DAY 1 — A New Beginning
Scripture: John 1:1–3
Reflection:
John starts with the same three words as Genesis: In the beginning…
But John reveals something Genesis only hinted at—
The Word was with God.
The Word was God.
The Word is Jesus.
John’s introduction of Jesus is not:
•born in Bethlehem
•laid in a manger
•visited by angels
John starts earlier — before time.
Before shepherds.
Before stars.
Before creation.
If Jesus is present at the beginning of the beginning, then He is also present at the beginning of your new beginning.
Where do you need a fresh start?
Where do you need creation out of chaos?
Where do you need “a new beginning”?
Prayer:
Eternal Word, I welcome You into the deep places of my life. Speak order into my chaos and create something new in me this Advent. Amen.
Practice:
Write down one area of life that needs a new beginning and invite Jesus into it.
⸻
DAY 2 — The Word Made Flesh
Scripture: John 1:14
Reflection:
The Word didn’t shout from Heaven—
He moved into the neighborhood.
He took on skin, breath, bones, emotion, heartbeat.
He didn’t just speak love —
He became love.
Incarnation means:
God didn’t stay distant…
God drew near.
Near enough to touch.
Near enough to be seen.
Near enough to bleed.
Jesus is not distant Deity —
He is God-with-us.
God-among-us.
God-like-us.
Some of us carry wounds from words that harmed, discouraged, confused, or shamed us.
But Jesus is the Living Word — the Word that heals, restores, strengthens, and speaks life.
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for coming close. Teach me to see Your nearness in my ordinary days. Let Your living Word rewrite the painful words I’ve carried. Amen.
Practice:
Spend 3 minutes imagining Jesus beside you in whatever you’re facing today — not far off, but present.
⸻
DAY 3 — Seeing the Invisible
Scripture: John 20:29; Hebrews 1:1–3
Reflection:
A baby learns object permanence:
“Just because I can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s gone.”
God used the Incarnation to teach us divine object permanence.
Even when you don’t feel God…
Even when you don’t hear God…
Even when life goes silent…
He is still there.
Thomas needed to see to believe.
But Jesus speaks blessing over those who believe without seeing.
Advent is God whispering:
“I’m here. I’ve always been here.”
When your faith feels thin…
When hope feels fragile…
When prayers feel unanswered…
Object permanence.
God is not gone.
God is not silent.
God is not absent.
Not anymore.
Not after Bethlehem.
Prayer:
God, strengthen my faith when I cannot see You. Help me trust Your presence even in silence. Amen.
Practice:
Recall a moment in your past when God was working even though you didn’t realize it until later.
⸻
DAY 4 — Reconciled and Reconciling
Scripture: Colossians 1:19–20; 2 Corinthians 5:17–20
Reflection:
The reason for the Incarnation wasn’t just revelation —
It was reconciliation.
God didn’t only say,
“Here I am.”
He said,
“Come back to Me.”
Sin separated humanity from God…
and from one another.
Jesus came to close the distance.
To heal division.
To mend what was broken.
To restore what was shattered.
To bring peace where there was hostility.
To make enemies into brothers.
To make strangers into family.
And now…
Christ’s love compels us.
You are not simply reconciled to God…
You are enlisted into the ministry of reconciliation with others.
Is there someone in your life who needs a bridge?
A conversation?
A gesture of peace?
Jesus built the ultimate bridge.
Now we build smaller ones in His name.
Prayer:
Lord, reconcile my heart to You and teach me to be an ambassador of reconciliation. Heal broken places in me and through me. Amen.
Practice:
Ask God to put one person on your heart with whom you can pursue reconciliation.
⸻
DAY 5 — Hope Has Come
Scripture: John 1:5, 9, 12–13
Reflection:
The light shines in the darkness —
and the darkness cannot overcome it.
Jesus is God’s loud and loving “Peekaboom!”
Revelation and reconnection wrapped in infant skin.
Advent is not nostalgia.
It is hope.
Living hope.
Incarnate hope.
Hope that those you pray for will finally see Him.
Hope that the spiritually blind will be given sight.
Hope that prodigals will return.
Hope that broken relationships will be mended.
Hope that this season becomes someone’s new beginning.
This is the heart of Advent —
not sentiment —
but salvation.
Not nostalgia —
but new creation.
Not holiday —
but holy God entering human history.
Prayer:
Jesus, Light of the world, shine in me and through me. Give me hope for the new beginnings You are bringing this Advent. Amen.
Practice:
Pray specifically for people who “have not yet seen and believed” — that God would open their eyes this season.
Scripture: John 1:1–3
Reflection:
John starts with the same three words as Genesis: In the beginning…
But John reveals something Genesis only hinted at—
The Word was with God.
The Word was God.
The Word is Jesus.
John’s introduction of Jesus is not:
•born in Bethlehem
•laid in a manger
•visited by angels
John starts earlier — before time.
Before shepherds.
Before stars.
Before creation.
If Jesus is present at the beginning of the beginning, then He is also present at the beginning of your new beginning.
Where do you need a fresh start?
Where do you need creation out of chaos?
Where do you need “a new beginning”?
Prayer:
Eternal Word, I welcome You into the deep places of my life. Speak order into my chaos and create something new in me this Advent. Amen.
Practice:
Write down one area of life that needs a new beginning and invite Jesus into it.
⸻
DAY 2 — The Word Made Flesh
Scripture: John 1:14
Reflection:
The Word didn’t shout from Heaven—
He moved into the neighborhood.
He took on skin, breath, bones, emotion, heartbeat.
He didn’t just speak love —
He became love.
Incarnation means:
God didn’t stay distant…
God drew near.
Near enough to touch.
Near enough to be seen.
Near enough to bleed.
Jesus is not distant Deity —
He is God-with-us.
God-among-us.
God-like-us.
Some of us carry wounds from words that harmed, discouraged, confused, or shamed us.
But Jesus is the Living Word — the Word that heals, restores, strengthens, and speaks life.
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for coming close. Teach me to see Your nearness in my ordinary days. Let Your living Word rewrite the painful words I’ve carried. Amen.
Practice:
Spend 3 minutes imagining Jesus beside you in whatever you’re facing today — not far off, but present.
⸻
DAY 3 — Seeing the Invisible
Scripture: John 20:29; Hebrews 1:1–3
Reflection:
A baby learns object permanence:
“Just because I can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s gone.”
God used the Incarnation to teach us divine object permanence.
Even when you don’t feel God…
Even when you don’t hear God…
Even when life goes silent…
He is still there.
Thomas needed to see to believe.
But Jesus speaks blessing over those who believe without seeing.
Advent is God whispering:
“I’m here. I’ve always been here.”
When your faith feels thin…
When hope feels fragile…
When prayers feel unanswered…
Object permanence.
God is not gone.
God is not silent.
God is not absent.
Not anymore.
Not after Bethlehem.
Prayer:
God, strengthen my faith when I cannot see You. Help me trust Your presence even in silence. Amen.
Practice:
Recall a moment in your past when God was working even though you didn’t realize it until later.
⸻
DAY 4 — Reconciled and Reconciling
Scripture: Colossians 1:19–20; 2 Corinthians 5:17–20
Reflection:
The reason for the Incarnation wasn’t just revelation —
It was reconciliation.
God didn’t only say,
“Here I am.”
He said,
“Come back to Me.”
Sin separated humanity from God…
and from one another.
Jesus came to close the distance.
To heal division.
To mend what was broken.
To restore what was shattered.
To bring peace where there was hostility.
To make enemies into brothers.
To make strangers into family.
And now…
Christ’s love compels us.
You are not simply reconciled to God…
You are enlisted into the ministry of reconciliation with others.
Is there someone in your life who needs a bridge?
A conversation?
A gesture of peace?
Jesus built the ultimate bridge.
Now we build smaller ones in His name.
Prayer:
Lord, reconcile my heart to You and teach me to be an ambassador of reconciliation. Heal broken places in me and through me. Amen.
Practice:
Ask God to put one person on your heart with whom you can pursue reconciliation.
⸻
DAY 5 — Hope Has Come
Scripture: John 1:5, 9, 12–13
Reflection:
The light shines in the darkness —
and the darkness cannot overcome it.
Jesus is God’s loud and loving “Peekaboom!”
Revelation and reconnection wrapped in infant skin.
Advent is not nostalgia.
It is hope.
Living hope.
Incarnate hope.
Hope that those you pray for will finally see Him.
Hope that the spiritually blind will be given sight.
Hope that prodigals will return.
Hope that broken relationships will be mended.
Hope that this season becomes someone’s new beginning.
This is the heart of Advent —
not sentiment —
but salvation.
Not nostalgia —
but new creation.
Not holiday —
but holy God entering human history.
Prayer:
Jesus, Light of the world, shine in me and through me. Give me hope for the new beginnings You are bringing this Advent. Amen.
Practice:
Pray specifically for people who “have not yet seen and believed” — that God would open their eyes this season.
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