An Advent Prayer on Joy

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” - Luke 2:10-11 - Verse Image

This week’s Advent theme is joy: the praise-filled assurance that God is in control and working everything out for our good and His glory.

Take a moment to reflect on God’s goodness and fix your heart on Jesus with this prayer:

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the joy that entered the world when Jesus was born.
Thank you for becoming God with us.
Lord, sometimes it’s difficult to live joyfully, especially in difficult or busy seasons.
Please purify our hearts this week and remind us that You’re in control.
Help us to consider it joy when we experience trials of any kind because we know You’re creating something beautiful and eternal.
As we fix our eyes and hearts on You, fill our souls with renewed strength, courage, and hope.
Lord, you are always worthy of being praised – and we want to worship You!
Amen


Start a Christmas or Advent Plan

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This Advent Prayer is the third in a series of four.
Week 1 – An Advent Prayer on Hope
Week 2 – An Advent Prayer on Peace
Week 3 – An Advent Prayer on Joy
Week 4 – An Advent Prayer on Love

Complete a Christmas or Advent Plan…

2019 Christmas Challenge Badge

Unwrap the 2019 Christmas Challenge Badge!

The countdown to Christmas has begun! This time of year, holiday commitments can easily distract us from seeking intimacy with Immanuel, “God with us.” That’s why we created the Christmas Challenge: to reflect on the reason we celebrate this season.

Complete any Christmas or Advent Plan between now and December 31, and you’ll earn our 2019 Christmas Challenge Badge! Start any Plan below or, if you’re already doing a Christmas or Advent Plan, just keep going.

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See More Christmas Plans

Christmas and Advent Plans 2021
Get Ready for Christmas with an Advent Bible Plan
An Advent Prayer on Hope

Christmas and Advent Plans 2021
Get Ready for Christmas with an Advent Bible Plan
An Advent Prayer on Hope

An Advent Prayer on Peace

Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. - Matthew 12:18 - Verse Image

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending us Your Son Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Thank You for you caring for us, and thank You for promising to give us your peace.
Please guard our hearts and minds with Your peace.
You know the things that have been weighing us down with worry, anxiety, or fear.
Lord, please help us fix our minds on you instead, and on your Spirit. Thank You for promising to bring us life and peace.
We can lie down and sleep, Lord, because You make us safe.
Amen


Start a Christmas or Advent Plan

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This Advent Prayer is the second in a series of four.
Week 1 – An Advent Prayer on Hope
Week 2 – An Advent Prayer on Peace
Week 3 – An Advent Prayer on Joy
Week 4 – An Advent Prayer on Love

Now Your Children Can Experience the Bible App for Kids in Kannada & Slovak!

Bible App for Kids

Today, together with our partner OneHope, we are pleased to announce the launch of the Bible App for Kids in Kannada & Slovak. Now, more children than ever have the opportunity to enjoy a Bible experience all their own.

Switching between languages is easy, right in the app’s Settings:

  1. Make sure you’ve updated your app to the most current release.
  2. Open the app and tap the gear icon () to open Settings.
  3. Tap Language and select the one you want.

The audio will now play in that language, and any text will appear in that language, too!

Please help us celebrate this great news!

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Bible App for Kids Jesus

About the Bible App for Kids

Developed in partnership with OneHope, the Bible App for Kids is from YouVersion, makers of the Bible App. Designed to give children a delight-filled Bible experience all their own, the Bible App for Kids has already been installed on over 34 million Apple, Android, and Kindle devices, and it’s always completely free. Kids from all over the world are now enjoying the Bible App for Kids, in 50 languages — now including Kannada & Slovak!

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play Available at Amazon

2019 in Review:

2019

Going Deeper,
Drawing Closer.

Topographical map lines

Think back on the struggles and victories you’ve experienced this year. How did God reveal Himself to you in those moments?

We’re excited about all that God will do through YouVersion in 2020. (Stay tuned: Big things are coming!) But for now, let’s take a moment to reflect back on just some of the powerful ways God worked in our global YouVersion Community during 2019:

Two women looking at phone

Relationships
Restored

MfonNigeria

Mfon’s marriage was in shambles, so she ran away from it. Then on the bus to work each day, Mfon started reading Bible Plans about marriage in the Bible App. As Mfon studied God’s Word, her heart began to soften, and she realized there was still hope for her marriage. Inspired by God’s Word, Mfon reconciled with her husband.

…But Mfon’s story doesn’t end there…

One day, a woman who often sat behind her on the bus approached Mfon and confided that she had been reading the Bible App over Mfon’s shoulder. This woman had also been struggling in her marriage, but one of Mfon’s Plans had resonated with her, and she had forgiven her husband. Because of Mfon’s decision to read Bible Plans, two marriages are now experiencing restoration.

Mfon’s story is powerful, but it’s just one of many. Every Plan Day completed this year represents a life that God is in the process of transforming:

1.1

Plan Days completed in 2019.

Woman listening to phone

Losing Sight… and Finding Sound

AliceUnited States

In 2014, Alice was diagnosed with early-onset macular degeneration and declared legally blind. No longer able to read, Alice had to find another way to draw closer to God. She discovered that in the right light, she could use a tablet. And that’s when Alice found audio Bibles on YouVersion. She started listening every night. And the more Alice listened, the more God’s Word came alive for her, leading her to a deeper understanding of God.

Now Alice believes the Bible should be heard. And fortunately, audio Bibles make it easy to hear God’s Word — anytime, anywhere.

5.6

Audio Chapters played in 2019.

How can we wrap our minds around giant numbers like the ones below? By recognizing what they actually represent: moments when people reached out to God, and He touched their hearts. Let’s celebrate and commit to finishing 2019 strong!

Read icon

Bible Chapters Read

Bookmark icon

Highlights, Bookmarks, and Notes

Share icon

Verses Shared

Bible Engagement
Increase by Country:

Bible engagement map with increases by country

These countries showed the greatest increase in Bible engagement during 2019.


2019 Verse of the Year:

Philippians 4:6

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.”

The Bible verse shared, bookmarked, and highlighted most often by the global YouVersion Community.

Most Shared Verse Image by Language:

Ephesians 4:26 Verse Image Psalm 56:3 Verse Image Isaiah 40:31 Verse Image
Filipino Spanish Korean
Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 56:3 Isaiah 40:31
1 Peter 4:8 Verse Image 1 Corinthians 13:13 Verse Image John 11:25 Verse Image
Japanese Italian German
1 Peter 4:8 1 Corinthians 13:13 John 11:25
Psalms 103:13 Verse Image 1 Corinthians 13:4 Verse Image Psalms 46:1 Verse Image
English Dutch Chinese
Psalms 103:13 1 Corinthians 13:4 Psalms 46:1

The Bible Verse Images shared most often during 2019 by language across the global YouVersion Community.


Discover Your Story

We all have a story to tell.

See how you drew closer to God through the YouVersion Bible App this year — with a personalized 2019 Bible App Snapshot!

Let’s rejoice over what God’s doing in your life:

View Snapshot

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