Day 3: Hope For Peace

Theme For The Series: In this 21 day Advent devotional we are focusing on anticipation and the Incarnation, Christ’s presence In the world, the return of the King.

Intro Prayer: “Jesus, please help me in this time to be fully present to You and to myself that I may commune with You for the sake of your glory and the world around me.”

Silence: In this time, try and become silent before the Lord both internally and externally for 5 minutes. If your mind wanders, gently bring it back to stillness.

Praise: Bless the Lord by declaring these truths about Him!

“You are true and trustworthy. You are my teacher and you talk with me. If I were to count your thoughts toward me, they would outnumber the sand at the beach. You are triumphant and tender. Time is in your hands. You give generously and at times and with wisdom take away. You are more valuable than treasure.”

Devotional: As the Spirit of the Lord was speaking through Isaiah, the topic turns from the character of the coming promised leader to the fruit of his leadership. As you read through today’s text, you will see the fruit is that of reconciling things that seem at odds with one another- like a wolf and a lamb. This coming leader would reconcile the world and cause the knowledge of God to spread and fill the earth like the waters fill the seas and in so doing bring peace to our broken and unreconciled world.

As you meditate on today’s Scriptures, let them do a deep work as you looking at the fruit of God’s promised leader.

And into Isaiah’s darkness, God began to speak about a new hope and a new leader who would be marked by wisdom and justice. This leader would not fail but would succeed in leading establishing justice and leading His people to real life. The Spirit of God was breathing living hope in a dark world.

As you meditate on today’s Scriptures, let them do a deep work in you of both realizing your need and realizing that origin of real hope is from God.

Scripture: Read today’s text slowly. Feed your spirit on the words. Your goal in this time is to commune with Jesus through His Word. Take note as you sense His Presence.

Isaiah 11.6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. 9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.

Worship: Worship forms the truths of Scripture deep within our lives. This week we will be worshipping to the song O Come O Come Emmanuel sung by Lauren Daigle. It is a classic song reminding us that Hope is coming. (If you are reading this via email, here is the link to the video.)

Listen: Take time to listen to the Holy Spirit. Write down anything you sense the Lord speaking.

Obedience: What from today is the Lord calling you to put in practice? Could be to pray for someone, to call someone, to serve someone etc.