Reflection and Prayer by Claire Cummiskey (10th grade)
2 Peter 1:3—11
1. How can you “support your faith with goodness” in the world today?
2. What promises of God bring you hope?
Reflection: God has called us and given us everything that we need to live for God, but we are still responsible to respond and participate in “supporting our faith with goodness.” My faith can be supported with goodness by loving others and not prejudging them. Sharing God with others is another way my faith can be supported with goodness. God’s promises of love, grace, and mercy give me hope. I need to learn to forgive even when I may not really want to. The more we realize how God’s grace has cleansed our own sins, the easier it becomes to let go of our grudges and judgments toward others.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for promising your love, grace, and mercy; you give us hope. Please help me to love and share the hope I find in you with everyone. Please help me to forgive. Amen.
The 2013 Advent Devotions were written by Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) youth and their leaders at the 2013 Youth Triennium. Each day provides a lectionary-based Scripture passage, questions for reflection, and the students’ responses.