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The Manger of My Heart

by in:Christmas

God's presence is the present I need most. Renee Swope - incourage.me

Sometimes I forget. All wrapped up in the Christmas-giving, I forget to unwrap the gift of Immanuel: God with me.

In all the rush I forget my  need for God’s soul-calming hush. But I want to remember. I want to unwrap not only the gift Jesus gives, but the gift He {is}.

His presence is the {present} I need most. And so I quiet my thoughts and whisper a prayer, asking Jesus to create a quiet space, a dwelling place for His presence in the manger of my heart…

This Christmas, Lord, come to the manger of my heart.
Fill me with Your presence from the very start.
As I prepare for this Holy day and gifts to be given,
Remind me of the gift You gave when You sent Your Son from Heaven.

The first Christmas gift…the greatest gift ever.
You came as a baby born in a manger.
Wrapped like the gifts I find under my tree,
Waiting to be opened; to reveal Your love to me.

Restore to me the wonder that came with Jesus’ birth,
when He left the riches of Heaven and wrapped Himself in rags of earth.
Immanuel, God with us, Your presence came that night.
And angels announced, “Into your darkness, God brings His Light.”

“Do not be afraid,” they said, to shepherds in the field.
Speak to my heart today, Lord, and help me to yield.
Make me like those shepherd boys, obedient to Your call.
Setting all the distractions aside, to You I surrender them all.

Surround me with Your presence, Lord, I long to hear Your voice.
Clear my mind of countless concerns and all the holiday noise.
Slow me down this Christmas, let me not be in a rush.
In the midst of all the people and planning, I want to feel Your hush.

This Christmas, Jesus, come to the manger of my heart.
Invade my soul like Bethlehem, bringing peace to every part.
Dwell within and around me as I unwrap Your presence each day.
Keep me close to You, Lord. It’s in Your wonderful Name I pray.

{written by Renee Swope. Copyright 2014.}

Renee Swope is a Word-lover, heart-encourager and grace-needer. She's also best-selling author of "A Confident Heart" and the familiar voice of a friend to women around the world as the former Proverbs 31 Ministries' radio co-host for ten years. Renee is a mom of three Joshua (25), Andrew (22) and...
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Renee,
    What a beautiful poem about the present that is God’s presence to begin my Christmas eve morning. In awhile the troops will awaken, but I need this unhurried time with my Lord and Savior. I need to feel the hush of silence and sit in wonder of the gift that was/is given to me. This, to me, is Christmas. Thank you, Renee, for wonderfully setting the mood for this day. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
    Blessings,
    Bev

  2. Beautiful! A very lovely reminder of why we celebrate Christmas. Just reading this poem brought peace and a sense of calm.

    • It was in my desperate need for His soul-hush, in the midst of my holiday rush, that I wrote it. I love knowing it quieted your heart this morning. Merry Christmas Carol!

  4. Renee thank you for sharing this. It’s beautiful and just what I needed to hear. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

  7. Glory be to the father & on earth peace, good will towards man. Merry Christmas to all., Lord bless our milatary, keep them safe. Amen

  8. Renee this touched my heart in ways that are difficult to express, the prayer was simply beautiful and one I needed this day. Thank you for sharing. God Bless and Merry Christmas to you and your family.

    • Just prayed these words over your heart again, asking Jesus to wrap you up in His grace and peace today. He is {with} you!! Merry Christmas from my family to you and yours!

  11. Beautiful!
    I will read this tonight as we gather round our Christmas tree, and place the baby Jesus in the nativity scene.
    Thank you.

  17. Beautiful poem to start my day and set my focus on Him. He left it all, to become our all in all. Merry Christmas and may you sense his peace in your heart today and everyday.

  18. Hiw can I share this post with picture on Facebook? This really touched me and I want to share it with the other women in my life and ministry venues.

    Merry Christmas and Thank you!!

  19. May the peace love & splendor of our lord Jesus christ bring many many many blessings in his victorious name I pray Amen

  20. God Bless you and your ministry. You words always encourage and bless my spirit.
    Thank You and God Bless you always.

    Margaret

  21. Thank you for that prayer. I enjoyed reading it for that is my prayer also. You are a blessing to my life.

  22. Thanks Deb for the beautiful poem. It is uplifting. I don’t know if you knew how much I love poetry or not. My grandmother and my mother and my sister and I all write poetry. Actually in 2004 I had a book of poetry published and have probably written 150-200 more poems since that. Haven’t seen you for a long time. Hope things are going okay for you. In Christian Love to you and Tom,

    Jan Eakins.

  23. Renee,
    I loved this prayer, it’s words are so true to what I needed as well as so many in today’s
    World. Thank you for sharing from your heart in this prayer!
    LOL Janet

  24. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful poem! As I was reading it I felt joy and peace! Thanks again!

  25. Renee – I just read your beautiful words posted today. How incredible! Just what I needed to be reminded of. I haven’t acknowledged the real reason we celebrate this year, and your words “woke me up”. My husband just received another diagnosis of cancer this week, and we can’t travel to be with family again this year. After reading your message, I realize it’s not about where we are or what we get or give. Christ came to be with us – that’s what matters. Blessings for a Merry Christmas to you and your family!

    • Stephanie,

      Prayers for you and your husband. I pray you have a good Christmas. May God give you his quiet peace & comfort at this trying time! Prayers for healing and restoration.

      Blessings and Merry Christmas!

  26. It’s Christmas Eve and I had to miss our church service because I have bronchitis. But God led me to your poem and reminded me that I have His presence with me–even in the midst of the world’s “celebrations” with fireworks and noisy “music.” We are missionaries, but we also need to be ministered to. Your poem did just that! Thank you very much.

  27. Renee, thank you for listening to God’s prompting and sharing these beautiful words with us. You have been such a blessing to me and so many others. May Jesus surround you and your family with His loving arms!

  31. Renee,

    Loved the poem. Speaks so eloquently to my heart!

    Your post reminds me of “Leaving Heaven” by Matthew West on his Heart of Christmas CD. It speaks of Jesus living in paradise, but having to leave quickly because the world is dark and needs a light. Chorus speaks of walking around the broken trading in streets of gold.

    All of that speaks volumes to me. I need time to just sit and be still basking in His love!

    Blessings and Merry Christmas!@ 🙂

  32. I was going through back e-mails and reading a Christmas card we got from missionary friends in the Ukraine and this was attached via the New Spring link and it was just what I needed to read right now, I know you don’t often hear from men Amy but I just had cancer surgery less than 3 weeks ago and while I am cancer free Gods timing is impeccable and I just wanted to say thank you for being obedient to God’s leading in writing and publishing this. It impacts lives more than just at Christmas. Thank You!!!

  33. I was going through back e-mails and reading a Christmas card we got from missionary friends in the Ukraine and this was attached via the New Spring link and it was just what I needed to read right now, I know you don’t often hear from men Renee but I just had cancer surgery less than 3 weeks ago and while I am cancer free Gods timing is impeccable and I just wanted to say thank you for being obedient to God’s leading in writing and publishing this. It impacts lives more than just at Christmas. Thank You!!!