Isaiah 42:1-9

Prayer for the Day
Lord, whose power is seen in the servant, we are confronted everyday with those who seek power rather than share it, rule over others rather than empower them, and value ideology over relationship. Remind us in this season of Christmas that power and love are seen in a manager not an office, in the face of an infant not the face of a dollar bill. Stir in us the capacity to emulate the true leader, your servant, the incarnate Christ; for it is in his name that we pray, Amen

Question
David W. Miller notes that the image of the servant in Isaiah is both about Jesus and about us. As you read the verses again what parts of the Suffering Servant challenge your own actions, the ways you interact with others? What parts of you need to be lifted in prayer in order to be conformed to the image of Christ?

Joshua Brockway, Director Spiritual Life and Discipleship

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent devotional written by David W. Miller. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, David’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Psalm 8

Prayer for the Day
Precious God, you come to us in so many more ways than we acknowledge. Let us recognize you more fully in the world around us today. Like the Psalmist David, we want to celebrate your majesty with the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, and creatures of the land. In addition to rainbows, you promise us hope and a future through the nourishment your earth gives us. Help us honor you by loving the earth and all that is within it.

Question
In his book Serve God Save the Planet, Matthew Sleeth reminds us that if we say we love God, we must love what God loves – which clearly includes the earth and all that is in it. Understanding God’s creation, including its beauty, dangers, and miracles, teaches us about God. Think of the phrase “O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” as you experience the world around you today. Recognize the majesty of God’s name in the beauty of the shining sun or the swirling snow. Proclaim God’s majesty as you gaze upon the firey red of a poinsettia plant, the vastness of a plain, or the dance of a burning flame. How aware of God’s presence in nature are you able to be today?

Becky Ullom, Director Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent devotional written by David W. Miller. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, David’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

John 17:6-19

Prayer for the Day
Holy Spirit, dwell with me. Dwell within me. As I make my way through a day with joys and challenges, remind me of your companionship and guidance. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, and may my life encourage others to seek life in you.

Question
The spirit of Teresa of Avila’s words is known to many of us through the song Teresa’s Prayer by Joseph Helfrich: “Christ be in my mind, and in my thinking. Christ be in my eyes, in everything I see. Christ be in my ears and in my hearing, Christ be in my mouth, in every word I speak. Christ be in my heart, and in my loving. Christ be in my life, each moment that I live.” What would it mean in your life for Christ to be in your mind, eyes, and mouth? How might your internal and external experience of life be different if you continually invited Christ into your reality?

Becky Ullom, Director Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent devotional written by David W. Miller. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, David’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Colossians 3:1-5

Prayer for the Day
God, too often we choose stay in our old, comfy clothes rather than get a new set of clothes from you. We worry about what the new clothes might demand of us. Can we handle being a bearer of Christ’s light? Give us the courage, each day anew, to live as you would have us live.

Question
What happens when we don’t recognize someone else’s choice for God and that they are figuring out what it means to be “clothed in love?” What happens when we can’t quite believe Christ’s compassion, humility, patience, forbearance, and forgiveness really covers our sin? How can we help ourselves and others recognize and rejoice over the Holy Spirit transformations taking place every day?

Becky Ullom, Director Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent devotional written by David W. Miller. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, David’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Revelation 21:1-5

Prayer for the Day
God of each of us and God of all of us, we seek you in the wilderness of our lives – as individuals and as a community. Forgive us when we chose to identify our spiritual dwelling place as a location rather than a manner of Jesus-inspired living. Lead us, Holy Spirit into spiritual postures which encourage us to “tabernacle with God.”

Question
For a moment, picture your faith community in your mind’s eye. Now imagine your community journeying together with God outside of your fixed house of worship. What figurative baggage would your community leave behind by tent camping with God for a bit? In what ways might God re-form your family of faith if you acknowledge the wilderness you are in and focus more keenly on the Holy Spirit’s guidance?

Becky Ullom, Director Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent devotional written by David W. Miller. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, David’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

John 3:16-21

Prayer for the Day
Help us walk in your light, God. Draw us out of the shadows and into those transparent places where we can reflect your love for the world. Lure us from darkness into the light of new creation, that place where our willful separation from you is unnecessary and overcome. We are children of your Light. With thanks and praise we pray.

Question
How will others recognize you as a child of light today?

Jonathan Shively, Executive Director Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent devotional written by David W. Miller. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, David’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Isaiah 9:1-4

Prayer for the Day
Light of the world, ray of eternal sunshine, illuminator of all goodness and overcomer of all that is evil, shine upon us. Out of seasons of darkness, draw us into the radiance of your love. Transform our experiences of darkness by your light. Allow the warmth and energy of your Spirit to sooth and inspire us. Draw us close like a newborn is embraced by its parent.

Question
How has the light of Christ overcome your seasons of darkness?

Jonathan Shively, Executive Director Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent devotional written by David W. Miller. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, David’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Isaiah 7:10-17

Prayer for the Day
Already present God, forgive our lack of confidence in your steadfast companionship. Strengthen our awareness of your constancy so that our ambiguity may be lessened. Make us aware of your daily promises, those life-altering possibilities that come with names like Emmanuel and in faces of young women and men like Mary and Joseph, and that break unexpectedly into our moments of both doubt and trust.

Question
God’s instructions on what to look for were explicit for Ahaz. The details of what lies ahead in our life rarely seem to be so clear. How do you recognize God’s promises and their fulfillment?

Jonathan Shively, Executive Director Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent devotional written by David W. Miller. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, David’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Luke 2:36-38

Prayer for the Day
God, we have waited with hope and anticipation; help us recognize that the one we expected, the Christ child, is in our midst. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, hearts to receive, arms to embrace, and lips to tell of this magnificent promise come true. May we like Anna break into anthems of praise, giving testimony to the joy you have sent to dwell among us.

Question
In what ways do we embrace, and in what ways do we resist, the fulfillment of our hopes?

Jonathan Shively, Executive Director Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent devotional written by David W. Miller. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, David’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.