The Christmas Gift of Prayer
This time of year many of us spend our time and money seeking that just right gift for our loved ones. Don't you just love watching the receiver of your gift become delighted because that gift you made or purchased brings them joy and their gratitude is genuinely expressed?
This Christmas if your heart is filled with concern, worry and maybe even fear for a loved one, I invite you to give the “gift of prayer”. In Matthew 6:25-30 Jesus commanded us not to worry… yet it can creep back in and before you realize it you are caught in the act of worry once again. Worry robs your joy --more detrimental -- it has the effect to minimize your view of God and take your focus from God and deeply into your concerns.
Prayer is the practical effective discipline and such a simple response to combat worry. Praying through the cause for worry provides peace when we don’t have the answers and lack understanding. Praying scripture over the life of someone is such a beautiful way to express our trust in God and place the person into the hands of God. Praying back to Him the very words provided to us in the Bible is an excellent way to show we are entrusting our loved one to His care.
This Christmas, give the gift of prayer. Grab a quiet moment or better yet, print this prayer and date it. Place it where you see it often during the Christmas season and pray over your loved one. Remember our Father God who holds the universe in the very palm of His hands hears your prayer.
Dear Father God,
You alone are holy, the most high. Your love for me is so great as evidenced by the cross of Jesus Christ. That sacrificial love began one day in a manger in Bethlehem for without Christmas, Easter would not have come. I thank You for sending us Jesus and providing a way for Your love and grace to allow me to live a full life on earth and spend eternity with You. Now in the name of Jesus Christ, I lift up to you __________ ( name of loved one) and ask for Your blessings over __________ life.
Lord, I come humbly before you to pray for __________ , may you find my heart pure and motives honoring You alone. Hear my cry, Oh Lord.
“Oh Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love Him and obey His commands, let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer Your servant is praying before You day and night.” Nehemiah 2:5-6a (NIV)
“I ask whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable and if anything is excellent or praiseworthy I ask that You would help (name of loved one) think about such things so that Your peace will overflow and overwhelm __________.” Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)
“Lord I ask You to fill __________ with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. I pray this in order that __________ may live a life worthy of You and please You in every way, bearing fruit in every good work. Please grow __________ in the knowledge of Christ, that __________ will be strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might so that __________ may have great endurance and patience and joyfully give thanks to You.” Colossians 1:9-12 a (NIV)
“Father, may Your help be ever present and help __________ forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead, help __________ press on towards the goal to win the prize for which YOU have called __________ heavenward in Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:13-14
“Father, I ask that Your hope will fill __________ heart. The hope that does not disappoint __________ , because Your love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:5 (NIV). Your Holy Spirit is a great gift and I pray that __________ heart will be open to Your Holy Spirit and that all wisdom and peace will fill __________ heart and remove anything from __________ heart that is not of You.
“You alone are the Lord of Heaven‘s Armies, for this reason I kneel before You Father and I pray that out of Your glorious riches that You may strengthen __________ with power through Your Spirit in __________ inner being, so that Christ may dwell in __________ heart through faith. And I pray that __________ , being rooted and established in love will have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know that this love surpasses knowledge that __________ may be filled to the measure of the fullness of God. Now to God who is able to do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine, according to Your power that is at work within __________, to You be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever!” Ephesians 3:14-21 (NIV)
“Lord, it is my prayer that Your love may abound more and more in knowledge and in depth of insight for __________, so that __________ may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. “ Philippians 1:9-10
I pray for __________ to know You through the salvation of Jesus Christ. I ask that You would pursue __________ for Your goodness and Your glory. I ask that You would make Yourself known to __________ in an amazing way this day. In Jesus Name, Amen.
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