A Prayer for a Glistening Christmas
By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading:
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” – Luke 2:11
Listen or Read Below:
Christmastime is one of the most magical times of the year. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, we notice how much kinder everyone is to us. There seems to be a special joy in the air when Christmas is approaching. While I cannot give you a dogmatic reason for this kindness and joy, I know it is from the Lord. And through his generous common grace, he allows non-Christians and Christians alike to feel this joy and experience this kindness.
Even though there is much joy to be had at Christmas, some of us lose the joy of Christmas when we let rampant materialism take over. Rather than Christmas being a day to celebrate the Lord, we can get stressed out about buying presents for others, cooking elaborate feasts, and making sure our Christmas outfits are perfect. All these things can derail us from the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas isn’t about the gifts, the food, or the clothes we wear. It is the anniversary of the Lord’s first advent into the world. Jesus left Heaven to be born into the world, to grow up, and to save us from our sins. There is no greater love than this. The very act of Him leaving the beauty of Heaven to die for us demonstrates His everlasting love, grace, and forgiveness.
Luke 2:11 says, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” An angel spoke these words to the shepherds in the field and they were overcome with joy to hear the good news. The long-awaited Messiah had finally been born into the world. He saved us from our sins and gave us eternal life through His Name.
Jesus needs to be the focus of our Christmas celebration and the source of our joy. But, for some, Christmas can seem painfully plagued with loss, grief, and illness. If you know someone going through this, be caring, sympathetic, and compassionate toward them. Spend time with them, listen to their pain, and validate their feelings. No longer will they feel alone or helpless, but they will know someone cares. Let’s focus on Jesus and how we can extend His love to others this holiday season. Visit a sick friend, cook a dish for an elderly neighbor, or try to reconnect with a struggling family member. Let us strive to follow Jesus’ example of loving others as He loves us (John 13:34-35).
Let’s Pray:
Dear Jesus, thank You for leaving Heaven to save me from my sins. Please forgive me for all the times that I celebrated Christmas in a way that was focused on materialism. Help me to make the change going forward, to celebrate every Christmas by giving glory to You and following Your example. All glory, praise, and thanks belong to You, Lord Jesus. Amen.
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Editor’s Note: We’re proud to announce we’ve just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You’ll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it’s a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
Related Resource: Jesus Calling – Stories of Faith
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Inspired by Sarah Young’s classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts.
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