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Prepare the way for the LORD. – Isaiah 40:3
If you are going through this devotional with your family, you can go to theonethingalone.com/advent and print out the questions and Scripture readings on separate slips of paper and distribute them among your family members in order to involve everyone. Most of these components are simple enough for even small children to read alone or with help.
Open with a simple prayer.
Light the first two candles on your Advent wreath.
Read the following verse aloud:
“In him [Jesus] was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
– John 1:4-5
Someone asks:
Why do we light the second candle?
Someone responds:
The second candle reminds us that the prophets waited for a Messiah to come and save the people.
Read the following passage aloud:
“A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.'”
– Isaiah 40:3-5
Take turns reading through this part of the Christmas story:
Luke 1:26-38
Discussion Questions:
- God wanted His people to be ready for the coming Messiah, so He sent prophets throughout history to remind them to prepare their hearts. He also sent John the Baptist to prepare the people for Jesus’ coming. What does this tell us about God?
- How can we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus?
Sing the following carol together:
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
As you read the daily devotions this week, light the first two candles and thank Jesus for being the Answer to our preparation.
Download the Advent PDF here.
This excerpt originally appeared in Unwrapping the Names of Jesus: An Advent Devotional by Asheritah Ciuciu.
Asheritah Ciuciu is a writer, speaker and founder of One Thing Alone Ministries – an online community of women who find joy in Jesus through creative spiritual disciplines. She’s also the author of several books, including her newest, Unwrapping the Names of Jesus: An Advent Devotional (Moody, October 2017). Asheritah grew up in Romania as a missionary kid and lives with her high school sweetheart and spunky children in northeast Ohio. Her passion is leading busy women deeper with Jesus in the midst of their everyday lives both in her local church and online at www.OneThingAlone.com.