Kathy and I wish to share our deepest gratitude, thanks and love for all including our friends and our families as we approach Christmas this upcoming week! The richness of God's love is wrapped in the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ which God further embellishes with the love we receive from all of you. This love shown by God is priceless because we know that Jesus then goes to the Cross for each of us, a love so deep there no words to describe love like that.
I have shared from another devotional email at times and do so today, as Arlin shared this blog post from the Navigators in his morning email and I found these shared prayers as something you might find value in as Christmas approaches:
From the Navigators blog
12 Prayers for Christmas
Often, the fast-paced time and space to connect with God through prayer is difficult. Use these 12 powerful prayers for Christmas to help you slow down and focus on the true meaning of this season—the celebration of Christ’s birth. Share these with a friend or small group and spend time praying them together as you anticipate your Christmas celebration.
Prayers for Christmas – Focused on Advent1. Love
Lord, help us follow the way of love—let the love of Christ compel us.
1 Corinthians 14:1; 2 Corinthians 5:14
2. Joy
Restore the joy of Your salvation to us; let us experience the joy of Your presence.
Psalm 16:11; Psalm 51:12
3. Peace
Let Your peace rule and guard our hearts; give us more of You, Jesus—You are our peace.
Ephesians 2:14; Philippians 4:7; Colossians 3:15
4. Hope
Enlighten the eyes of our heart so that we may know the hope You called us to.
Ephesians 1:18
Prayers for Christmas – Focused on God’s Sovereignty and Grace
5. Favor
Let Your favor rest on us.
Luke 2:52
6. Life
Shine Your light of life on us; help us to walk in it.
Job 33:30; Psalm 56:13
7. Salvation
Help us to fear You so we can unlock the treasure of Your salvation.
Isaiah 33:6
Prayers for Christmas – Focused on Spiritual Growth
8. Selflessness
Keep us from self-seeking attitudes that reject truth.
Romans 2:8
9. Generosity
Make us rich in ways that result in generosity on our part so You will be praised.
2 Corinthians 9:11
10. Receiving
Help us receive Your kingdom, Your Spirit, and Your grace.
Daniel 7:18; John 20:22; Romans 5:17
Prayers for Christmas – Focused on Worship
11. Seeking
Encourage us to seek Your face with all our hearts.
Deuteronomy 4:29; Psalm 27:8
12. Praise
We ascribe glory to Your name, Lord; we come before You in worship for You are holy.
1 Chronicles 16:28-29
I would like to close with a thought or two based on a John Piper devotional Kathy and I read last night titled "The Christmas Model for Missions".
Consider this verse - John 17:18 - " As You sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.' This is Jesus praying to God the Father about the apostles but His prayer extends to us as well (Matthew 28 we see this in the Great Commission). The thought here by Jesus can be summarized as..."As I, so you".
This "as I, so you" struck me last night thinking about how Jesus came into the world at His birth. Humble, in a manger, far away from home for Mary and Joseph, exposed and vulnerable - yet this was what God the Father planned.
So, we often are sent in a way similar to Jesus's birth - humbly - dependent on obedience to God, exposed and vulnerable, far from home. As God the Father planned. In our trust and love of Him, God equips us through His ever present Holy Spirit.
As Jesus stepped away from the throne in heaven to become Immanuel, "God with us", He put all His trust in the Father, as we should also do. I urge you to consider this go forward as a way to consider what the birth of Jesus Christ represents for us.
As I, so you...
Lord Jesus, my prayer as we go into this upcoming weekend, we focus on Your sending us with the idea of "as I, so you"! I pray, we trust the Father and allow ourselves to be sent in your name Lord Jesus! Amen.
Praying a blessed Merry Christmas to you all! With much love!
Enjoy this weekend knowing the truth of the work, the peace and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus,
Patrick Engesser
I have shared from another devotional email at times and do so today, as Arlin shared this blog post from the Navigators in his morning email and I found these shared prayers as something you might find value in as Christmas approaches:
From the Navigators blog
12 Prayers for Christmas
Often, the fast-paced time and space to connect with God through prayer is difficult. Use these 12 powerful prayers for Christmas to help you slow down and focus on the true meaning of this season—the celebration of Christ’s birth. Share these with a friend or small group and spend time praying them together as you anticipate your Christmas celebration.
Prayers for Christmas – Focused on Advent1. Love
Lord, help us follow the way of love—let the love of Christ compel us.
1 Corinthians 14:1; 2 Corinthians 5:14
2. Joy
Restore the joy of Your salvation to us; let us experience the joy of Your presence.
Psalm 16:11; Psalm 51:12
3. Peace
Let Your peace rule and guard our hearts; give us more of You, Jesus—You are our peace.
Ephesians 2:14; Philippians 4:7; Colossians 3:15
4. Hope
Enlighten the eyes of our heart so that we may know the hope You called us to.
Ephesians 1:18
Prayers for Christmas – Focused on God’s Sovereignty and Grace
5. Favor
Let Your favor rest on us.
Luke 2:52
6. Life
Shine Your light of life on us; help us to walk in it.
Job 33:30; Psalm 56:13
7. Salvation
Help us to fear You so we can unlock the treasure of Your salvation.
Isaiah 33:6
Prayers for Christmas – Focused on Spiritual Growth
8. Selflessness
Keep us from self-seeking attitudes that reject truth.
Romans 2:8
9. Generosity
Make us rich in ways that result in generosity on our part so You will be praised.
2 Corinthians 9:11
10. Receiving
Help us receive Your kingdom, Your Spirit, and Your grace.
Daniel 7:18; John 20:22; Romans 5:17
Prayers for Christmas – Focused on Worship
11. Seeking
Encourage us to seek Your face with all our hearts.
Deuteronomy 4:29; Psalm 27:8
12. Praise
We ascribe glory to Your name, Lord; we come before You in worship for You are holy.
1 Chronicles 16:28-29
I would like to close with a thought or two based on a John Piper devotional Kathy and I read last night titled "The Christmas Model for Missions".
Consider this verse - John 17:18 - " As You sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.' This is Jesus praying to God the Father about the apostles but His prayer extends to us as well (Matthew 28 we see this in the Great Commission). The thought here by Jesus can be summarized as..."As I, so you".
This "as I, so you" struck me last night thinking about how Jesus came into the world at His birth. Humble, in a manger, far away from home for Mary and Joseph, exposed and vulnerable - yet this was what God the Father planned.
So, we often are sent in a way similar to Jesus's birth - humbly - dependent on obedience to God, exposed and vulnerable, far from home. As God the Father planned. In our trust and love of Him, God equips us through His ever present Holy Spirit.
As Jesus stepped away from the throne in heaven to become Immanuel, "God with us", He put all His trust in the Father, as we should also do. I urge you to consider this go forward as a way to consider what the birth of Jesus Christ represents for us.
As I, so you...
Lord Jesus, my prayer as we go into this upcoming weekend, we focus on Your sending us with the idea of "as I, so you"! I pray, we trust the Father and allow ourselves to be sent in your name Lord Jesus! Amen.
Praying a blessed Merry Christmas to you all! With much love!
Enjoy this weekend knowing the truth of the work, the peace and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus,
Patrick Engesser
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