Practical Advent is a daily blog series I’m doing throughout Advent this year. Join me on my blog each day for practical faith tips.

Practical Advent, Day 16

Since childhood, I’ve observed Advent each year. It’s been a wonderful way to build my faith and increase my anticipation of Christmas for all the right reasons. I highly encourage you to observe Advent as well, because it can help you be more intentional in this busy season.

In this Practical Advent blog series, I’ll have the same post format to give you about 10-15 minutes of practical tips for loving God, loving others, and loving yourself during the Advent season.

Praise

Each day of Practical Advent, I’ll share one of my favorite songs to listen to during Advent. Take a moment to praise God while you listen.

Here’s one I heard at church yesterday – Heavenly Hosts by For King and Country.

Ponder

Every day of Practical Advent, I’ll share a quote or idea from an Advent book in my collection for you to ponder, along with my thoughts and a few reflection questions.

Today’s quote is from The Miracle of Christmas by Stormie O’Martian.

Here’s the long quote I’ve chosen to share today:

“Zacharias silently struggled to take it all in.

‘He will go before the Messiah in the spirit and power of Elijah,’ continued the angel, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord.’

‘The Messiah? The coming of the Lord? A son to prepare the way?’ Zacharias’ mind raced. ‘How can I be certain? How can I know for sure that this thing I’ve prayed a lifetime for is really coming true? Is this just wishful thinking? The vain thoughts of a desperate man? I want to believe, but I’m afraid to hope again. Can it be that I will know an answer to this hope I’ve carried so long within me?'”

(later in the chapter)

“‘Even if I could speak, I don’t think I would in this moment,’ thought Zacharias.

He struggled to control his own tears, but they came streaming down his face. He began to have thoughts he had not allowed himself to have for many years.

‘Deep in my heart there was always this ember of longing,’ said Elizabeth, drying her tears with her apron.

‘I guess it was kept warm by the flame of my own desire. It was a dream I held in secret, even though I yearned to hold it openly. It was fanned by my hope into a fire that burned to such heat I could no longer touch it. So I extinguished all that would keep it alive. I never told you, Zacharias, but that dream never died.’

Zacharias caressed her hand and smiled.

‘Oh, Zacharias, isn’t it just like the Lord to invite us to put our dreams into His hands? Asking us to release our grip on them, to forever surrender our plans? And then, when He’s certain it’s not born of men, He calls for that fire to rekindle again. And He asks us to know with our hearts what we can’t see with our eyes. It must be God when our dream never dies.’

Zacharias nodded with full understanding. He took Elizabeth in his arms and embraced her tightly. She was as beautiful to him then as she had been as a young bride.”

Reflection questions:

1. What do you want to believe, but are afraid to hope in again?
2. What dream does God not want to let die in your heart?

Pray

Today I’m sharing the prayer from the chapter in the book above because it’s so good.

Lord, like Elizabeth, I, too, have a dream that has not been fulfilled in my life.

I surrender that dream to You, because if it is not of You I want You to take it out of my mind and my heart.

Remove from me all longing for it.

If it is a dream of my own making, replace it with the dream You want me to have.

I only want Your will to be done in my life.

But if this dream I have is one that You have put within my soul, I pray that You will bring it to pass.

I know that the desires of my heart can’t happen without Your power and Your touch.

I also know that dreams don’t come to fruition overnight and that You have a purpose in the process.

Help me to be patient to wait on You and not be tempted to run ahead in order to make something happen on my own.

Help me to have faith in the fulfillment of Your promises for me, even during the times when I can’t see anything of the possibility of it ever happening.

Enable me to know in my heart all that I can’t see with my eyes so that dream in me never dies.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Pour In

Enjoying slow moments this week will increase your peace. Head HERE to read my short post that gives you practical encouragement to do this and pour in to yourself.

Pour Out

If you’re married, it can be easy to deprioritize your spouse in this busy season. Here’s a post I wrote to help you get back on track. Read it HERE.

Just for Fun

Here’s a funny song that celebrates an all-important person for most of us who usually goes unappreciated. Let it inspire you to think about how to bless this person in your life in a practical way – here’s an idea for you to consider.

See all new and/or previous posts in this series on THIS PAGE.

Find all my additional resources for Advent on THIS PAGE.

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