“May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”
Gracious God, as we enter the first week of Advent, we focus upon the message of Hope, Hope as an assurance of Your presence with us. Lord God, over 2,000 years ago, Your Son was born into a world in need of Hope; a world in need of freedom from oppression, a world in need of justice and equality for all, a world in need of compassion, and a world in need of the knowledge of Your Love and Grace. Today, as Advent begins, we too live in a world in need of Your Hope. There are many oppressed by the burden of increased financial worries as a result of the pandemic, there are many still fighting for justice and human rights regardless of race or social disposition, there are many grieving or in need of healing, and there are many unaware of Your Love for them. And so, as we begin to journey through Advent, we pray that You will overwhelm our hearts with Your Hope, Your Love and Your Peace and may we be assured of Your presence with us. But so too, may we take the time to reflect, in the days ahead, upon how we can share Your Hope, Your Love and Your Peace in our world this Advent. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.