Sit quietly and spend some time meditating, reflecting, pondering the verses that spoke to you or popped out to you from this past week. Listen to this version of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: Ask the Lord to speak to you through all the portions of the service upcoming today.
Saturday (12/16)
Wednesday we looked at the first stanza of our song. We focused the questions on the now of their experience: captivity, loneliness and exile. Today we will focus on the command to rejoice! The first verse says: O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! …
Friday (12/15)
Read Isaiah 8 Write out verse 17. What is your heart waiting on the Lord for today? How hard has it been to put your trust in Him as you wait? Spend some time praying right now: Being very specific with Him about what you are waiting for, asking Him to help you grow in trust of Him.
Thursday (12/14)
Read 2 Kings 16 Remember to ask the Spirit to guide your thoughts. What do you learn about Ahaz from this chapter? What kind of man/king was he? What do you learn about God from this chapter? What does it say about God’s character that despite Ahaz’s response, He proclaims, “I will give you my own sign”?
Wednesday (12/13)
Read Isaiah 7 Today we see the first stanza of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel from verse 14. O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel. What are the areas of captivity you see in your life? Can …
Tuesday (12/12)
Read Isaiah 5:8-30 Seek the Spirit’s leading as you read. What exactly is bringing “woe” and exile to the people? What have they done? As you reflect on these verses, what kinds of feelings are being stirred up in you? Spend some time writing some reflections on how you are feeling today.
Monday (12/11)
Read Isaiah 5:1-7 Pray and ask the Spirit to lead & guide you. How do these verses describe God’s relationship with His people, the Israelites, from your understanding? When God is looking for good fruit in our lives, what is He looking for? (See Galatians 5:22-26.) Read James 3:9-12 and Matthew 12:33-37 What can be an indicator for us of …