A Prayer about the Baby Born to Be King

by Elizabeth | Dec 9, 2023 | Christmas, Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Baby Born to Be King

And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him. Daniel 7:14

Lord Jesus,

As we continue meditating

on my favorite Christmas hymn,

“Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus,”

we marvel at the fact that you were a baby

delivered to deliver…

”born a child and yet a King!”

You weren’t born to become

the president of the United States

or the president of a corporation,

nor were you born to win battles

through military prowess—

You were born to win our hearts back

from the kingdom of darkness

by paying the debt of our sin.

You were born to “reign in us forever,”

to displace anyone or anything

that might try to rule falsely over us.

You were born to rule forever,

in a kingdom which will not pass away,

in a kingdom in which peace and justice

are the order of every day.

You were born

to “raise us to thy glorious throne”

where we will reign with you

by serving you eternally.

May we sing this good news heartily

and live with joy and hope

because of it.

In your reigning name. Amen.

Read Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 21:24-25, 22:5.

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.

A Prayer about the Comfort of a Suffering Savior

by Elizabeth | Dec 7, 2023 | Christmas, Christmas, Grief, Seasons & Holidays, Suffering

A Prayer about the Comfort of a Suffering Savior

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4

Father of All Comfort,

With the losses of recent years mounting,

divisions among friends and families,

disease throughout the world,

death of dear ones,

we’re aware that this Christmas season

may not be so merry for everyone.

And yet, into the silent and dark season long ago,

you sent your very own Son,

a baby born to bear our griefs,

a child delivered to carry our sorrow,

an infant sent to suffer for our sins,

Because he submitted to this suffering,

we can know the “peace on earth”

we will sing about in this season.

Because he was “afflicted” by you (Isaiah 53:4),

we can know the “joy to the world”

we sing about in this season.

Even in the midst of sorrow,

may we see the profound hope of healing

we have in our suffering Savior.

Amen.

Read Isaiah 53:1-12.

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.

A Prayer about Not Being Alone at Christmas

by Elizabeth | Dec 6, 2023 | Christmas, Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Not Being Alone at Christmas

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20

Ever-present God,

We’ve seen too many Christmas programs

with Mary all alone on the stage singing

about how a baby changes everything.

I guess it’s because

we admire Mary for facing such a daunting task—

to birth and raise the Son of God,

but we’re prone to forget

that she was never alone in her calling,

that she’s not some 21st century independent woman,

bold and brave and free,

walking this hard road in her own strength.

Indeed, the angel Gabriel is right there with her

in this radically life-altering moment,

and you were with her all along.

Her cousin Elizabeth is with her,

believing the impossible with her.

Even if her husband initially rejected her

and the village folk talked about her behind her back,

she had the assurance that her heavenly Father favored her.

And we have so much more than Mary had.

We have the knowledge that Christ the King

was born as a baby,

lived and loved on this earth,

died on the Cross for our sins,

rose from the dead,

and is seated at your right hand.

We know that one day he will come again

to restore all things,

to right the wrong,

to call his people home.

Show us today

where we need to surrender to your plan,

and remind us that we are never alone

in living this glorious calling to be your bond servant.

Do your will in us,

and remind us of the many ways

you’ve already shown us your favor

and empowered us to serve you.

In Jesus’, Immanuel’s name. Amen.

Read Luke 1:26-45.

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.

A Prayer about the First Gift of Christmas

by Elizabeth | Dec 5, 2023 | Christmas, Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the First Gift of Christmas

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
John 1:12

Dear Giving Father,

‘Tis the season to buy and wrap the gifts of Christmas.

Even as we make our lists and check them twice,

even as we laugh at Billy from The Polar Express shouting,

“I want the first gift of Christmas,

I want the first gift of Christmas!”

may our desire grow for your “indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15),

your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

May we know this gift, the unexpected and life-altering love of Jesus.

May we enjoy this gift, which you gave to us freely,

by grace alone, through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8).

May we treasure this gift,

thinking deeply about it every time

we see the Christ child in the manger.

And may we share this gift with all we meet

as the first and best gift of Christmas.

In Jesus’ sacrificial name. Amen.

Read John 1:9-18.

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.

A Prayer about Why God Sent His Son

by Elizabeth | Jan 10, 2023 | Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, gratitude

A Prayer about Why God Sent His Son

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17

Heavenly Father,

In these early days after Christmas,

may we not immerse ourselves in the whirl of the world

so fully that we lose our wonder

at the profoundly good news of the incarnation:

From the beginning,

even when his fingers were tiny

and his sounds were infant coos,

Jesus was born for one purpose:

that we, that the whole cosmos, might be “born again” (John 3:3).

“How shall that be,” the Jewish leader, Nicodemus,

asks?

Jesus explains in some of the better known words of the Word:

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in him

should not perish

but should have eternal life” (John 3:16).

This is the true gift of Christmas,

but it gets even better.

For all who have suffered the voices of contempt and condemnation,

who have hung their heads in shame,

you give more hope,

“For God did not send his Son

into the world to condemn the world,

but to save the world through him” (John 3:17).

Oh, gracious and merciful Father,

what good news this is!

May we live and love out of it today and every day.

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read John 3:1-21.

A Prayer about Seeing the Light

by Elizabeth | Jan 5, 2023 | Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, gratitude, Seasons & Holidays

A Prayer about Seeing the Light

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Isaiah 60:1

Glorious God,

Though the twelfth day of Christmas

has come and gone,

the defrocked trees lie

dried and withered by the curb,

may we see the glory of Christ-with-us,

the good news that our light has come,

today and every day of this year.

Peel the scales from our eyes,

so we may see the light

that has overcome the thick darkness,

your grace, and your glory,

your mercy and your kindness to us

in Christ.

Indeed, may all “nations come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isaiah 60:3).

Open our eyes to see the great ingathering

of your people,

“the sons …come from afar…

the daughters carried on the hip…” (Isaiah 60:4).

Radiate our hearts with this good news

today and every day.

In Jesus’ glorious name. Amen.

Read Isaiah 60:1-5.