To listen to today’s activity, click here!

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” Psalm 37:7.

This week we have been talking about waiting for God to work in our hearts. We have practiced our verse all week and today is the day you get to share it in a public way. I want you to find a place in your home, with your parents permission, to write this weeks Bible verse.

It could be on a mirror in the bathroom. It could be on a paper on the fridge. Maybe it’s on a window with dry erase markers. Talk about it with your parents and pick a place, then try to write the verse from memory.

We are really proud of you guys for working so hard these last few weeks and I hope that you not only memorized the Bible verses, but that you were able to actually think about the AMAZING gift that Jesus is for all of us!

"Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” 1 Chronicles 16:11

I’m not sure I’ve ever been good at waiting. I can remember being a kid and waking up way too early on Christmas morning and having to sit at the top of the stairs in our house and wait for my parents to get everything ready before I could come down to open my gifts. I can remember being told we were going to get a dog “soon” and having to wait until the time was just right to welcome a puppy into our family. Any time I tried out for a team and had to wait to see if I made it, I hated it.

In looking back at all of these situations, I have realized that there was something happening in the waiting. God was moving, and the real thing that needed to change was me. My perspective needed to shift. My heart and mind needed to be formed in a different way. I needed to learn to step more into the things that God was doing instead of just worrying about what I wanted. Psalm 37:4 has become a verse that I have hoped would guide my thoughts and actions: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

As we go through life and encounter different people and circumstances, we have to shift our focus and learn to not delight in worldly things, success, or treasure. We have to shift our desires and dreams and bring them in line with God’s plan. On the other hand, we cannot get dragged into despair and spiral down. Life is hard and we can easily get overwhelmed and lose hope. As we navigate all of this, we need to learn to “seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33)” and consistently turn to God for our refuge. We need to learn to trust Him, His love for us, and be content in our standing as a child of God. As we do this, it sometimes means that we have to wait. We have to believe that God is good, that his promises are true, and we can live an abundant life with Him today.

Is it hard for you to wait on things in your life? If so, what do you think is at the root of your struggle to wait?

How could focusing on the peace and promises of God help you learn how to wait and trust God?

What are some practical things you can do to help you learn how to seek God and learn how to wait?

“May our desires align with all that You intend, as we await the fulfillment of Your promises.”

1 Chronicles 16:11 (ESV) Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 

Have you ever noticed how children's Christmas wish lists evolve as they grow older? What starts as a catalog full of circled toys gradually shifts to more practical items, and eventually, many discover that their deepest Christmas wishes can't be wrapped in paper and ribbon at all. This transformation of desires mirrors our spiritual journey during Advent. The prophet Micah spoke profound words that still echo through time: "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8). Like a loving parent helping a child understand what truly matters, God gently guides us toward desires that align with His perfect will.

Think about your own Christmas wishes this year. Perhaps they include hopes for healing in a relationship, peace in your community, or a deeper connection with God. These longings reflect a heart that's beginning to beat in rhythm with God's own heart. During Advent, we're invited to examine our desires and ask: Do they mirror God's priorities? Are we seeking His kingdom first?

Sometimes we can feel torn between the world's glittering promises and God's quiet invitation to something deeper. The mall beckons with its promises of satisfaction through purchases. Social media tempts us with images of perfect holidays. Yet Christ's arrival heralds a different kind of fulfillment – one that transforms our very desires. Imagine standing in a dark room with just one candle lit. As more candles are lit, the darkness retreats, and we begin to see things more clearly. This is what happens as we allow God to align our desires with His. What once seemed important may fade in significance, while things we barely noticed – justice, mercy, peace – begin to capture our hearts.

During this Advent season, God invites us to a gentle but profound transformation. It's not about eliminating all earthly desires but rather about allowing them to be refined and redirected. Maybe that desire for success becomes a longing to make a difference in others' lives. Perhaps that wish for comfort evolves into a heart for serving those in need. As we approach Christmas, let's practice what we might call "holy wanting" – bringing our desires before God and allowing Him to shape them. This might mean sitting quietly with Scripture each morning, journaling about our hopes and dreams, or having honest conversations with trusted friends about where God might be leading us.

Remember, this alignment isn't about forcing ourselves to want different things through sheer willpower. Instead, it's about drawing closer to God and allowing His Spirit to naturally transform our desires. Like a compass needle gradually aligning with magnetic north, our hearts slowly turn toward God's purposes as we spend time in His presence.

Take a moment to reread today’s Scripture passage and then spend some time reflecting on the following question:

1 Chronicles 16:11 (ESV) Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 

• What are some of your deepest desires this Advent season? Bring these desires to God and ask Him to shape and align them with His heart.