Christmas festival
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Advent. Waiting. “Come, Lord Jesus, come.” Waiting.
The season of Advent is one of hope, as we, not only wait for the coming of the Christ child, but wait for Jesus’ second coming.
If I’m being honest, I’m tired of waiting. As a nation, as a world, we’ve been waiting since the start of the pandemic. When will it end? When can we visit friends and loved ones again? When can we return to work, restaurants, stores, events, etc.? We were, in essence, forced into a period of waiting.
What were we waiting for? You could sum it up in one word: normal. When can we go back to normal? Thankfully, it seems the veil covering normal has started to fall. Many traveled for the Thanksgiving holiday. Restaurants and businesses are open, just in time for the Christmas transformation of lights, wreaths, Christmas trees, and shopping frenzy.
We’ve arrived at Advent, again called to a time of waiting.
What are we waiting for? We all know Jesus has already come. While he was here, incarnate on earth, he already showed people how to do what he did. How to bring health to illness. How to bring light into darkness. How to bring truth to an empire of crushing power.
Maybe, instead of waiting on Jesus to work through some heavenly redemption, perhaps Jesus is waiting on us to work some earthly miracles.
During Jesus’ life, he was very clear about sharing his power with his disciples and apostles. He wanted them to be able to do the very things he did. To heal the sick. To cast out demons. To feed the hungry. To proclaim the Kingdom. To expand the ranks with new apostles of peace.
We wait with anticipation of the fulfilment of the Kingdom. In our waiting, we turn to prayer, often praying “Come, Lord Jesus, come,” which, truly, only Jesus can do. I wonder, though, are we praying for Jesus to do something he has already taught us how to do? If so, it’s time to shift our focus to one that will allow us to faithfully and actively celebrate this Advent season.
I’d like to suggest the following three prayers this Advent:
Pray the Apostle’s Prayer. “Lord, increase our faith.” (Luke 17:5) When the apostles prayed this, they weren’t asking to have more faith in Jesus, but to have more of the faith of Jesus. Having that sort of faith is what it takes to do the things he did. And to go beyond it.
Pray the Prayer of St. Francis. I love this prayer because it instructs me in exactly how to be an apostle of peace, a force for good in the world.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy
O Divine Master, grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood, as to understand
To be loved, as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
And it’s in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it’s in dying that we are born to Eternal Life
Amen
Pray “I believe; help Thou my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24) I pray this prayer when I find myself wavering in my ability to be courageous in the face of evil, or hopeful in the face of darkness.
Praying these prayers will align your life, thoughts, actions, and soul with Jesus’ call to us: to be apostles of peace, healing, comfort, and Kingdom. These prayers can renew your journey through Advent, bringing new life to your time of waiting.
Interested in renewal after Advent? I invite you to join my upcoming workshop, Platinum Rule Leadership for Changing Times. This interactive workshop teaches self-awareness, forgiveness, compassion, understanding, and your ability to lead and love challenging people.
Rebekah Simon-Peter 2021
Rebekah Simon-Peter
Rebekah Simon-Peter serves as "chief visionary" for her coaching and consulting firm and is passionate about "reconnecting spiritual leaders with their God-given powers to co-create miracles with the divine." This post is republished with the author's permission from her webisite. Copyright © 2021 rebekahsimonpeter.com, All Rights Reserved.