Each Wednesday in Advent, I will share a prayer for us to pray together as a church family. The theme of this week’s prayer is joy since we lit the candle of joy this past Sunday in worship. As you pray this week’s prayer of joy, may God fill your heart with the joy that only Jesus can bring. I love you, Union family, and pray that your week is filled with the joy of the Lord.
Lord, we come to you just as we are. Some of us feel tired, others are full of delight at this time of year. Yet, all of us are looking for your joy to guide us forward. You, God, are the one who plants joy in our hearts. Even when life feels heavy and hard, your joy breaks through like flowers growing in the cracks of the sidewalk.
We thank you for the little things in life—stars shining on a cold night, children laughing as they play, the warmth of holding someone’s hand, and the courage to keep going when life feels challenging. You remind us that “the joy of the Lord is our strength,” and we hold on to that promise. Real joy isn’t just a passing feeling. It’s a steady confidence that you are with us and can always be trusted.
O God, during this season of waiting, may your joy give us the strength we need to love others, to share your light, and to trust you on the journey. You are the source of our joy. You are our Emmanuel, God with us! We love you and thank you for your joy, not only during this season, but each day.
With hearts full of the joy of Jesus, we say Amen.