Link to Love’s Pure Delight here:
https://tinyurl.com/yysjvwjm
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 Romans 16:25-27 Luke 1:26-38
𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘥. 𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵.
–The Venerable Bede
Do you have a private life with God? As we increasingly live every aspect of our lives on display, posted far and wide for the world to see, it becomes difficult to retain a hidden self, especially in a true and redemptive sense. We may be quick to hide things that cause us shame or guilt, yet do we know how to cultivate a life of holy silence and solitude, learning to hear the voice of God as we do?
With Christmas just a few days away, everything in your life is likely ramping up. Nothing about this week feels settled, calm, or quiet! Yet this final week of Advent invites us to resist that chaotic impulse towards anxious hurry and instead listen and reflect upon the Word of God given to us.
As Mary cultivated the life of a faithful follower of God, including regular times of private prayer and devotion, she found herself present and attentive, and therefore ready to receive the Word of God. Yet as this Word drew near, we see today that it left her disoriented, overcome by its weight and glory. What does she do? She ponders it in her heart (Lk. 1:29; see also Lk. 2:19). This Advent, the Lord is drawing near, speaking words of hope and love over his people. Resist the urge to fill the day with endless activities and external concerns, choosing instead to receive and prayerfully ponder the Word of God spoken to you.
𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲
As we enter into this fourth and final week of Advent, each day brings its own unique practice, inviting us into a heightened anticipation and preparation for the glory of Christmas Day. Today, you are invited to ponder God’s word to you through the practice of silence and solitude. Carve out at least 15 minutes of uninterrupted and undistracted time with God. No people, no screens, no agenda. Simply present to God and his word spoken over you.
