Warfield Church : Advent Calendar

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2: 19

‘Ponder’ is a lovely word. We all have treasures in our hearts: things, places or people that we love, happy memories. Sit quietly for a few minutes and count your blessings – ponder what your ‘treasures’ mean to you, enjoy dwelling on them in your mind, and thank God for them.

“For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:13-14

We often find it hard to think well of ourselves. Most of us dislike a part of our body, or feel shame about some of our thoughts and inclinations. But God knows us through and through. He planned each one of us as the pinnacle of His creation! Spend some time trying to appreciate yourself, marvelling at how your body works, and how your thoughts flow. You could repeat today’s words from Psalm 139 out loud to try and convince yourself!

“And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.’” Luke 2: 13-14

Remember God is pleased with you – He imagined you, and made you just as you are, because He wanted you just like this. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Picture God looking at you with love, because you are exactly the person he longs for. Be still for a while, resting in the warmth of His gaze upon you.

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.’” Luke 2: 10

Throughout the nativity story, angels burst into people’s lives with astounding news, and before people can act on these announcements, the angels have to say, ‘Do not be afraid!’ Most of us don’t like being confronted with a sudden upset or an unreasonable instruction. But today, as we draw closer to the miracle of Christmas, take a moment to ask God if He is asking you to do something new, something beyond your comfort zone. And do not be afraid!

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.” Luke 2: 8-9

Being a shepherd wasn’t glamorous – it was a dirty job. Make a list of people who do tough, dirty or dangerous jobs in our society, and spend a few minutes reflecting on their service. If you meet someone cleaning, serving or carrying today, be bold to thank them for what they do.

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloth and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” Luke 2: 6-7

Take something soft, like cotton wool or a ball of knitting yarn, in your hands and hold it lightly. Things weren’t comfortable for Mary or her son in the stable. As you feel the softness in your hands, be really thankful to God for all the ways that you are blessed with comfort in your life: warm clothes, a roof over your head, a bed at night…

This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 John 4: 9

What a blessing that we can know God’s love for us, and that we are able to share that love freely! In many countries, it’s hard for people to tell others of their faith in Jesus. Pick a country from the World Watch List World Watch List 2025 · Serving Persecuted Christians Worldwide and pray for the family of God there.

“How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.” Ephesians 1: 3-6 (The Message)

As we prepare for Christmas, often getting caught up in planning for meals and presents, isn’t it refreshing to think of God planning for us, preparing good things for us, settling on us as the focus of His love! Today, you could make a list of all the things God has done for you, practical things like providing a home, and spiritual things like choosing you and loving you. Spend time saying thank you! You could put the list in your bag or pocket, where you will find it over the coming days, as a reminder of God’s lavish gift-giving.

“With the loving mercy of our God, a new day from heaven will shine upon us. God will help those who live in darkness, in the fear of death. He will guide us into the path that goes toward peace.” Luke 1: 76 – 79 (I.C.B.)

Zechariah prophesies this over his baby son, John. And later, Jesus tells his disciples to seek out ‘people of peace’, because they will be open to His message. Close your eyes and imagine yourself walking from a place of darkness into the light. Ask God to help you become a person of peace – not just someone who avoids conflict, but someone open to Jesus’ teachings, someone who walks in His way.

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” Luke 1: 47-48

What makes you glorify the Lord? What makes your spirit rejoice? Spend a few moments identifying this, and try to keep it alive in your thoughts today. Try to recall it to the forefront of your mind, and take time through the day for your spirit to rejoice and glorify the Lord – and appreciate the gladness in your soul as a result!

“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice, she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!’” Luke 1: 41-42

Do something you enjoy – go for a walk, bake a cake, spend time with a friend, do a crossword – and consciously rejoice in the activity, perhaps stopping sometimes to thank God for things that bring joy in our lives.

This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham… this is how the birth of Jesus came about: his mother Mary… was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit… Matthew 1: 1, 18.

Spend some time thanking God for His amazing plan through time. Imagine that from before the first star shone in the darkness of eternity, God had a plan for you and your life!

Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1: 30 – 33

Jesus is the Son of the Most High, yet he experienced life just as we do – through his physical body. Today, as you do something practical (maybe a job you don’t enjoy doing!), make a point of thanking God that you can do it, and that Jesus was a physical person just like you. Offer the experience of the practical task as a sacrifice to Him.

“I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” Luke 1: 19-20

We all have areas of struggle and doubt in our faith. Call to mind something you find hard to believe or trust in, and then write it on a piece of paper. Crumple the paper and throw it away, or burn it if you can do this safely. God does not condemn us for our struggles & doubts; He wants us to be free of them, He wants us to allow ourselves to let go of them and trust Him.

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. – Luke 1:41

We all have people that we love and care for; friends, family, people close to our hearts. Spend some time looking at a photo of someone you love, and rejoice! Thank God for their part in your life, and praise Him for the joy of human relationships. Stand up, move around, sing if you like!

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth with bear you a son, and you are to call him John.” - Luke 1:13

Zechariah & Elizabeth waited a long, long time for their prayers to be answered. Think of something you’ve prayed for repeatedly – you could hold your hands in front of you, and imagine your prayer request held in your hands, like a precious baby. Place your prayer request in God’s hands – he will treat the longing of your heart with care and love, whatever His answer.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning. ³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1: 1-5

The spoken word is very powerful: Jesus spoke all things into being. Choose a favourite Bible passage (or use the Psalm 117 below) and say it out loud a few times, as a prayer.

Praise the Lord, all you nations;
    extol him, all you peoples.
²For great is his love towards us,
    and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever. Praise the Lord

‘For I will pour out water on the thirsty land

And streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring
And My blessing on your descendants;
And they will spring up among the grass
Like poplars by streams of water.’Isaiah 44:3-4

Pour yourself a glass of water, giving thanks for the clean water we enjoy. As you spend some time in prayer, take sips of the water and be conscious of the blessing of clean, fresh water which is so easily available. Pray for people around the world who don’t have easy access to clean water.

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
    from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
²The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him –
    the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and of might,
    the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord –
³and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.” Isaiah 11:1-3

Draw the outline of a tree on some paper (it doesn’t have to be great art!) and add some leaves. In the leaves, write or draw some areas of your life where you need God’s wisdom, understanding, counsel or strength. Then spend some time carefully colouring each leaf, as you hand those areas of your life to God and let them go.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Write these names of God on four pieces of paper, so you can focus on each in turn. Spend a few minutes reflecting on what these names mean to you: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2

Think how difficult it is to walk safely in the dark. Now light a candle and notice the light, warmth and movement of the flame. Spend some time giving thanks to God for His light that guides us, His love that warms us, and the movement of His spirit to guide us.

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Advent Calendar December 2025

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