Lord Jesus, every day is Yours. Especially this one.
We’ve been holding our breath for weeks. Watching our calendars. Waiting. Listening for the sound of Your voice amid the noise.
Now all is still.
Our homes, our hearts are ready for You.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Long before You were born, a prophet foretold, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” {Isaiah 7:14}.
And she did, and then she did, and surely she did. God with us.
When Your first cry pierced the air, the earth trembled.
The angels sang and the shepherds blinked in awe.
God come to earth.
Two thousand years.
That’s how long Your people have been celebrating Your birth.
With sparkling lights and trees and candles, with fragrant pine boughs and sticks of cinnamon, we decorate our homes and hearths and save a place for You at our tables.
But it’s not the cost of our presents that matters. It’s the reality of Your presence and what it cost You to live among us.
Help us remember why You came, Lord.
To save us from ourselves. To set us free.
Jesus, break through our tightly wrapped hearts and start them beating again. Prompt us to think of You first each morning and last each night.
Please be born afresh in us. This day. Every day.
Give us the courage to tell the world, “Jesus came to earth because He loves You. Jesus gave His life because He loves You. Jesus conquered death because He loves You.”
This Christmas morning, this afternoon, this evening, this is what we ask:
Fill our eyes with Your light.
Fill our songs with Your joy.
Fill our hearts with Your love.
Fill our mouths with Your truth.
Fill our minds with Your mission.
Fill our spirits with Your courage.
Fill our homes with Your presence.
We don’t need another holiday, Lord Jesus. We need a holy day.
With our prayer, we make You welcome.
In Your precious name, Amen.
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Rachelle Craig says
Amen! ❤ what a beautiful prayer! Merry Christmas!
Liz Curtis Higgs says
Thanks for spending a few minutes of your Christmas morning with (in)courage, Rachelle!
Penny says
Absolutely beautiful Liz, thank-you.
Merry Christmas & blessings to all for a peaceful, joyful season.
Penny
Liz Curtis Higgs says
Those are the very words I’m praying for, Penny: PEACE and JOY!
Lynn D. Morrissey says
Yes, amen, Lord, amen. we don’t need another anything, but Jesus. It’s really that simple; it’s really that profound. It’s really that astounding that the Lord sent exactly Whom we need. Merry Christmas. Thank you for coming, Lord Jesus, over two thousand years ago. Thank you for coming afresh. thank you that you will come again! Yes, amen, Lord, amen!
Liz Curtis Higgs says
And when 11 months have rolled by, we’ll be ready to celebrate His birth again. it never gets old or stale or boring, because He is new in us and we are made new in Him! Blessings of this holy season, Lynn.
Diana says
This prayer brought me to tears! So grateful to join in it with heart-felt gratitude for what our Lord Jesus has done for us. I agree with Lynn…astounding! Merry Christmas!!
Liz Curtis Higgs says
His gift takes my breath away, year after year! A joyous 2016 to you, Diana!
Mary Haynie says
Beautiful Liz. Merry Christmas to you and all who write these inspirational words. Thank You!
Liz Curtis Higgs says
We love sharing our hearts with you, Mary!
Beth Williams says
Liz,
Beautifully written prayer! I absolutely agree we don’t need another anything–just a Savior who gave us His all so we could live with Him!
Have a blessed Christmas!
Liz Curtis Higgs says
I find I’m gathering up and toss the wrapping and tissue paper faster every year, just to bring that part of the season to a quick close. It’s not about spending money on the people we love but spending time with the people we love! Thanks for sharing, Beth!
Michele Morin says
Not another holiday – a holy day. Amen and amen.
May the way we celebrate Christmas change the way we live 2016.
Liz Curtis Higgs says
2016 is closer by the hour, Michele. Praying it’s a spiritually productive year for us all!