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 delight in opening that gift?
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 we realize it, we are sitting in worry once again. Worry robs us of joy -- more detrimental -- it has the effect of minimizing our view of God and taking our focus from God and onto our concerns.
Prayer is an effective answer and 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. It is to place the person into the loving arms of God. Praying back to Him the very words provided to us in the Bible is an excellent way to show we trust Him.
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 every 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 (name of loved one’s) life.
Lord, I come humbly before you to pray for (name of loved one), 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 help (name of loved one) think about such things so that Your peace will overflow and overwhelm (name of loved one).” Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)
“Lord, I ask You to fill (name of loved one) with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. I pray this in order that (name of loved one) may live a life worthy of You and please You in every way, bearing fruit in every good work. Please grow (name of loved one) in the knowledge of Christ, that (name of loved one) will be strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might so that (name of loved one) 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 (name of loved one) forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead, help (name of loved one) press on towards the goal to win the prize for which YOU have called (name of loved one) heavenward in Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:13-14
“Father, I ask that Your hope will fill (name of loved one’s) heart. The hope that does not disappoint (name of loved one), 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 (name of loved one’s) heart will be open to Your Holy Spirit and that all wisdom and peace will fill (name of loved one’s) heart and remove anything from (name of loved one’s) 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 (name of loved one) with power through Your Spirit in (name of loved one’s) inner being, so that Christ may dwell in (name of loved one’s) heart through faith. And I pray that (name of loved one), 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 (name of loved one) 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 (name of loved one), 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 (name of loved one), so that (name of loved one) 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 (name of loved one) to know You through the salvation of Jesus Christ. I ask that you pursue (name of loved one) for Your goodness and Your glory. I ask that You make Yourself known to (name of loved one) in an amazing way this day. In Jesus Name, Amen
Please let me know if you will pray this for a loved one this Christmas
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