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The fruits of hope, love, joy, and peace are cultivated as we journey through Advent.
Advent is a four-week season before Christmas when we meditate on God’s fulfillment of the promised Messiah. It is a season of expectant waiting and anticipation for the ultimate celebration, the wedding supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9).
This Rev-style Advent Devotional leads you through the four fruits of Advent with a Scripture focus, prayer focus, and RevWell TV workout. Tis’ the season to move in hope, love, joy, and peace!
Week 1: Hope
The Bible defines “hope” as a forward-looking faith, a knowledge that God will do what He says He is going to do. During Advent, our hope is both celebrating Jesus’ birth and looking forward to His return. This is not wishful thinking, this hope is active and assured because of the faithfulness of God.
We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.
Lord, uproot the hopelessness that so easily frustrates us. Help us to grab hold of the hope that we have in you. Let us live in preparation and anticipation for the day of your glorious return. Amen.
Demetria’s Cardio Strength “Confident Hope”
Week 2: Love
“God loved the world so much He gave His Son so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.” John 3:16
Many of us learned John 3:16 when we were young. Since God has given us forgiveness and salvation through His Son, how can we pour out God’s love to others?
In the season of Advent, we can practice generosity. Just as we receive God’s free gift of grace, we can give away things of great value with no expectation of return. These gifts could be money, time, or talents.
Money: While tithing is one way to be generous with your money, you can also use your money to care for others in more specific ways. For example, support a child in need in your community or abroad, buy groceries for a single parent, or donate to organizations that dig wells for clean water.
Time: In the busy seasons of November and December, you may think you have no time to spare. So, this may be exactly where you need to begin. Use your morning commute to pray for church leaders. As you wash dishes, pray for hurting people in your community and the world. Take an evening to write anonymous notes of encouragement to people in your church or neighborhood.
Talents: You can serve God and others by doing things you love! Consider teaching your children songs of praise, playing musical instruments at nursing homes, or making special cookies for an elderly neighbor.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Jesus, you surrendered yourself completely to your Father’s will for the life of the world. By your Spirit, create in me a heart that is willing to sacrifice my time, money, and talents for the needs of others. Help me be a joyful giver, glorifying you in all I do. Amen.
Jerry’s Flexibility “Love is Greater Than Fear”
Week 3: Joy
Kay Warren says, “Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.”
Joy is accepting what we want to reject, doing what we do not want to do, and going where we do not want to go because we know this is God’s will. Joy is letting go of everything because we know that God is with us and will care for us no matter the circumstances.
This week in Advent, ask the Holy Spirit what you need to surrender to God. Then, see how joy follows your humble surrender.
The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
Jesus, in word and deed you showed me how God uses the foolish things of this world to shame the proud. You showed me that joy is not found in white-knuckling my desires, but in entrusting my life to you. I pray I see the fruit of joy as I trust you in everything I do this week. Amen.
Katrina’s Cardio “Radiate Joy”
Week 4: Peace
True peace is something the world has not experienced, except for in the Garden of Eden. And even that was fleeting.
So how do we practice something we haven’t fully experienced?
First, Jesus tells us He fills us with His peace (John 14:27). God’s Spirit fills us with the peace of our salvation. As believers, we also have peace of mind knowing God will heal this broken world and will come again.
Second, we have peace with others. As Jesus tells us in John 13:34-35, “A new command, I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” This peace and love for other believers reflect the unity of our God and is evidence of the Spirit at work within us.
The peace of God allows us to look at others through heaven’s eyes and help guide the world to see God’s already and not-yet kingdom.
In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Jesus, let the peace you give me overflow into my interactions with my family, friends, and others. Because I am filled with your peace, I don’t have to be easily offended. I don’t have to compare myself to others. I don’t have to bear grudges. Help me be easy to forgive and ask for forgiveness. Help me to life your Name on high! Amen.
Sara’s Cardio Strength “God’s Peace is Our Peace”
Rhonda Hiebert is a Revelation Wellness Instructor from Platoon 25. Her mission is to help people with limited mobility to move to the best of their ability.
Resources for a Healthy and Whole Advent:
What if the weeks before Christmas were marked by rhythms of reflection, peace, and preparation? What if Christmas and the twelve days that followed were marked with unhurried celebration and fellowship?
We don’t want you to add more to your hectic schedule.
But, after reading through these devotionals, resources, and a whole lot of God’s Word, you may just be compelled to adopt new rhythms and priorities during these weeks of joy.
