Copyright Page
2021 by Susie Larson
Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www .be thanyhouse .co m
Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Ebook edition created 2021
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-0-7642-3807-9 (cloth)
ISBN 978-1-4934-3356-8 (ebook)
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked AMP are from the Amplified Bible (AMP), copyright 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE , copyright 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Scripture quotations marked NIV are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked VOICE are taken from The Voice. Copyright 2012 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Cover design by Brand Navigation
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Dedication
To Mom
For making Christmastime something to behold.
Love you so much,
Susie
Contents
Cover
Half Title Page
Books by Susie Larson
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Authors Note
Introduction
Day 1 : Embrace Expectancy
Day 2 : The Savior of the World
Day 3 : Prepare the Way
Day 4 : Let the Spirit Lead
Day 5 : Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplication
Day 6 : The Kingdom Is Yours
Day 7 : Encountering Jesus
Day 8 : The Gift of Presence and Listening
Day : A Physical and Spiritual Kingdom
Day 10 : Marvel
Day 11 : Ask, Dont Demand
Day 13 : Contend for the Faith
Day 14 : See the Story
Day 15 : Jesus Pursues the Wanderer
Day 16 : Shrewd, Not Scrooge
Day 17 : Live like Jesus
Day 18 : Do You Know Him?
Day 19 : An Unexpected Savior
Day : Live, Dont Watch
Day 21 : Discern the Times
Day 22 : Communion
Day 23 : Death Defeated!
Day 24 : Live the Promised Life
Acknowledgments
Notes
Back Ad
Back Cover
Authors Note
I ve been a big proponent of fasting for many years. I dont believe fasting needs to be limited to food. (Some people have health issues that keep them from entering a standard fast.) Ive done creative fasts for decades (social media, TV, sweet treats, snacks, etc.). My husband, Kev, and I recently read Dr. Alicia Britt Choles book 40 Days of Decrease , in which she invites the reader to a different fast each day (fast from skepticism, self-protection, etc.). The fasts at the end of each chapter in this Advent devotional were inspired both by Dr. Choles book and my own passion to practice restraint in seasons of indulgence. I highly recommend Dr. Choles book for your Lenten season. Its a brilliant read. I pray youll enter this journey with your whole heart.
Introduction
P REPARE : To make ready; to make necessary adjustments; to position yourself to receive your King and to receive His blessing.
C hristmas is a time of great joy, expectancy, and celebration. Yet all too often we lose ourselves in holiday preparations and miss the sacredness of the season. Why does it matter? Because its this holiday on which we honor the birth of our Savior. Its this time of year when people are most open to the things of God. And its precisely this season when Christians most often lose sight of whats available to them in Christ Jesus.
We are people created in Gods image. We have access to His presence and His promises. So why all the strain and stress? Dare we ask ourselves what honestly matters most to us this season?
God invites us to push away the clutter, turn down the noise, and offer Him the sacred space in our lives so that the King of Glory may enter, take up residence, and radically change us from the inside out. We can race through the holiday season more stressed than blessed, or we can slow down, ponder the reality of Christ within us, and respond to His miraculous work within us.
Change your focus, determine your pace, adjust your priorities, and this could be your most life-giving holiday season yet.
Whether you already walk intimately with Jesus or you see Him more like a distant relative, do know Hes very near and that He came to redeem every aspect of who you are.
The gospel of Luke offers us a detailed account of Jesus birth, life, death, and ultimate resurrection. Jesus life will transform ours if we let Him. Journey with me through this amazing gospel. Lets prepare our hearts to encounter Jesus in a fresh, compelling, and life-changing way.
Let earth receive her King!
With breathless expectancy,
Susie Larson
Day 1
Embrace Expectancy
Todays Reading: Luke 1
O THER P ASSAGES TO P ONDER
But if we look forward to something we dont yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently. Romans 8:25
In the morning, O Eternal One, listen for my voice;
in the days first light, I will offer my prayer to You and watch expectantly for Your answer. Psalm 5:3 VOICE
The message of Christmas... is not about manufacturing sentimental feelings in vain hopes of a miracle. Its about believing the reality that God has birthed something new in Jesus and because of this, God will birth something new in you and in me. And that
S omething new. When it comes to the lives and hearts of Gods people, God is always up to something new. Though we love to look for signs or subtle shifts in circumstance, though its such a gift to sense Gods presence and receive insight from His Word, Hes working even when we cant see Him, feel Him, or sense Him. Hes always working, continually listening to our prayers and faithfully interceding for usorchestrating circumstances that, when displayed in all their fullness, will reveal Gods fatherly heart for His children, will unveil His meticulous attention to detail, and will leave us breathless.
All of heaven is for us. Imagine.
What joy when the breakthrough finally comes! What a blessing when He reminds us that He keeps His promises.