2017 Instagram Photo Journey: The #AdventWait

Advent begins on Sunday, December 3rd. For the last 3 years, one practice that has helped me lean into the wait of Advent was to post a picture each day on Instagram that reflects a word or theme related to the season. (Here are links to my past years’ efforts: 2014, 2015, 2016 via Instagram, hashtag #AdventWait.) It is a way for me to prayerfully contemplate a Scripture passage, drawn by a visual image.

Though our culture views December as one great big reason to shop and attend awkward office Christmas parties in the big run-up to 12/25, historically, the liturgical church calendar has viewed the weeks leading up to that date as a time of fasting, reflection and preparation. (Click here and here for info and resources for this season; click here to learn more about why a nice Jewish girl like me loves Advent.)

I will again be Instagramming my way through Advent, focused again on the theme of waiting. We all have things for which we are waiting. I have a nice long list, and I bet you might, too. But throughout Advent this year, I hope to spend a bit of time each day meditating on Old Testament passages that focus on the most essential wait of all: the longing for the revelation of the Messiah – the Son of David, born to a virgin in Bethlehem, God incarnate.

Here are the dates, daily themes I’ll use for inspiration for my pix, and Scripture passages I’ll be Instagramming each day between December 3rd and December 24th using the tag #AdventWait. Let me know if you plan to join me on this pilgrimage toward the manger.

December 3 – Wait

• Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. – Ps. 27:14

December 4 – Anticipate

• For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. – Habbakuk 2:3

December 5 – Sojourn

• it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. – Lamentations 3:26

December 6 – Linger

• Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. – Ps. 37:7

December 7 – Prepare 

• Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. – Isaiah 26:8

December 8 – Endure

• The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him. – Lamentations 3:24

December 9 – Hope

• I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. – Ps. 130:6

December 10 – Stay

• But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. – Micah 7:7

December 11 – Count on

• We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. – Ps. 33:20

December 12 – See (First night of Chanukah begins at sunset)

•  I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him. – Isaiah 8:17

December 13 – Surprise (Chanukah night two)

• How long must your servant wait? – Ps. 119:84

December 14 – Bide (Chanukah night three)

• I wait for your salvation, Lord, and I follow your commands. – Ps. 119:166

December 15 – Approach (Chanukah night four)

• Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! – Isaiah 30:18

December 16 – Look forward to (Chanukah night five)

• Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God. – Ps. 38:15

December 17 – Tarry (Chanukah night six)

• But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish. – Ps. 9:18

December 18 – Expect (Chanukah night seven)

• I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. – Ps. 130:5

December 19 – Remain (Chanukah night eight)

• But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always. – Hosea 3:26

December 20 – Ache for

• I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. – Ps. 40:1

21 – Prophesy

• Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. – Isaiah 64:4

22 – Delay

• Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. – Job 13:15

23 – Tarry

• But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. – Ps. 39:7

24 – Watch

• My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. – Is. 51:5