Prayer for Advent Week One

A wooden manger and three wooden crosses

Dear Lord,

It is the dawning of a new week. As Christmas draws near, it is not a joyous season for everyone. Some of us Lord are journeying through the valley of Baka. The psalmists describes it in Psalm 84, “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.” Psalm 84:5-7 Faith is more difficult in the valley. In the valley you feel alone, scared, experience pain, and desolation. Yet like those who journeyed to Jerusalem to the House of Yahweh, we get stronger through the valley so long as we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Dear Savior help me when those valley moments come when it is hard to have halleluiah’s flow from my lips, that I take the words of the apostle Paul to heart. “Therefore, if you were raised with Christ, look for the things that are above where Christ is sitting at God’s right side.  Think about the things above and not things on earth.” Colossians 3:1-2 Point me to the Christ child, remind me daily that You, Father loved me so much you gave me the most indescribable gift possible, Your one and only unique Son, Jesus Christ. Fix my eyes on Jesus, renew my strength, restore the joy of my salvation. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen.