A Prayer of Hope for Advent
SMC Community, this Advent season as we anticipate the arrival of our Savior, Jesus, each week let’s pray together for the hope, love, joy, and peace we can experience through Jesus this upcoming month.
There will be a new Advent prayer posted on our blog at the beginning of each week. Advent week one focuses on hope. Let us pray.
Jesus, You are the King Messiah, the Shoot that came up from the stump of Jesse—and from his roots a Branch bore fruit which now gives us hope. Even in this dark and scary world, in this first week of Advent 2021 as we focus on hope, may You grant us the gift to feel true hope.
Help us not to hope in earthly circumstances or rulers of this world but help us so that we may live with the deeply-rooted hope that is only experienced through relationship with You. You created roots to be hidden and unseen, yet they are strong and vital to life. When doubts fill our minds, You comfort us and give us renewed hope.
Lord, thank You for providing us refuge, our hiding place of safety. We are told that every generation should set its hope anew on You, not forgetting Your glorious miracles and obeying Your commands. Jesus, we long to set our hopes anew in You—today and every day.
In this Christmas season, remind us to intentionally meditate on the hope we have in You, to relieve the hollowness and anxiety this season can create in the hustle and bustle of our many to-dos. For You are the God of hope that fills us with all joy and peace as we trust in You, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of Your Spirit.
Amen.
(Bible passages referenced: Isaiah 11:1, Psalm 94:19, Psalm 91:2, Psalm 78:7, Romans 15:13)
Prayer by Beth Hildebrand
