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Hey everyone, Pastor John Harris here. Thanks for joining me again for our Advent journey.

Advent is this season where we slow down… we breathe… and we wait. We remember the promise that God came to us—and that He’s coming again. It’s about longing, hoping, expecting.

Today’s verse hits right at the heart of that hope.
Isaiah 7:14 says: “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.”

Immanuel. God with us.
Man… think about that. God didn’t stay far away. He didn’t shout from heaven. He came close. He wrapped Himself in flesh. He walked dusty roads. He felt pain. He felt joy. He stepped right into our world—into our mess.

Why?
Because He wanted to be with you.
Not just near you… with you.

And maybe today… you feel alone. Maybe you’re tired. Maybe fear hits hard sometimes. I get that. But Advent reminds us—Jesus came. God moved in. His presence isn’t a theory. It’s not a feeling you have to work up. It’s a promise.
Immanuel.

So today, speak to Him like He’s right there. Because He is. Just say, “Jesus, be near. Jesus, I need You.” Simple words… honest words. He loves that.

Advent is about remembering that God didn’t wait for us to climb up to Him—He came down to us. Right into our world. Right into your life. He’s close. He’s here. He’s Immanuel.

If you’ve missed any of the devotionals so far, or you want to go back and catch up, head over to johnmarkharris.net—everything is right there for you.

Love you all. Stay focused. Stay expectant.
See you tomorrow.

Hey everybody, Pastor John Harris here. Thanks for joining me again for our Advent journey.

Advent just means arrival. We’re remembering how God’s people waited for Jesus, and we’re training our hearts to wait with hope again.

Today’s verse is Micah 5:2, and it hits me every time. It says:
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
you are small among the clans of Judah;
one will come from you
to be ruler over Israel for me.
His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times.”

Bethlehem. Tiny. Overlooked. Nobody powerful came from there. It’s the kind of place you’d drive past and not even slow down.
But God says, That’s where I’m going to start my rescue plan.
Not in a palace. Not in a capital city.
In a small, ordinary, humble place.

That’s how God works.
He keeps His promises… but He loves to surprise us.
He loves to step into places we’d never expect.
And maybe you feel small today. Maybe your life feels ordinary. Quiet. Hidden. Maybe you’re thinking, “God won’t start anything big here.”

But Bethlehem was small too.
And that’s exactly where the King came.

So don’t write off the small moments.
Don’t underestimate the little conversations, the quiet prayers, the hidden faithfulness that nobody sees.
God does some of His greatest work in places that feel too simple, too ordinary, too… Bethlehem.

This Advent, ask God to open your eyes.
Look for Him in the small places.
Look for Him in the quiet.
He’s still the same God who brings greatness out of humility.

If you missed earlier devotionals, or you want to go deeper, head over to johnmarkharris.net—all the previous days are there.
Love you all. Keep watching. Keep waiting. The King is coming.

Hi friends, I’m Pastor John Harris, and welcome to today’s Advent devotional.

Advent is this special season where we slow down and intentionally prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus—both celebrating His first coming at Christmas and longing for His return. It’s a season of expectation, hope, and looking toward the light Christ brings into our world.

Today’s verse is Isaiah 9:6:
“For a child will be born for us,
a son will be given to us,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
He will be named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

This is one of the clearest, most powerful prophecies about the Messiah—written hundreds of years before Jesus was born. Isaiah gives us these four names that tell us exactly who this Child would be and what He would bring into the world.

“Wonderful Counselor”—Jesus isn’t just wise; He brings supernatural, perfect wisdom.


Mighty God”—He’s not just a teacher or example; He is divine strength in the flesh.


“Eternal Father”—He cares for us with a fatherly, steadfast love that doesn’t fade.


“Prince of Peace”—Where Jesus reigns, peace follows. He brings wholeness, not chaos.

And Isaiah says “the government will be on his shoulders.” That means all authority, all rule, all power ultimately rests on Him. The birth of Jesus was not just a cute nativity moment—it was the arrival of God’s true King stepping into our world.

So here’s the big point today: The Messiah’s birth brings divine rule, and His names show us exactly who He is.
And that means you and I can trust Him with whatever we’re facing.

So let me ask you—what’s weighing on you today? What’s the thing you’ve been carrying around in your mind or heart? The anxiety you haven’t really prayed about? The decision you’re not sure how to make?
Jesus invites you to bring it to Him.
If He is truly the Wonderful Counselor, then He is the One who listens, guides, comforts, and leads us with perfect wisdom.

Today, take one anxious concern—just one—and bring it to Him in prayer.
Name it out loud.
Hand it over.
Ask the Wonderful Counselor to carry what you weren’t designed to hold.

That’s part of what Advent is all about—learning again to trust the King who came for us.

If you missed any previous devotionals, or you’d like to go back and re-watch earlier videos, you can find them all at johnmarkharris.net.

Thanks for joining me today. I’ll see you tomorrow as we continue walking together through Advent.

I’m so glad you’re joining me as we kick off the Advent season.

You might be wondering—what exactly is Advent?

Advent simply means “arrival” or “coming.” It’s the four weeks leading up to Christmas when we intentionally slow down to remember, celebrate, and anticipate the coming of Jesus—both His birth in Bethlehem and His promised return.
Today is December 1st, and our Scripture comes from

Isaiah 9:2:
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; to those who lived in a land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”

Isaiah wrote those words to a people living in fear, uncertainty, and spiritual darkness. They felt surrounded by hopelessness. Yet God speaks right into that darkness and promises—a light is coming. Not just any light, but a light powerful enough to break through the deepest night. That light is Jesus.

Here’s the aim of today’s Advent devotion:
Advent announces that the darkness of the world is met by God’s light.
And let’s be honest—darkness is still real today. Maybe for you it’s anxiety that won’t quiet down. Maybe discouragement, loneliness, financial stress, or just the weight of everything happening in the world. But Advent reminds us—we don’t have to pretend the darkness isn’t there. We just don’t have to believe it’s the end of the story.

Because Christ has come. And His light is stronger than the darkness.
When Jesus stepped into our world, hope dawned. Light broke in. And that light is still shining today.

So here’s the application for us:
When anxiety or discouragement feels overwhelming, remember—Christ’s coming breaks the darkness.

Choose to look for His light today. And don’t stop there—point others to that light too. Send the encouraging text. Offer the prayer. Be the voice of hope in someone else’s darkness.

As we begin Advent, let’s pray:
Jesus, thank You for being the light in our darkness. When we feel overwhelmed, remind us of Your presence. Help us not only to see Your light but to reflect it in how we love, how we speak, and how we live today. Amen.

Thanks for joining me today. I can’t wait to keep walking through this Advent journey with you. God bless, and I’ll see you tomorrow.