Advent Family Prayer Challenge 2020
Welcome to the Advent Family Prayer Challenge! Your family is invited to enter into the wonder of this Advent season through Scripture, prayer and reflection.
Starting on the first Sunday of Advent, you’ll receive a daily reminder to join together as a family and pray. You can also do this daily on your own and consider meeting weekly with your Life Group to talk about the discussion questions.
Advent means arrival, and the season of Advent allows us all to prepare not just our homes, but also our hearts for Christ.
Sign up by texting ADVENT to 902-900-0509
Family Advent Challenge 2020: Day 1
Read Luke 1:26-45 The Birth of Jesus Foretold In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of...
Family Advent Challenge 2020: Day 2
Read Ephesians 1:3-10 Spiritual Blessings in Christ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,...
Family Advent Challenge 2020: Day 3
Read: Isaiah 55:1-7 An Invitation to Abundant Life Ho, everyone who thirsts,come to the waters;and you that have no money,come, buy and eat!Come, buy wine and milkwithout money and without...
Family Advent Challenge 2020: Day 4
Read Psalm 27 Triumphant Song of Confidence The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life;of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail...
Family Advent Challenge 2020: Day 5
Read James 5:7-8 Patience in Suffering Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it...
Family Advent Challenge 2020: Day 6
Read: Matthew 1:21-23 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through...
Family Advent Challenge 2020: Day 7
Read Psalm 119:105-112 Your word is a lamp to my feetand a light to my path.I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,to observe your righteous ordinances.I am severely afflicted;give me life, O...
Family Advent Challenge 2020: Day 8
Read Luke 1:46-55 Mary’s Song of Praise And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.Surely,...
Family Advent Challenge 2020: Day 9
Read Isaiah 40:1-5, 10-11 God’s People Are Comforted Comfort, O comfort my people,says your God.Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,and cry to herthat she has served her term,that her penalty is...
Family Advent Challenge 2020: Day 10
Read Genesis 3:9-15, 20-23 (if you’re a parent with young kids, this might be a good Bible story to read from a children’s Bible) The First Sin and Its Punishment But the Lord God called to...
Family Advent Challenge 2020: Day 11
Read Psalm 62:5-8 Song of Trust in God Alone For God alone my soul waits in silence,for my hope is from him.He alone is my rock and my salvation,my fortress; I shall not be shaken.On God rests...
Family Advent Challenge 2020: Day 12
Read John 1:19-34 The Testimony of John the Baptist This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did...
Family Advent Challenge 2020: Day 13
Read Psalm 121 Assurance of God’s Protection I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come?My help comes from the Lord,who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be...
Family Advent Challenge 2020: Day 14
Read Zechariah 2:10-13 Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day, and shall be my...
Family Advent Challenge 2020: Day 15
Read Philippians 4:4-9 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer...
Family Advent Challenge 2020: Day 16
Read Psalm 25:1-7 Prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.O my God, in you I trust;do not let me be put to shame;do not let my enemies exult over me.Do not...
Family Advent Prayer Challenge: Day 17
Read Psalm 34:1-18 Praise for Deliverance from Trouble I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.My soul makes its boast in the Lord;let the humble...
Family Advent Prayer Challenge: Day 18
Read Colossians 1:9-20 For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom...
Family Advent Prayer Challenge: Day 19
Read Isaiah 11:1-9 The Peaceful Kingdom A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,and a branch shall grow out of his roots.The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,the spirit of wisdom...
Family Advent Prayer Challenge: Day 20
Read Micah 5:2-4 The Ruler from Bethlehem But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,who are one of the little clans of Judah,from you shall come forth for meone who is to rule in Israel,whose...
Family Advent Prayer Challenge: Day 21
Read Isaiah 11:10-11 & Habakkuk 2:2-3 Isaiah 11:10-11 Return of the Remnant of Israel and Judah On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall...
Family Advent Prayer Challenge: Day 22
Read Psalm 107:1-15 & Isaiah 22:22 Psalm 107:1-15 Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Many Troubles O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;for his steadfast love endures forever.Let...Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to be a certain age to participate?
The prayers and reflections are written to be multi-generational, so all ages can participate! Parents are encouraged to adapt for their own children, if necessary. Simply joining together as a family once a day to read God’s Word and pray together, whether around the dinner table or before bed, can help little ones prioritize faith in their lives, so even if your children are too young to follow the main themes, it is still a worthwhile exercise to include them.
What if I signed up late? Or miss a day?
The good news is that you will be able to pick this Challenge up at any point during Advent! If you start from the beginning, we encourage doing it every day (that’s what’s fun about a challenge!) but if you miss day, don’t get discouraged and overwhelmed feeling you need to do the day you missed. Pick it up on the next day you get together to pray and keep going.
Do we have to do the prayers at a certain time each day?
You should decide what is the best time to pray with your family. Plan it during a time that you’re generally together, and try to make it happen at that time daily. Meal times or right before bed is a great time to try! What is most important in this challenge is that you take the time to get together and pray together.
What if I live alone or don’t have children?
You are unlikely to find these readings or reflections childish at all, so this has been created with you in mind too! We want to encourage family faith growth through this challenge, but “family” means different things to different people. Maybe invite someone to do it with you and you can text each other your thoughts each day once you have read it. Or create a group to meet with weekly to discuss the daily readings and prayers. You are of course welcome to pray on your own each day using this resource.
Do I have to pray the exact words that are given to us each day?
No, you do not. They are there to be a starting point. Be open to praying specifically for what Scripture stirred up in your discussion.
How can I remember to pray? December is such a busy month!
You’ll get a text, but of course that is unlikely to come at the exact right time. Starting a habit of doing it at the same time each day will help. But another ideas is to create an alarm on your phone to go off each day at the time you plan to pray together to remind you.
How is this different from the Advent Bible reading plan on the Bible app? Do I have to pick just one?
The Advent Family Prayer Challenge is meant to be read out loud with everyone in your home. The reading plan called A Weary World Rejoices on the Bible app is meant for individual prayer and study. Both are important and both can absolutely help you prepare Him room this Advent.