A Daily Prayer

Father, we read of Simeon and Anna who praised You in the temple for the blessings of the Christ Child. We also praise You in the House of the Lord and in heaven and earth for the past, present and future blessings that we enjoy through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  He is our Peace who has broken down every wall and someday we’ll thoroughly enjoy the future setting of the lion laying down right beside the lamb because of Christ’s redemptive power.  We’ll also see every tribe and tongue united under one Leader and we will know and thoroughly enjoy the full scope of Christ’s redemption.  In Your time, Lord, in Your time You will bring these marvelous blessings to pass but even now we thank You for the countless blessings we enjoy at the present.

Father, we ascribe to You glory and honor and power and strength due Your name.   We rejoice in our salvation made possible through the incarnation of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who came to redeem humankind from their wretched sin. For, at just the right time, while we were still powerless and dead in our sins, Jesus died for us.  God, You demonstrated Your love for us, in that You credited righteousness to us through Christ’s death, and justified us from sin.  Your wondrous love is truly amazing and we can only respond by dedicating to You our soul, our life, our all!  Amen.

Father, You’re a compassionate, all-powerful, on-time God.  No need in our life is overlooked, overwhelming, or overly difficult for You to meet.  You use the good, the bad, and the complex matters that we sort through daily to test our faith and grow our endurance.  These challenges that are continually before us compel us to look to the Scriptures for spiritual understanding and sustaining power.  I will trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation, in the midst of the wait.  My heart seeks after You, my Lord and my God, for You have cared for me all the days of my life and You will continue to do so, for You promise to never leave me nor forsake me.  Amen.  

Father, even as You spoke to the prophets of long ago You still speak to the hearts of Your people.  You’ve called us out from among the world to stand for righteousness in a godless society. You will not be silenced in a world full of noisy gongs and clanging symbols.  As we contemplate the Christmas story we think of young Mary who heard Your special message through the angel. She is a prime example of one whose yielded heart withstood the ridicule and awkwardness of her special role in the conception and birth of the Savior of the world. You continue to speak to us who choose to fear the law of God rather than the law of man.  Help us to turn our ears away from worthless noisy gongs and turn our hearts toward Emmanuel, God with us. 

Father, I’m so glad that the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are gifts from Your hand given in abundance to Your children in every season of our life.  They satisfy the deepest needs of our hearts and shape our character traits into the nature of Christ.  They have everlasting value that does not diminish with time but only heightens as we stay firmly grounded in You.  During this Christmas season, we thank You for the tender moments that both giver and receiver experience when meaningful gifts are exchanged.  And we most especially thank You for the Gift of Your Son, Jesus, whose kingdom was not for just the generation in which He was born, for His kingdom is eternal. And His gift of salvation has everlasting value and abiding joy for all who seek Him.  Amen.

Father, without the shed blood of Your Son, Jesus, we are weighed down by the shackles of sin.  It spreads as a disease from our hearts to our minds separating us from our Creator and making us a bond slave to Satan.  Thank You for sending Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, who by His intense love and sacrificial death, freed us from the sin that ensnared us.  He turned our mourning into dancing as He lifted our condemnation and replaced it with eternal hope.  Thank You for the Christ of Christmas who shines His light for all to see and offers freedom to all held captive.  Amen.

Jesus, as we reflect upon the spiritual meaning of the season our hearts are warmed and filled with profound gratitude for Your choosing to dwell among us.  You are the precious treasure of Bethlehem who has provided salvation for all who call upon Your name. We pray for those who do not know the Prince of Peace, who day after day walk in anger and hostility.  We recognize that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  We pray that troubled hearts would find reconciliation with You and experience the peaceful exchange You provide when unbelievers lay down their hostile weapons of warfare and take up the sword of the Spirit which is Your Holy Word. We ask these requests in the name which is above every other name, the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Father, we consider the role of John the Baptist who was forerunner of Your Son, Jesus. He was the voice of one calling in the desert, “Make straight the way for the Lord.” He prepared the hearts of men for Jesus’ coming and he surrendered his life even to death for his Master.  May we have the same spirit as John who told his followers, “He must become greater; I must become less.  The One who comes from above is above all.” We bow in surrender, adoration, and praise to the Christ child born in a manger who grew in favor with God and man, who laid down His life so that we might be raised to newness of life. For all that You are and all that You have done we give You thanks.  In the name of Your Son, Jesus.  Amen.

Jesus, thank You that You loved us so much that, though we were born into sin, You died for us so that we might be lifted from our sin and reconciled to the Father.  In addition to receiving forgiveness and reconciliation we also become joint heirs taking on our new identity as “children of God.”  What an incredible honor and selfless act of love that You would place us in the family of believers with the King of kings and Lord of lords as our Father.  This is the wonder of Your great love, indeed!  Amen.

Father, the radiance of Your holiness is revealed in the light of Your Son, Jesus, who came to dwell among us.  We know that in Him there is no darkness at all.  Satan, the prince of darkness blinds and deceives, but Jesus, the Prince of Peace, enlightens with wisdom and truth through His earthly life revealed in Your Holy Word.  And now we have the light of Your Holy Spirit to guide us in a sin-darkened world as we make this earthly journey.  May the light that burns within us brighten our countenance and be our power source for truth, holiness, and courageous witness to those who have been blinded by the darkness.  We pray that they will come into the light of Your salvation.  Amen.