The Advent Adventure - Day 1: Come to Me
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’”
Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)
I want to invite you to join me on an Advent Adventure from now till Christmas! Each week, Monday through Friday, we will explore together the promises, questions, and experiences of those who shared the First Advent of Jesus. As we do, you will find your heart better prepared to celebrate the miracle, wonder, and joy of Christmas! Adventures are more fun when they are shared with others. Why not take a moment to text a friend and send them the link for our Advent Adventure so they can take it with you? It will give you an opportunity to share what you are learning and grow together for a deeper understanding and more meaningful Christmas season.
The word “Advent” comes from a Latin word, adventus, which means “coming” or “arrival”. For Christ followers, it refers to the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Bethlehem, as well as for the preparation of His Second Coming. I’m glad you’re joining us on this Advent Adventure. It’s a journey that will keep us focused on the real reason for the season and enable us to encounter Christ along the way. I’ve found that to be one of the most challenging things to do during the holidays, haven’t you? Busy schedules, crowded malls, holiday parties, and overspending can distract us from experiencing the joy of Christmas. Somewhere in the hectic pace of it all, we miss Jesus. We lose the peace He promised and begin to feel overwhelmed! So before that happens, take a pause and refocus on the invitation of the One who came that Christmas morning. Take note of the personal advent Jesus offers those who will simply come to Him. In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
This is a great promise to memorize as we begin our Advent Adventure. Think of the difference it will make, enabling us to experience the Christ of Christmas! But what does it really mean to “Come to Christ”? For starters, it begins with giving God the first part of your day. Consider it a Divine Appointment. One you wouldn’t want to miss. When you do, you’ll find yourself energized for the day, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and enabled to accomplish more than you imagined with less stress. You may be thinking that sounds great, but I just don’t have the time. But look at Proverbs 10:27 (TLB). It says, “Reverence for God adds hours to each day….” In fact, that is what you are doing right now! Great job!
As we take this journey together, we take it with Him. That was the promise of Advent. The angel said His name would be “Immanuel,” meaning “God with us!” Jesus is here, present by His Holy Spirit, to make the presence of God in our lives real to you and me. That can be both comforting and disturbing. What does it mean to you to know that God is with you? He is not distant or far removed from us. The Greek poets said, “In Him, we live and move and have our being.” Your journey will become an adventure to the most meaningful Christmas you’ve ever experienced if you practice the presence of God along the way by spending time alone with God each day.
“Thank you, God, for becoming man, that I may know You and relate to You. Thank you that You are with me, completely available to me 24/7. Help me to practice Your presence moment by moment in this Advent Adventure.”
In Your Son’s name, Amen.
What are ways in which you can practice the presence of God?
Is it comforting or disturbing to you that God is with you?
How does recognizing God is with you make a difference in your life?
What signs has God given you that He is with you?
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.