Advent Art Prayer 7

In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1

God of Beginnings,

We often want to hit a reset button on our lives.

We use dates and events like birthdays, holidays, new years, moving, and the start of a new job to declare a reset button.

We will do better.

We will eat better.

We will not spend time with people who hurt us.

We will start something new.

We will pray more.

We will be kinder.

We will…

It is as if we wish to erase our past mistakes.

It is as if we want to be more than we are while forgetting what got us to today.

But God - you are a God of new life. A God of new beginnings.

A true beginning is in you and not because we hit a reset button.

Our true beginning is wrapped up in your beginning - you were in the beginning. All things that came into being came through you, and Lord - THAT MEANS US!

If we came into being in you and through you, If you brought us in, then we are good. We are enough.

We don’t need to reset our life. We need only lean more deeply into you - our Creator and Redeemer.

Thank you, Lord, for holding us tightly in all things in life - the things we are proud of and the things we are not.

May we walk this day reminded of the new beginning you give us each day.

Amen


Practice Deeper Listening

Inhale:

In the beginning

Exhale:

You claimed me

Inhale:

I am your child

Exhale:

I am enough


For Deeper Listening

Where do you see God in nature? Where do you see God welcoming you into God’s world?


Establish your Advent Practice.

Step 1: Set up a space in your home for your Advent readings. Make it comfortable. Add a candle. Perhaps next to your tree or at a table with a little festive placemat.

Step 2: Determine two times of the day when you might practice them so that if you miss the first one, you can lean into the second and not feel guilty.

Step 3: Each time you sit down to practice your Advent devotion, make a warm cup of something and begin with a couple of moments of silence and deep breathing. Close your eyes and breath in deeply the love of God for you. Ask the Spirit to join you. Then begin your readings.

Step 4: Have a little prayer journal nearby where you can list the things that stick with you or stand out to you during your devotion.

Step 5: Close your time with a couple of moments of silent deep breathing, thanking God for the love and grace that are freely given to you that claims you as God’s own.


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Advent Art Prayer 8

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Advent Art Prayer 6