A Prayer for the Third Sunday of Advent

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Isaiah 60:1-3

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD shines over you.
For look, darkness will cover the earth,
and total darkness the peoples;
but the LORD will shine over you,
and his glory will appear over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to your shining brightness.
—Isaiah 60:1-3


Lord Jesus,
Master of both the light and the darkness, send Your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear Your voice each day,
We who are anxious over many things look forward to Your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of Your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of Your presence.
We are Your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!”
Amen.
—Henri J.M. Nouwen

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39 thoughts on "A Prayer for the Third Sunday of Advent"

  1. Lindsey M says:

    ❤️

  2. Brandy Deruso says:

    Amen hallelujah!

  3. Kenyari Keith says:

    Amen

  4. Sarah Morrison says:

    ❤️

  5. Megan Taylor says:

    Amen!

  6. Megan Taylor says:

    A

  7. Lori Stotzer says:

    Amen

  8. Alice Swearingen says:

    Amen!

  9. Elizabeth Morgan says:

    Amen

  10. Lolly Regan says:

    This poem is amazing!

  11. Gretchen Cooper says:

    Amen!

  12. Tasha Adams says:

    Amen!

  13. PJ Hill says:

    Amen!!!

  14. Lizzy Butterfield says:

    “We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom”

    That’s perfect

  15. Lizzy Butterfield says:

    “We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom”

  16. Samantha A says:

    Thank you, Jesus. Not only do you bring light to the darkness of this world, but you also illuminate the dark and hidden corners of my heart where sin and deception fester. Thank you for revealing yourself to us – you are our Light and our Salvation!

  17. Kamie Cismoski says:

    Amen!

  18. Elicia Trello says:

    A beautiful image of Jesus’ light shining over us when there is complete darkness. We are never alone in a scary, dark place, He will protect us.

  19. Gwineth52 says:

    Third Sunday, 2020 Advent Study Book…I continue sharing tiny “blasts from the past”’, offering peeks of comments I kept from She’s a year ago. Lisa said: “We often look far outside ourselves to see the things that will bring us joy, as if that ‘something’ will change everything, and yet…it is often in front of us…right inside of us. The Everydayness.”
    Ah & Amen, Sister.
    Also, I believe this is the 10th Advent Study from SRT. I wonder how many of us were here in the beginning, or maybe even five years ago, as important markers on the faith journey. This only my second, but what a joyful activity & communion of saints!

  20. Churchmouse says:

    Thank you for the prayer by Henri Nouwen. Yes, may we be seeking the light of His presence until we stand before Him, face to face.

  21. Catherine McVey says:

    My pastor said today in his sermon if Jesus came back today would you be excited? Yes! Come Lord Jesus, come! Have a blessed Sunday everyone. Love the prayer for today.❤️

  22. Victoria E says:

    Amen Kelly! Lexi Sharer praying for your tests and your little one.

  23. Beverly Watley says:

    COME NOW LORD JESUS! HALLELUJAH, AMEN. I had to shout it out. Loving this Advent bible study. Let all sisters and brothers be blessed.

  24. Mari V says:

    We need to let our light shine so that others may see. This is the main reason why I sometimes stay silent at work and not retaliate or talk back or even defend myself sometimes. I am not a doormat but I choose my battles. The main thing I want to be known for is I love Jesus.

  25. Mari V says:

    @Lexi, praying right now for the test and for a healthy baby boy.

  26. BeckyB says:

    Reminded this morning of the old Graham Kendrick song “Shine Jesus Shine!”

  27. Olivia says:

    I have what might sound like a silly prayer request. My parents don’t go to church and are coming with me today to mine. I am feeling nervous because my church has a different worldview from they hold. I pray that the lord speaks through this service today and shows them hoe beautiful community gatherings can be.

  28. Donna Wolcott says:

    Amen!

  29. Sarah Adams says:

    Come Lord Jesus, Amen ❤️

  30. Elizabeth Oster says:

    Amen!!

  31. Deb says:

    Good morning to all on this 3rd Sunday in Advent. I am loving this Advent study on light and it has me reflecting back on my many years as a preschool director and teacher. One of my absolute favorite times when I had all our preschool children together; 2 yr. Olds, 3 yr. Olds, and 4 yr. Olds, was during our Chapel time. I would teach Bible stories then we would sing songs of praise and worship! Truly one of their all time songs to sing with precious little motions was “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine”. To look out in the sanctuary at all their sweet innocent faces, eyes wide with delight, and big smiles often brought me tears..out of the mouths of babes I could truly feel the presence of the Lord..
    May we be like those little ones,shining our lights with abundant joy and praise..
    Sunday love and blessings to all.

  32. Angela Greenwood says:

    Amen

  33. SarahJoy says:

    Love this prayer

  34. Kelly says:

    Psalm 95:1-7
    1 Come, let’s shout joyfully to the Lord, shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation!
    2 Let’s enter his presence with thanksgiving; let’s shout triumphantly to him in song.
    3 For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods.
    4 The depths of the earth are in his hand, and the mountain peaks are his.
    5 The sea is his; he made it. His hands formed the dry land.
    6 Come, let’s worship and bow down; let’s kneel before the Lord our Maker.
    7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, the sheep under his care.

  35. Emma B says:

    I’m sitting at my kitchen table, drinking coffee and looking out my apartment window at a parking lot. There are street lights that illuminate the parking lot. If those street lights weren’t there, it would be total darkness. We are God’s people who are walking around darkness. But, because we are God’s children we have His Light! His Holy Spirit living inside each and every one of us to be His light on earth! Let’s be like the street lights that illuminate the earth with His light! Let’s walk as children of the Light! (Ephesians 5:8)

  36. Blessed Beth says:

    Enjoy some quiet time in front of your tree which was originally a symbols of eternal life what a peaceful reminder of John 3:16

  37. Susan Reagon says:

    Come Lord Jesus,come.A blessed Sunday to you all

  38. Adrienne McPherson says:

    Amen!