Advent opens the Christian year. For four Sundays the Church waits: looking back to the first coming of Jesus, and forward to the day he comes again.
God's people learned how to wait in the Psalms long before the first Advent. They waited in the dark, they asked how long, and they kept watch for the morning.
Here is one psalm for each day, with a few verses to begin with and a line to carry. Open any day, in any order, and stay as long as you like.
Advent is shorter in some years, so Christmas often arrives before the fourth week is done. Its last two psalms, 96 and 98, are the Church's Christmas psalms, and a good way to keep the feast.
Week 1: Waiting in the dark
The first week sits with longing: people who cannot yet see the morning, praying toward it anyway.
- Day 1Shine on usWeek 1 · Sunday · Psalm 80
- Day 2Watching for morningWeek 1 · Monday · Psalm 130
- Day 3Lifting up my soulWeek 1 · Tuesday · Psalm 25
- Day 4A long wait, a new songWeek 1 · Wednesday · Psalm 40
- Day 5Light in the darkWeek 1 · Thursday · Psalm 27
- Day 6Quiet waitingWeek 1 · Friday · Psalm 62
- Day 7Eyes on his handWeek 1 · Saturday · Psalm 123
Week 2: Prepare the way
The second week makes room: honest confession, a searched heart, and gates lifted high for the King.
- Day 8Righteousness and peaceWeek 2 · Sunday · Psalm 85
- Day 9A heart made newWeek 2 · Monday · Psalm 51
- Day 10Searched and knownWeek 2 · Tuesday · Psalm 139
- Day 11Open the gatesWeek 2 · Wednesday · Psalm 24
- Day 12Light and truth to lead meWeek 2 · Thursday · Psalm 43
- Day 13God's time and oursWeek 2 · Friday · Psalm 90
- Day 14The God who comesWeek 2 · Saturday · Psalm 50
Week 3: Joy on the way
The third week lets joy in early: tears that become songs, the lowly lifted, and the brokenhearted healed.
- Day 15Tears and harvestWeek 3 · Sunday · Psalm 126
- Day 16Sight for the blindWeek 3 · Monday · Psalm 146
- Day 17The lowly lifted upWeek 3 · Tuesday · Psalm 113
- Day 18Joy in his presenceWeek 3 · Wednesday · Psalm 16
- Day 19Night, then morningWeek 3 · Thursday · Psalm 30
- Day 20Near to the brokenheartedWeek 3 · Friday · Psalm 34
- Day 21The one who names the starsWeek 3 · Saturday · Psalm 147
Week 4: The King is coming
The last week gathers the promises made to David and turns them toward Bethlehem and Christmas.
- Day 22A covenant with DavidWeek 4 · Sunday · Psalm 89
- Day 23A lamp for the anointedWeek 4 · Monday · Psalm 132
- Day 24Justice for the poorWeek 4 · Tuesday · Psalm 72
- Day 25The SonWeek 4 · Wednesday · Psalm 2
- Day 26David's son and David's LordWeek 4 · Thursday · Psalm 110
- Day 27A new song for all the earthWeek 4 · Friday · Psalm 96
- Day 28Joy to the worldWeek 4 · Saturday · Psalm 98