jesus -- give us endurance to face the hardships of life.
Respond: As you quiet yourself before the Lord, what are the things you look forward to that bring you joy? Thank God that He has set this future before you. Pray He would give you the endurance to bear the hardships of life (or mention a specific hardship if there is one) through the joy set before you. Praise Him for being the source of your joy!
12/10/2025
Read: Psalm 30:5 - “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
Reflect: Sometimes it feels like seasons of weeping will last forever. We wonder if we will ever get over the hurdle in front of us, if we’ll ever feel normal again, if things will ever improve... But what’s great about this passage is the firmness of the Lord’s words when He says “but joy comes in the morning.” Eventually, joy will arrive once again. And what is the source of this joy? The Lord’s favor which lasts forever. His discipline is only for a moment, a thin vapor of smoke when compared with the full substance of His joy that has come and is coming. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4, “this light momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison”. This truth can and should be the source of our joy today! Whatever you face, know that it is so very small compared to the glory that’s coming, and rejoice.
Respond: Have you ever felt like you were in a season of suffering or sorrow that would never end? How did that affect your joy in the Lord? First, thank Him that He has brought you through those past hardships. And if you’re in that place now, ask Him to restore the joy of salvation to you. Thank Him for His eternal favor upon you. Remember that with every day you have a new reason for joy in the Lord.
12/09/2025
Read: Matthew 13:44 - “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
Reflect: What is the most joy you have ever experienced? Imagine something filling you with so much joy, you give up everything you have just to get it. Jesus says this is what the kingdom of heaven is like. Something so precious, so wonderful, and so desirable that we should be willing to give up anything just to get it. The man was literally “overjoyed”. His joy compelled him to sell his possessions and buy that field. Our joy for the good news of Jesus should compel us to give up our old idols, our old ways, our old desires, and replace them with the new way of God’s kingdom. And the reverse is also true. If the man did not sell ALL that he has, he may not have had enough to buy that field. If we are not willing to give up ALL the old things, we may not have the capacity to receive the new things the Lord wants to give us. But if we truly understand just how much good God has in store for us when we follow Him, the resulting joy would forbid us from not giving up everything.
Respond: Are there any old ways of the flesh you’re holding on to that might be hindering your walk in the new way of the Kingdom of Heaven? Pray that the Lord would fill you with such joy in this Advent season that you would be compelled to give it all up for the sake of Jesus! And remember to give Him thanks that this treasure is even able to be found by us at all.
12/08/2025
Read: Isaiah 56:7 - “Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
Reflect: We have good reason to be joyful during the Advent season considering all that it represents. And we usually express this joy outwardly, in our worship, our conversations, our fellowship. But when was the last time you were joyful in the house of prayer? Much of our prayer is spent petitioning the Lord for our needs, expressing our pain or sorrow, and this is healthy! God desires for us to lay all that’s in our hearts before Him; to make known all our requests. But as we come into the Lord’s presence, there is so much to be joyful over. The fact that can even boldly enter God’s presence through the person of Jesus is cause for rejoicing. If you look at the Psalms, David cried out to God and lamented his hardships, but he spent just as much, if not more, time joyfully praising the Lord for His goodness and faithfulness. We are meant to be a joyful people, especially in our prayers.
Respond: Go to the Lord now with a joyful heart, praising Him for how good He has been to you. Consider and name every blessing you can think of that He has given you. Seek to have joy, even as you pray for His help in difficult matters.
12/07/2025
Read: 1 Peter 1:8-9 - “Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith -- the salvation of your souls.”
Reflect: If there is any joy that cannot be expressed in words, it must be the joy that comes from the salvation of our souls through the person of Jesus Christ. And what must seem so odd to the outside world, is how the believer can possess such joy as they love and follow a Person they do not see. But here is the truth. One day, we will see. And on that day of the revelation of Jesus Christ, we will receive the cause of our inexpressible joy, the end of our faith: the salvation of our souls. And this joy is not like the temporary happiness of this world. Joy is deep-seated in the heart, it is lasting, and it cannot be taken from us (John 16:22). This joy is also “full of glory”. Our joy in the coming salvation brings glory to God -- it is sweet and pleasing to Him. And even though it is inexpressible, we are compelled to try through the praise and adoration of our Redeemer.
Respond: When did you last try to express your inexpressible joy at salvation to the Lord? Spend time with Him now, praising Him for the grace that comes through faith, and for His promise to return to us. Tell Him you will continue to believe in Him, though you cannot see Him. Ask Him to increase your faith today, trust He will do it, and let that be the source of your joy.
12/06/2025
Read: Psalm 130:7 - “O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption.”
Reflect: It can be easy to look back on our lives and feel overwhelmed with just how much sin there is. Even if you have been following Jesus for a long time, you may feel surprised at how much you are still beset by sin. And we wonder: will God ever tire of forgiveness? Will He ever become weary of how quick His people are to wander? Can he really pardon such a dark record? Lest we give in to despair, we must remember these words: “with Him is abundant redemption.” I love that phrase with all my heart! His anger and wrath is so slow to come, so reluctant even. But His redemption is swift and overflowing and powerful -- He has an abundance of it to pour out on mankind if only we would receive it. John Trapp says “He will multiply pardons as we multiply sins”. We cannot out-sin God’s redemption -- there is simply too much of it! It overflows into our lives, and will continue to do so until there is not even a speck of sin remaining in us. In our final reflection on hope, remember to hope in the Lord Himself. Because with Him there is mercy and abundant redemption.
Respond: Have you ever felt like you might out-sin God’s mercy? Ask Him to fill your heart and mind with His promise of abundant redemption. Meditate on the hope of His return where He will make all things new. Praise Him for being faithful to fulfill all our hopes in Him!
12/05/2025
Read: Hebrews 10:23 - “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
Reflect: Our predecessors in church history thought very highly of the power of a confession. When we think of a confession today, we think of confessing sin. But this was something more. A confession was a declaration of your faith and belief, and there have been many strong confessions in history that have influenced our churches today. And yet for the most part, we no longer give much thought to adhering to a confession. The author of Hebrews here is imploring us to hold fast -- hold on with all your strength -- to the confession of our hope in the Lord Jesus, the Faithful One. We must openly confess together for the world to hear, that we have put all our hope and trust in what Jesus has done, and what He will do. And no matter how the world reacts, or how the enemy responds, or how much our flesh wrestles against us, we must hold on to that confession without wavering. Because when we confess Jesus, He will confess us! He will be faithful to accomplish our salvation.
Respond: Go to the Lord in prayer and openly confess your hope in His salvation -- Jesus. Then examine your heart: how firm of a grip do you have on your confession? Is there anything in your life that has caused you to waver? Give those things to the Lord in prayer. And thank Him for His faithfulness today and forever!
12/04/2025
Read: Galatians 5:5 - For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Reflect: We’ve spoken at length about the foundation of our hope in the Lord. But what is it that we are hoping for? Through the Holy Spirit, we are eagerly waiting and hoping for the righteousness that can only come through Jesus. And because of Jesus, we are already righteous in the eyes of the Lord. Which means here, Paul is speaking of the full culmination of our practical righteousness. Not only a righteous standing, but a righteous being. The day is coming when all our deeds and thoughts will be righteous at every moment because the Holy Spirit has finished His work of sanctification and we are free from the body of death. And this hope comes not by our own works or character, but by faith in the person of Jesus Christ. What a glorious hope for righteousness!
Respond: As you spend time with the Lord, ask that His Holy Spirit continues the work of righteousness in you. Meditate on what it looks like to “eagerly wait” for the hope of righteousness. Confess your struggles and shortcomings, acknowledge “there are none righteous” apart from His grace, and thank Him for the gift of righteousness through Jesus.
12/03/2025
Read: Lamentations 3:21-24 - “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I hope in Him!’”
Reflect: I think we underestimate just how important hope is. When faced with the hard and dark trials of life, our hope in the Lord is what can carry us through. Jeremiah was devastated by the desolation wrought upon his people and just how bad things had gotten. Throughout Lamentations, he laments at the destroyed state of his nation, knowing full well it’s the result of their sin. But these verses mark a turning point. He has not lost all hope. Not because of some flimsy idea of “it’s all going to be okay”, but because of the Lord’s great mercy and faithfulness. Even when we stumble in sin, His mercy and compassion is “new every morning”. What an awesome foundation for our hope! Our portion -- meaning our provision and inheritance -- is God Himself. He is the eternal Light at the end of the dark tunnel, waiting for those who choose to hope in Him.
Respond: If you have been walking through a hard time recently, remind yourself of God’s daily mercy. Call upon His promise to you; ask for His compassion to wash over you. And do not lose hope; trust that He will do what He has promised! If times are good right now, praise God for the past times He has led you through. And ask Him to remind you of this Scripture when trials inevitably come your way again.
12/02/2025
Read: Romans 5:5 - “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Reflect: If you think back to all the times you have been disappointed, you would probably lose count. Our lives are filled with unmet expectations, plans that went sideways, and hopes that have failed. How great news is it then, that our hope in God will not disappoint! You can place all your hope upon Him and know that His plan will not fail and in the end, you will not be disappointed. And how can we know this is true? Because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. God’s unfathomable, unconditional, gracious love is the guarantee behind your hope in Him. This is the proof that God will complete the work He began. Hold on to your hope in Him, knowing you will not be disappointed.
Respond: Examine your heart and think: is there some disappointment from your life that is weighing on your soul? Is there a plan or person that failed you, and the resulting disappointment is a thorn in your heart? Ask God to fill your heart with hope once again. Rest in the knowledge that at the end of all things, you will not be disappointed by our Lord. His plan and His person will not and cannot fail.
12/01/2025
Read: 1 Peter 1:13 - “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ...”
Reflect: God’s grace is His unmerited favor upon us as His children. We have done nothing deserving of this favor, nor have we done anything to manifest this grace for ourselves. We had nothing to do with the grace given to us in Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection; likewise, we will have nothing to do with the grace bestowed upon us at His second coming. And this is the singular cause for our hope. If my hope were to rest upon my own strength, deeds, or character, it would quickly fail me and not be a hope at all. But the fact that I can fully rest my hope upon the Lord’s grace and His promise to return bolsters my hope so much more. And that word “fully” is important. It doesn’t say to put some hope in one thing (whether that be myself, my church, my works) and some in the Lord. My hope must be fully rested on the grace that has been given and the grace that is to come. Our lives are bookended -- surrounded on both sides, beginning to end -- with the grace of God. I can live my life in the hope that God’s grace will never fail to uphold me.
Respond: Go now to the Lord in prayer and thank Him for His grace upon your life. The grace that is and the grace that is to come. Ask Him to bring to mind if there is any other thing upon which you are resting your hope. Cast that thing before the Lord and recommit your hopes to Him and His grace alone.
Advent Season 2025
The holiday season can mean many different things to different people. It may be a season of busyness, excitement, anxiety, or even sadness. But the Church over its history has intended to make this a season of holy preparation and consecration in what is called Advent -- a time to intentionally reflect on the birth of Jesus in the four weeks leading up to Christmas Day. The significance of Him entering into our world -- to live a perfect life and die an atoning death -- cannot be understated.
We have created this devotional in the hopes that each day, as you get closer to Christmas, your heart would steadily be stirred and tilled to receive the hope, joy, peace, and love of the Lord Jesus Christ. So come, let us adore Him together. We pray that you would know Him deeper in this season of Advent.