Christmas: A Time for Hope, Reflection, Gratitude, Joy, and Prayer

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Holy Season is upon us. The Christ child who was born so long ago was the only begotten Son of God the Father. He came into this dark prison planet to defeat its evil Rulers and liberate all men and women from the chains of sin, mourning and death. All who accepted His offer of salvation were transferred out of imprisonment in the kingdom of darkness into our Lord’s Kingdom of Light. Thus all who have died in Christ are more than conquerors and for them Christmas is a time for hope, reflection; gratitude, joy, and prayer as we look forward to the coming of Paradise restored where there will only be joy, beauty, and bliss and we will live forever in bodies resurrected and glorified. So let us cast aside our daily concerns and the things of this world and reflect upon our loving Lord and how grateful we are for His gracious gift of salvation and eternal life. So let us lift our voices in prayer to our Lord! Linda

A Christmas Prayer Poem

Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing  which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. – Robert Louis Stevenson

For the Unfortunate on Christmas

Although we have many reasons to rejoice today, Lord, we also know December 25th can be not-so-merry for a whole host of reasons. We pray for those who are experiencing loss this Christmas: relational, financial, spiritual and physical.

We pray for those who are coping with loving a prodigal and our friends and family members whose hearts are far from You. We pray for those dealing with unemployment and addictions and chronic sickness … and unending pain and frustrations of all kinds. Thank You, Lord, that You are The Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace, even in the midst of our not-so-merry circumstances.

Finally, Lord, we ask You to grant us peace. Peace in our homes, peace in our churches, and peace in our hearts, when the world all around us spins out-of-control. Help us to stay focused on You, this Christmastime and always. Thank You for loving the whole world enough to send the greatest gift, Your Son, so that we might truly have a very merry Christmas. In Jesus’ name, Amen. ~ Steph Raquel

Lord Remind Me

When I hear the news and hear another war has begun
And I wonder if God’s on the side of either one
I hear bullet, nail, or handcuff he bore all of them And in the light my heart’s as dark as anyone’s
Lord, remind me
Lord, remind me

That the shepherds heard the angels break the silence in the field
That the wise men found a baby and they could not help but kneel
That the one who heard our weeping, became a child in manger sleeping
Lord, remind me
‘Cause it’s Christmas and I want to remember
~ Jon Guerra

A Prayer of Hope

Lord Jesus, as we celebrate the season of Christ’s birth, there’s nothing that stands brighter than hope. The thrill of hope. The excitement that no matter what life brings us, we can still have hope because of that night divine, that night when our precious Savior was born in a stable.

This life is hard, sometimes unbearable. The loss of a loved one who fought the fight against cancer so valiantly. The unwanted divorce that left us wondering if anything in our lives had been real. The pain of infertility that leaves us devastated every single month. The hurt of watching a child walk away from the truth of God’s word.

There’s no end to the painful circumstances we face in this life, but no matter the pain, we always have the thrill of hope, the promise that our Savior has won the victory. Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen.

Christmas Day Prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ,
true God from true God,
you became a little child for us so the world you made would be saved.
Just as a child is born to us and a Son is given to us,
may we be born again through you
and always remain in the number
of God’s faithful children;
through your merits, O blessed Savior,
with the Father and the Holy Spirit
you live and reign,
one God,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Collect for the The Nativity of Our Lord

New Birth and Freedom in Christ

Almighty God,
grant that the new birth
of your Son in the flesh
redeems us from the old slavery
under the yoke of sin,
so we may receive him with joy
as our Redeemer,
and that when when he comes to judge
we may see Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
forever and ever.
Amen.

Source:  Wilehelm Loehe, Agende für christliche Gemeinden des lutherischen Bekenntnisses, 1844

Source: https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/christmas-prayers-and-blessings.html