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Jesus, we love You because You first loved us. We are reminded again this Advent season that Your coming as a dependent baby to live among us in this sinful and needy world was and is a profound expression of Your love for us. We praise You, Emmanuel, for being a God who is with us. Thank you for being a God who finds pleasure in having an intimate relationship with us. Thank you too for being a God who accepts us as we are, and then through patient grace transforms us into representations of who You are.
Come to us this Advent season in the ways that fulfill Your purposes in us. Come to our world, come to our church family and come to us individually. Guard us from giving in to preconceived ideas about Your revelations. Give us the desire and courage to say no to those things that distract us from seeing You in these weeks that are so easily filled with pleasure and pressures. Open our ears and eyes to see Immanuel with us.
We pray for those who don’t feel that You would want to come to them. May they find Your love, power and hope in the midst of hurt, regret, guilt or lack of understanding. We recognize, Lord, that there are those who will experience Your presence with them – through us and our love for them – so give us hearts that are willing to give our time, compassion and selves for others as You gave Yourself for us.
We love You. Teach us more of what it means to live the adventure of faith by pleasing You, coming to You, believing in You and seeking You. Amen.
Reprinted by permission from Christian Leader.
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