Something in me is stirring;
I think it’s the part of me
that waits in lonely exile
and yearns for a homeland.

It’s the hidden part of me
that wanders aimlessly,
stumbling in the dark,
crying to be found.

Today: I bring all of myself to the Holy One.

Source: May I Have This Dance?, p. 182

This reflection from Anchors for the Soul: Daily Wisdom for Inspiration and Guidance by Joyce Rupp is reprinted with permission of the publisher, Ave Maria Press.
https://www.avemariapress.com/products/anchors-for-the-soul

Advent is a season for exiles.
It is a time of waiting,
a time of yearning for light
to dispel the darkness.
The Advent atmosphere is rooted
in the experience of exile
described in the Hebrew scriptures.
The people were far from their homeland.
The Messiah would light their way home.

Advent expresses this yearning
to return home to a secure place of peace.

Today: I long for peace to become stronger in me.

Source: May I Have This Dance?, pp. 184–185

This reflection from Anchors for the Soul: Daily Wisdom for Inspiration and Guidance by Joyce Rupp is reprinted with permission of the publisher, Ave Maria Press.
https://www.avemariapress.com/products/anchors-for-the-soul

God of hope, come! Enter into every human heart
that cries out for a glimpse of your love,
for a sign of your welcoming presence,
for a taste of your happiness.
Be the one who calms the restless
and gentles the ache of the human journey.

God of hope, come! Enter into this Advent season
with the grace of joy and laughter.
Fill faces with smiles of delight
and voices with sounds of pleasure.
Let this gift come from deep within.
Replenish all with the joyful blessings
that only your peace can bring.

Today: I welcome joy whenever it shows up.

Source: Out of the Ordinary, p. 6

This reflection from Anchors for the Soul: Daily Wisdom for Inspiration and Guidance by Joyce Rupp is reprinted with permission of the publisher, Ave Maria Press.
https://www.avemariapress.com/products/anchors-for-the-soul

In using a metaphor such as “rock”
when we refer to God,
we are indicating that we have someone
who is a strong support, a sturdy shelter,
and a comforting presence for us.
It also suggests that we believe in a God
who is an eternal refuge,
a constant source of strength,
one whose love is as enduring
as the ancient rocks of the universe.
The next time you see a rock or a large stone,
touch it, or sit upon it, or hold it in your hand.
Let it speak to you of the marvels of God our Rock.

Today: I remember that God gives me support.

Source: Inviting God In, p. 29

This reflection from Anchors for the Soul: Daily Wisdom for Inspiration and Guidance by Joyce Rupp is reprinted with permission of the publisher, Ave Maria Press.
https://www.avemariapress.com/products/anchors-for-the-soul

Angels appear at significant moments
in people’s lives. They act as messengers of God,
guiding, inviting, protecting, and giving direction.
They offer both comfort and challenge.

Angels in scripture remind us
there is a spiritual realm in our lives
where God is always desiring
to be known and heard.

Advent is a good time to be more aware
of this spiritual dimension,
to be open to hearing the voice of God,
to be open to receiving comfort and guidance
whether this comes in prayer
or in the hidden disguise of another person
who is an unexpected messenger of God for us?

Today: I am open and alert to God’s messengers.

Source: Inviting God In, p. 26

This reflection from Anchors for the Soul: Daily Wisdom for Inspiration and Guidance by Joyce Rupp is reprinted with permission of the publisher, Ave Maria Press.
https://www.avemariapress.com/products/anchors-for-the-soul

The presence of God is everywhere.
The more I am aware of this,
the more joy my heart contains.
The better I listen and the more closely
I look at where Love is present,
the happier I am,
the more kindness I generate,
the greater peace I experience.
It doesn’t take much to sing joyfully
to God—simply a human heart
delighting in the beauty and miracles
inherent in every single day.
Today: My spirit sings joyfully.

Source: God’s Enduring Presence, p. 79

This reflection from Anchors for the Soul: Daily Wisdom for Inspiration and Guidance by Joyce Rupp is reprinted with permission of the publisher, Ave Maria Press.
https://www.avemariapress.com/products/anchors-for-the-soul

Advent is a season of hopeful growth,
a time when we can bring to God
what is wounded in us
and ask for restoration.
It is a good time to pause and ask:
What is there within my life
that I need to bring to the feet of Jesus for healing?
Has any part of my life gone lame?
Has my enthusiasm waned?
My trust in others broken?
My energy to do good depleted?
Have I been blind to things
that need tending in my spirit?

Today: I ask for restoration.

Source: Inviting God In, p. 22

This reflection from Anchors for the Soul: Daily Wisdom for Inspiration and Guidance by Joyce Rupp is reprinted with permission of the publisher, Ave Maria Press.
https://www.avemariapress.com/products/anchors-for-the-soul

Advent beckons to us.
Be still.
Be alert.

Cry out to God.
Cry out to be open and receptive.
Sharpen your awareness
of the One who dwells within.

Open up.
Hollow out.
Receive.
Welcome the One who comes.

Today: I am alert to Advent’s beckoning.

Source: Fresh Bread, p. 152

This reflection from Anchors for the Soul: Daily Wisdom for Inspiration and Guidance by Joyce Rupp is reprinted with permission of the publisher, Ave Maria Press.
https://www.avemariapress.com/products/anchors-for-the-soul

You came to dwell among us long ago.
No matter how dull and lifeless
or how happy and fulfilling our lives may be,
there is always need for a deeper awareness
of your hopeful presence.
There are signs of your coming,
signs of your continued presence
everywhere in our lives.
Freshen up our vision
so we can recognize your dwelling
within and among us, as we move hurriedly
in this busy season of the year.

Today: I look for the Word Made Flesh.

Source: Out of the Ordinary, p. 8

This reflection from Anchors for the Soul: Daily Wisdom for Inspiration and Guidance by Joyce Rupp is reprinted with permission of the publisher, Ave Maria Press.
https://www.avemariapress.com/products/anchors-for-the-soul

The Place of Growth
in the dark days of my heart
I do not wait to walk
until light lingers
for I know not
when it shall come.

I go instead
stumbling into darkness,
searching for a road
straining to see a way.

darkness—
it is the place of growth,
and I am ripe for it.

Today: I remember that both light and darkness are needed for true growth.

Source: Dear Heart, Come Home, pp. 39–40

This reflection from Anchors for the Soul: Daily Wisdom for Inspiration and Guidance by Joyce Rupp is reprinted with permission of the publisher, Ave Maria Press.
https://www.avemariapress.com/products/anchors-for-the-soul