‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

This week we are celebrating the Advent season, a time of reflection and anticipation for the birth of our Savior, Christ Jesus. As we look toward a new year, Deborah, Ray, and I like to choose a word to focus on. Advent is about hope, love, joy, and peace. Some traditions may include selecting a word or activity for the day. My word for 2021 is “Refine” which means to remove impurities or unwanted elements from or improve by making small changes, or to become finer, elegant, or polished.

God is refining us so that we can be filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy which leads me to my mantra, “Be a Fruit Bearer” from ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Let’s take this time of Advent to inwardly look at ourselves so that we can embody all nine characteristics of the Spirit’s fruit and be polished by the refiner’s fire as we move toward 2026.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for this sacred Advent season to reflect and grow closer to You. I desire to be filled with Your inexpressible and glorious joy. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Bonus: One of your traditions may be an Advent Christmas bucket list. If you practice this tradition, we would love to hear from you.

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