“We have no merit, no claim, no righteousness of our own. Dear savior, we look up to you. Oh, that some might look for the first time, and those of us that have long looked would fix our happy gaze again upon that blessed substitutionary sacrifice wherein is all our hope. Dear savior, we do take you to be everything to us, our sin-bearer and our sin-destroyer. We do not have a shadow of a shade of hope anywhere but in you, your life, your death, your resurrection, your ascension, your glory, your reign, your second advent; these are the only stars in our sky.

Amen” (Charles Spurgeon).

Lord,

As we set back our clocks, may we set our hopes eternally on You, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.

As we end daylight savings and fall back, may we always fall back on to the arms of grace whenever we are troubled and in despair.

As we near the Advent season, may we remember that You stepped into time and became for us our God-with-us, Emmanuel, who chose to leave the splendor of Your throne for a manger and the lofty halls of heaven for a stable.

Help us to be quicker to listen than to speak, to forgive than to retaliate, to serve rather than lord it over people.

You became like us so that we might become like You. You took our imperfection that we might receive Your perfection. You choose the nails and death so that we could choose life everlasting.

Keep us humble and keep us grateful. Keep us falling to our knees in dependence and thanksgiving. Keep us in Your care and grace from this time until forever.

Amen.