DayLight Scripture – The Lord’s spirit will rest upon him (the shoot of the stump of Jesse), a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of planning and strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.

Isaiah 11: 2

DayLight Prayer – Lord, Today I pray for all who are filled with wonderful over this season of Advent. Help those who are struggling to believe that you came to be one of us, to know us, and to show us who you are in a tender and dramatic season. Help me to open my heart to receive you fully into my life. Help us all to trust in the truth that God is with us. Amen. 

DayLight Scripture – And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2: 8-11

DayLight Prayer – Lord, In this world where fear takes hold of so many hearts, where any hope for a better future seems unrealistic, where men, women, boys and girls struggle for identity, security, and love…I give you thanks that you have given us a way to know life without fear. I thank you for Jesus, our Christ, our Savior.  Amen. 

DayLight Scripture – Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son,

        And they will call him, Emmanuel.[a]

(Emmanuel means “God with us.”)

Matthew 1: 23

DayLight Prayer – Lord, God bless me today. Give me the abundance of your presence. Look into my heart and show me any unnecessary thing that I keep there, and help me to empty it of any unloving, unwilled, unneeded, thing. Make me an open, clean, fruitful vessel for Emmanuel. Amen. 

DayLight Scripture – Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary—of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Christ.

Matthew 1:15

DayLight Prayer – Lord, Today I give thanks for all the good men there are in the world. Those men who quietly and faithfully carry their families along through the storms of life, men who honestly give all they can to make others happy, who safeguard and support people…even strangers, those who love you, those who pray and those who week after week commit to living the life you call them to…Thank you Lord for fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, husbands, and friends, those men in our life.  Amen. 

DayLight Scripture – The paths of all who forget God are vague. Hope perishes for the godless, whose confidence is a fragile thing, their trust, a spider’s web.

Job 8:3-4

DayLight Prayer – Lord, Who hasn’t forgotten you at times? I can’t say that I never have. Forgive me. Teach me through your word, and your loving presence to remember you, and to remember that my trust in you fills me with all hope that is real. Amen. 

DayLight Scripture – When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.”

Luke 2:15

DayLight Prayer – Lord, Today I pray for anyone in the world who is attempting to confirm that you are who people say you are: Almighty God, Emmanuel. Place the confirming signs within their grasp! Amen. 

DayLight Scripture – The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. On those living in a pitch-dark land, light has dawned.

Isaiah 9:2

DayLight Prayer – Lord, How many of us are lost in the dark? There are many, I believe. Even I have moments of darkness, when the clarity that I need evades me. But I know you are there, even in the darkness with me. I know that when I reach out for you, I will find you there to lead me into the light. Help me to reach for you always. You are my help, my strength, my answer to all darkness.  Amen. 

DayLight Scripture – Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled.

Luke 2:3

DayLight Prayer – Great and Mighty God, Today I pray for all people who are associated with the governments of the world, especially those who are in public service from being elected by the people. God give them wisdom to make decisions that will help the causes of human dignity, empowerment, and lifting the oppression that occurs in the cities, towns and countries.  Amen. 

DayLight Scripture – Then Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. Because my mighty God has done great things for me, and God is holy.

Luke 1: 46-47

DayLight Prayer – Lord,  My prayer for this day is a request for you to help us to magnify God in my own life. Help me to reflect the work of God in my life like a 10 power magnifying mirror. I repeat the words of sweet Mary. God is holy, and God has indeed done mighty things in my life. Praise the Lord! Amen. 

DayLight Scripture – A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and much grieving. Rachel weeping for her children, and she did not want to be comforted, because they were no more.

Matthew 2:18

DayLight Prayer – Lord,  My prayer today is for mothers who have lost their children. When they feel like the holes in their hearts will overwhelm them, give them reassurance of your presence. When their memories strike their emotions with tremendous sadness, help them carry on. When they are faced with people who can never understand their heart-break, their refusal to be comforted, their reluctance to go on, give them your mighty strength to sustain them. Amen.