Advent Practices – Week 2 – Day 3

THEME: COMFORT ISN’T COMFORTABLE

BREATH PRAYER: LORD, HELP ME CARRY YOUR COMFORT TO THOSE IN NEED.

CENTERING:

“Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.”

“O Holy Night”

SETTLING IN:

• In a journal, note the day, time, and place you’re sitting.
• Open with a few moments of silence. Rest, and breathe deeply.
• Complete the following sentence in your journal: Today, I feel ________________.
• Read the centering verse above slowly (aloud or silently).

Pause for a few moments of silence, then pray this week’s breath prayer.

PRACTICE:
WALKING PRAYER

For a short form of this exercise, follow the prompts in italics.

The goal of our practices this week is to start seeing places and people where comfort is needed and to identify small ways we can stand in the gap. One way for us to get a fresh perspective on the needs around us is by engaging in walking prayer.

When we pray as we walk through our neighborhoods, schools, offices, or other communities, we give ourselves context that allows us to pray more intentionally and listen more closely to the Lord’s promptings. Walk quietly and pray as you go, and if you come across others during your walk, make time to stop and interact with them before you carry on.

Short form: Put yourself in a place where you can see your community of concern.  It may be your front porch where you can see other houses, or it may be a common area at your place of business.  Even if you remain in one place, rather than walking, go through the steps below while you observe the community around you.

• As you walk through your community, ask the Lord to reveal to you people or places who are in need of His strength.
• As a location catches your attention, pause for a moment as you try to put yourself in the place of the people who live or work there.  What are they feeling?  What is their day going to be like today?  What are their most immediate needs?
• Ask the Lord how He would have you bring strength to these people.
• As you continue in your walk, pray for the community as a whole asking the Lord to bring His Kingdom to bear in your community.
• As you finish, thank Him for His love for you and for your community.  Close by asking the Lord to give you His heart for the people around you. Take a moment to write in your journal anything that stood out from your time of walking prayer.

Summary: Write in your journal a brief summary (five sentences or less) of your practice.

Closing: Lord, help me carry Your comfort to those in need.