Today is the first Sunday in Advent and as such, my first day in exploring this Christmas Season in a new way. (I was a day behind in my Advent reading plan so I caught up today) I decided to make my Advent candles ones that I already had and found my Peru nativity ornament.

My Advent wreath and Nativity

I found a website that told me a little more about Advent wreaths and Scripture you can use as you light the candles. Since I have this on top of my “fireplace” and it’s short, I knelt as I lit the candle, read the Scripture (Isaiah 60:2-3), and prayed (“Lord God, we light this candle to thank you for your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world. We who have sat in darkness have seen a great light, the light of Jesus Christ, our salvation. We give you thanks and praise in Jesus’ name, because he lives and reigns with you in your glory, and in the unity of the Holy Spirit, Amen.”).

Advent wreath with fireplace heater

Lighting a candle and saying a prayer to go with it does focus you more on what you are about to read and put you in a better mindset. Kneeling gave me the sense of kneeling at the Throne and being physically in God’s presence. Today’s and yesterday’s devotionals explored a little into Simeon’s waiting for the Christ (Luke 2:21-40) and how Joseph might have felt (Matthew 1).

As I pondered Simeon’s waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promise that he’d see the Messiah before his own death, I have to wonder if I wait like Simeon. You can see that Simeon continued to stay close to God with expectancy. He was sensitive to hear the urging of the Holy Spirit to go into the Temple that day. When God gives me a promise do I wait with expectancy, drawing closer and closer to Him? Or do I wait and continue in life as if it was just another day? May I be more like Simeon – resting and trusting God but also actively seeking Him out!