4 Biblical Prayers for Each Week of Advent

4 Biblical Prayers for Each Week of Advent

1. Hope

Lord, you are my great hope! I rejoice in you because I have been given hope through Jesus. Thank you for reminding me that because you are my hope, my faith cannot fail. I choose to put into practice Romans 12:12 (NIV), which admonishes, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." In this season of Advent, I am especially grateful for this reminder that draws my attention to the perpetual hope I find in knowing you.

Thank you, Jesus, for being the living hope given to humanity so that I might be reconciled back to God. According to 1 Peter 1:3 (CSB), "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." You are my eternal hope that never fades or ends. I celebrate the hope you bring to the earth as I reflect upon the reason you were born, the true meaning of Christmas.

When I consider how the people of Israel waited in faith for the fulfillment of their Messianic promise, it brings me hope as I wait upon you to fulfill the promises I believe will come to pass in my own life. Sometimes, I grow weary when I have to wait for a prolonged period to experience the materialization of your promises. Yet, I can take heart in your reminder from Micah 7:7 (NIV): "But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." Thank you, Lord, for the comfort I cling to because you see and hear me. I wait confidently assured that my hope in you will never be disappointed.

Today, my hope is renewed as I confess you are the source of my trust and expectation. Thank you for your Word from Romans 15:13 (CSB) that encourages me, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." What a beautiful reminder that the Holy Spirit empowers me to overflow with hope. Praise be to God! I am not defeated; I am always triumphant and victorious through Christ Jesus, amen.

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  • Christmas praying with candle

    2. Peace

    Glory to God, my Heavenly Father, for Jesus, the Prince of Peace! Jesus, you are the peace I cling to each day and the peace I embrace during the Advent season. Thank you, Lord, that because of Jesus, I can abide in peace. Jesus' presence to a people anticipating the coming Messiah ushered in profound peace this world has never known. According to the Messianic prophecy recorded in Isaiah 9:6 (NIV), "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Thank you, Jesus, for being the fulfillment of the Messianic Prince of Peace prophesied.

    Because You are my peace, I do not have to be afraid. No matter what I face or what may be happening around me, I will not be fearful. Instead, I choose to rest in your peace, which is not of this world. I take solace in John 14:27 (NIV), which reminds my soul, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." Hallelujah! Advent serves as a memorial for why Jesus came to rescue humanity from turmoil, havoc, and chaos so that we might encounter His peace.

    I declare that God's peace reigns in my heart and mind. I hold fast to your promise from Isaiah 26:3 (NIV), "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." I fix my attention on you, Jesus, and I am kept in peace.

    May the wonder of Advent remind me of your peace again and again. I claim this peace with me all year long, cleaving to the assurance I find in 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV), "Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you." Thank you, Heavenly Father; I receive your peace through Jesus, amen.

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  • merry christmas holidays peace coffee tree fireplace warmth happy

    3. Joy

    Jesus, you are my joy! I rejoice in you because of the miracle of your coming to this earth. So much joy fills my spirit when I consider what joy your birth represents to all who receive you. Thank you for being born of a woman so I may partake of your unexplainable, incomparable joy, now and always.

    Today, I continue to reap the blessings and benefits of joy in my life. Thank you for the joys of Advent. I am privileged to cherish it today because you brought joy to the world all those years ago.

    Most of all, thank you for the joy illuminated to me through your holy Word. As I desire to build a firm spiritual foundation upon the Word of God, I am filled with joy that radiates from Scripture. Psalm 119:111 (CSB) proclaims, "I have your decrees as a heritage forever; indeed, they are the joy of my heart." Nothing in this world can exceed the joy given through your Word. I praise you for this rich legacy that causes me to abound in joy.

    Whenever I feel as if my joy is being challenged, I will quickly pursue your presence. Psalm 16:11 (ESV) reminds me, "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." This verse fills me with hope that joy is never evasive because all I need to do to have it is lean more into your presence. Oh, what joy floods my soul just from being in your presence.

    Even in my lowest moments when doubt and anxiety encroach upon me, Psalm 94:19 (NIV) combats my worries by imposing this truth: "When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy." Thank you, Jesus, for the consolation of your joy. I pray your joy would flow through me as a contagious conduit to others during this holiday season. In Jesus' name, amen.

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  • Christmas tree and Bible

    4. Love

    How magnificent is the love of God! Thank you, Father, for the ability to recognize your love all around me during this special time of the year. I worship you for your steadfast love that endures forever and that has been so perfectly demonstrated through Jesus. Thank you for sending your son to affirm how much you love me. I love you because you first loved me. Your love is on display all around me during the Advent season, and I am overwhelmed that you continue to lavish me with your unconditional love.

    1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV) lets me know that love is the greatest: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Thank you for love coming down from heaven and redeeming me. Lord, help me to live a life marked by your love. Teach me how to operate in love, how to speak the truth in love, and how to offer forgiveness that is rooted in the genuine love of God.

    I learn from your example that love is giving, not selfish. Love is sacrificial, not self-focused or self-seeking. I pray others will sense your love emanating through me all throughout this holiday season. Help me to be a true expression of your love by sharing the true meaning of Advent with those I meet this Christmas. The true meaning of the season is revealed in John 3:16 (NIV), which so clearly displays your giving nature manifested through love, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

    I am forever grateful for your love, Lord. Thank you for loving me enough to be born and die so that I might have a revelation of that love. You are amazing, and so is your perfect love for me. May I love you more sincerely and faithfully, especially this advent season. In Jesus's name, I pray, amen.

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    Crosswalk Writer Patrice BurrellPatrice Burrell Grant is called to lead others to the grace of God, rooted in the truth of scripture. Championing women to live authentically and pursue God passionately, she aspires to live a lifestyle anchored in spiritual disciplines while cheering on other women to do the same. As a Bible teacher, she exhorts women to remember their true identity is defined in Christ, not culture. After earning her Master of Divinity degree, Patrice authored her first book, Warrior Slay, a devotional book on the power of worship and prayer. She has also written Living My Best Life, a Bible study for single women. Her latest work, Be Still My Soul, is all about cultivating the spiritual disciplines of silence and solitude in prayer through the practice of daily prayer journaling. Patrice is the founder of L.A.C.E. Legacy, a ministry established to incite the faith of Christian women who live out their legacy of faith as Ladies Anchored in Christian Excellence (L.A.C.E.), loving the legacy of faith they live. You can connect with Patrice on her blog, Warrior Woman Blog; on social media in her Facebook community, Warrior Women; @patriceburrellministries on Facebook; @patriceburrellgrant on Instagram; and @lacelegacy on her YouTube Channel, L.A.C.E. Legacy with Patrice.