Have you had a prayer for your advent wreath? This month we’ve studied the four weeks of advent and the terms each candle represents. Because each week symbolizes a time that is also a part of the fruit of the Spirit, Little Pot (a fruit-bearing vessel created by the potter) spent the advent season sharing about each one. So far, we have discussed hope, faith, joy, and peace. This week is Christmas, and the final candle is white. It stands for love.
With each week and each candle, a prayer for the advent wreath was suggested. This week we will look at ways we can carry hope, faith, joy, and peace into the new year and adore Christ with the greatest of all His qualities, love.
Prayer for Advent Wreath. Hope
Dear Lord,
I adore the hope you bring. You never break your promises. I know that you promised to come and save people from their sins. Coming to earth as a baby on that first Christmas was how you would fulfill that promise. Then, your death on the cross was payment for my sin. Oh, how the people in the Old Testament must have hoped for the Messiah. They celebrated the advent of your first coming.
Because you came and died for my sins, you now promise to come and live inside me. Thank you for filling me with your Holy Spirit and growing hope through me. I believe in you and celebrate the advent of your daily presence in my life.
I also know that you promise to come again. You will one day return and reign forever. I hope for that day and celebrate the advent of your second coming, too.
Amen
Prayer for Advent Wreath. Faith
Dear Lord,
You are so faithful! Thank you for coming to earth and saving me from my sins. The faithfulness it took to come to earth as a baby and die on the cross amazes me. Your faithfulness inspired Mary, Joseph, and many others to be faithful.
Because you were faithful and died for my sins, your Holy Spirit lives inside me. You faithfully grow the fruit of the Spirit through me. I have faith in you and celebrate the advent of your daily presence in my life.
I also know that you promise to come again. You are faithful to one day return and reign forever. I anticipate the advent of your second coming, too. Continue to grow your faithfulness through me.
Amen
Joy
Dear Lord,
You are Joy! Thank you. for coming to earth and saving me. Coming to earth as a baby on that first Christmas was difficult for many. Babies were even killed when Harod searched to find you. Mary and Joseph faced many trials. Yet, it was still a moment of great joy.
Because you came, you now promise to come and live inside each of us. Thank you for filling me with your Holy Spirit and growing joy through me. I adore you and anticipate your daily presence in my life.
I also know that you promise to come again. Oh, the joy I have knowing you will return and reign forever. I celebrate the advent of your second coming, too. Continue to grow your joy through me as I wait for that day.
Amen
Prayer for Advent Wreath. Peace
Dear Lord,
You give peace that passes all understanding. Thank you! Coming to earth and saving people from their sins was just the beginning. You are called the Prince of Peace on that first Christmas because we cannot find peace without you. We celebrate the advent of your birth and the peace it brings.
Because you came and died for our sins, you now promise to come and live inside each of us. Thank you for filling me with your Holy Spirit and growing peace through me. I need that peace and anticipate your daily presence in my life.
You promise to come again. I have peace knowing that you will return and reign forever. I celebrate the advent of your second coming, too. Continue to grow peace through me and free me from worry.
Amen
The final candle and the first quality in the fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 describes the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, and patience. In addition, it lists kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. We’ve already seen how these qualities overlap with the terms used in the advent wreath and the Christmas story itself. The final candle lit on Christmas day is white and represents love. Christ says many times in scripture that love is the greatest gift. See 1 Corinthians 13. There is no greater love than laying down your life for someone else. See John 15:13.
We should adore Jesus because He came to earth as a baby to lay down His life for us. He demonstrated the greatest love of all. In John 13:34 and 15:12, He commands us to love others the way He loves us. That means we should also be willing to lay down our lives for others.
Why is the final advent candle white?
Before Christ died on the cross, the Jews would sacrifice white lambs without blemish or spot. See Exodus 12:5. The sacrifice is atonement for their sin. The lamb was a representation of Christ because He was without sin. See 1 Peter 1:19. For Jesus’ death to be the payment for our sins, He had to be without sin Himself. The white candle, therefore, represents Christ’s purity and sinless life. His death takes away our sins so that we are now pure and sinless in the sight of God.
How God produces the fruit of the Spirit
The story of The Little Pot is about a potter growing fruit through the vessel he made. Likewise, our creator wants to grow the fruit of His Spirit through us. His fruit includes love, joy, peace, faith, and hope. (Galatians 5:22-23).
Therefore, to truly celebrate the advent of Christ’s first coming, His daily presence, and His return, you’ll want to learn more about growing the fruit of the Spirit. To discover how Little Pot becomes a fruit-bearing vessel, sign up below. In addition, you will be added to our email list, and each Friday, you will receive a short, fruitful email. I hope you will join me.
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Dawn Stephens