The Christmas Gift of Prayer
This Christmas season is like no other and, honestly, not exactly what I had planned. (If you know me, you understand the value I place on “my plans.”) I’m reminded of Proverbs 16:9, where we are taught “..but the Lord determines our steps.” We decided to spend Christmas in Cambodia, where we have been paying regular visits since 2013. Upon our arrival, Thailand’s border conflict erupted into full scale war against Cambodia. I confess, fear set in and departure options began entering my mind. But through prayer, we felt secure in God's hands.
This time of year is full of holiday gatherings, festive activity everywhere we turn, gift giving, caroling, and a lot of EXTRA. You may even find your Christmas spirit growing a bit weary. I want to invite you to pull away and schedule time for prayer (yep, schedule it!) if you don't think you have the space.
In Cambodia, many are not hearing the bells of Christmas but the sounds of war. Sunday’s sermon from Pastor Adrian, a Filipino pastor at Solid Rock Baptist Church, shared this prayer acronym:
P-revailing
R-equesting
A-ccepting
Y-ielding
E-evangalizing
R-ejoicing
Here’s another I recall from years ago:
A-doration
C-onfession
T-hanksgiving
S-upplication
Christmas, “the most wonderful time of the year” as the lyrics proclaim for some, may also be a season of lament. Almost a decade ago, I penned a very personal prayer for my husband. This came from a place of worry and a desire to give him a meaningful Christmas gift, a message of encouragement. It is now my ritual to share it with you at Christmas.
In Matthew 6:25-30, Jesus commanded us not to worry. Yet, worries can creep back in, and before we realize, it fills our minds and hearts once again. Worry robs us of joy, and even more detrimentally, it can minimize our view of God, and take our focus from God and to over-thinking our circumstances. (Recall Job!)
For me, the best response to worry is prayer. It provides peace when I don’t have the answers and lack understanding. Praying scripture over the life of someone is such a beautiful way to express our trust in God and symbolically place them into God’s loving hands. Praying back to Him the very words provided in the Bible is a powerful way to bless our loved ones.
This Christmas, give the gift of prayer. Grab a quiet moment to print this prayer, date it, and add a loved one’s name, or share it with the one you are praying for. Or maybe you pray this over your own life and find God’s love over you.
Today I pray for the beautiful people of Cambodia. Merry Christmas!
Dear Father God,
You alone are holy, the most high. Your love for us is so great as evidenced by the cross of Jesus Christ. That sacrificial love began one day in a manger in Bethlehem; for without Christmas, salvation would not have come. I thank You for sending us Jesus and providing a way for Your love and grace to allow me to live a hope filled life. I look forward to spending eternity with You. Now, in the name of Jesus Christ, I lift up (___________) to you, and ask for Your blessings over (______________’s) life.
Lord, I come humbly and pray for (______________), may you find my heart pure and motives honoring You. “Hear my cry, Oh Lord, listen to my prayer.” Psalms 61:1
“Oh Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love Him and obey His commands, let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open to hear this prayer Your servant is praying before You day and night.” Nehemiah 2:5-6a (NIV)
“I ask whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable and if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - I ask that You would be near (_______________) right now. Help (_____________) think about such things so that Your peace will overflow and overwhelm (_______________).” Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)
“Lord, I ask You to fill (_______________) with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. I pray this in order that (______________) may live a life worthy of You and please You in every way, bearing fruit in every good work. Please grow (_______________) in the knowledge of Christ, that (________________) will be strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might so that (_______________) may have great endurance and patience and joyfully give thanks to You.” Colossians 1:9-12 (NIV)
“Father, may Your help be ever present and help (_______________) forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead, help (________________) press on towards the goal to win the prize for which YOU have called (_______________) heavenward in Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)
“Father, I ask that Your hope will fill (_______________’s) heart. The hope that does not disappoint (________________), because Your love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:5 (NIV). Your Holy Spirit is a great gift and I pray that (________________’s) heart will be open to Your Holy Spirit and that all wisdom and peace will fill (______________’s ) heart and remove anything from (_______________’s) heart that is not of You.
“You alone are the Lord of Heaven‘s Armies, for this reason I kneel before You Father and I pray that out of Your glorious riches that You may strengthen (_______________) with power through Your Spirit in (___________’s) inner being, so that Christ may dwell in (____________’s) heart through faith. And I pray that (_______________), being rooted and established in love will have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know that this love surpasses knowledge that (________________) may be filled to the measure of the fullness of God. Now to God who is able to do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine, according to Your power that is at work within (________________), to You be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever!” Ephesians 3:14-21 (NIV)
“Lord, it is my prayer that Your love may abound more and more in knowledge and in depth of insight for (_______________), so that (_______________) may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. “ Philippians 1:9-10
I pray for (_________________) to know You through the salvation of Jesus Christ. I ask that you pursue (________________) for (_______________’s) good and Your glory. I ask that You would make Yourself known to (_______________) in an amazing way this day. In the holy name of Jesus Christ I pray through the resurrection power. Amen.
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