As the new year begins, let’s take a moment to look back at our Advent characters and the spiritual disciplines and attitudes they modelled.
Abraham shows us obedience—faith in action.
Isaiah recorded God’s message, preserving his experiences with God so that others could read them.
John the Baptist models discernment: he was aware of God and his guidance, making choices to focus on what really mattered.
Mary surrendered to God. She knew what to treasure, and what to let go.
We also looked at the companions of these people: Sarah (with her quiet trust in God), Mrs. Isaiah (who heard God’s messages, and as a prophetess, must have shared them with someone), John the Baptist’s disciples (who had to choose whether to leave a good friend to go follow the Messiah instead), and Joseph (who doesn’t seem to have said much, but obeyed God quickly and completely.)
Whose example is God calling you to follow today?
Read Psalm 119:113-176 (links here). Keep praying about a word for the year, or perhaps a theme verse that you can pray all year long.
Treasure: Refuge, shield and hope
You are my refuge and my shield;
your word is my source of hope. (Psalm 119:114)
Lord, I remember reading the way you promised to be Abraham’s shield, and your waking Joseph in the night to flee to a refuge with his precious family. I trust that just as you were faithful to them, you are also faithful to me.
Light for a Dark Season 