Today's Passage: Isaiah 9:2-7

The people who walked in darkness

    have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

    on them has light shone.

You have multiplied the nation;

    you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

    as with joy at the harvest,

    as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

For the yoke of his burden,

    and the staff for his shoulder,

    the rod of his oppressor,

    you have broken as on the day of Midian.

For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult

    and every garment rolled in blood

    will be burned as fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born,

    to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

    and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace

    there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

    to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

    from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Today's Prayer: 

Shalom, our great Prince of Peace, 

We seek rest in you today.

Our world is broken,

And our hearts are heavy,

Yet we rejoice in knowing that you are our promised Peace.

Your Word tells us in Colossians 1 that you are before all things.

That in you all things hold together.

You are the beginning, preeminent in all things.

You reconcile to yourself all things.

And you make peace by the blood of your cross.

We need your deep, healing peace today.

Not the circumstantial peace that the world seeks,

But the true, everlasting peace that only you can provide.

We trust in your goodness 

And we rest in the hope of your promised return.

Amen.

For more information about this Advent season, visit our Christmas at Fellowship page. There you can find more resources, as well as information about pursuing Christ and celebrating him this season with our church.