Daily Prayer: December 2025

Remember the love of Jesus

We remember your love, O Jesus, as it was manifested to us in your holy life, from the manger of Bethlehem to the garden of Gethsemane!

We track you from the cradle to the grave, for every word and every deed of yours was love.

Especially, O Jesus, we remember your love to us upon the cross!

We gaze upon you with your hands and your feet nailed to the accursed tree.

We remember your love that you manifested through your poor, bleeding hands, and feet, and side.

We remember this love of yours until it invigorates and cheers us:

the love that you have exercised since your death,

the love of your resurrection,

the love that prompts you continually to intercede before your Father’s throne,

that burning lamp of love that will never let you hold your peace until your chosen ones are all safely housed, and Zion is glorified, and the spiritual Jerusalem is settled on her everlasting foundations.

AMEN

CHARLES SPURGEON (1834–1892)*

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a prayer in dark times

Today is the Winter Solstice - the longest night of the year. I post this meditation (written in 2001 by Rev. Diane Hendricks) every year as a reminder that things are not always as they seem. Darkness eventually gives way to light and night transitions to morning. And we can have hope in the darkest of times.

Longest Night Meditation

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Only it's not.

Not for everyone.

Not when there is an empty chair at the table.
Not when your body is ravaged with illness.
Not when the depression is too much to bear.
Not without her voice joining yours on the Christmas carols.
Not when you feel all alone even in a crowd.
Not when you are not sure you can even afford the rent or mortgage,
let alone the presents.
Not when they are trying their best to get the best of you.
Not when another Christmas party means he will come home drunk again.

It's the most wonderful time of the year?

No, it's not.

And trying to smile and say Merry Christmas is more than difficult.

It's pretty near impossible.

C.S. Lewis once wrote:

"No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning..."

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Only it's not.

Not after he has died.

Not after the doctor gave you the news.
Not after they told you they would be downsizing.
Not after... you fill in the blank.
Not after September 11.
Not when there is so much violence and destruction in the world.

In truth, it has never been the most wonderful time of the year. Certainly not in the days surrounding that first Christmas so long ago. The story of the birth of Jesus is not to be told with a jolly voice and a merry ho-ho-ho.
It is the story of a teenage girl, pregnant with a child that is not her husband's.

It is the story of a child born in a dirty animal stall.
It is the story of a family of refugees who had to flee their homeland so that their child would not be killed.
It is the story of one sent into the world in peace who was condemned to death.
It is the story of a light sent to shine in the darkness, which the world snuffed out.
It is the story of God's never-ending, self-giving mercy which was rejected and condemned.
In the great work the Messiah, Handel quotes the prophet Isaiah, proclaiming that Jesus was "despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." One great theologian reminds us that we cannot come to the manger without acknowledging that it lays in the shadow of the cross.

It is not the most wonderful time of the year.

Only it is! It is:
If we forget about the tinsel and the trees.
If we forget about the holly jolly tidings.
If we forget about the presents and the ornaments and the trappings.
And remember. Remember the story.
Mary was alone and afraid.
But God was with her and exalted her among women.
Joseph was disgraced.
But God revealed in Joseph's cause for disgrace God's plan to save the world.
The world was in darkness.
But God sent the light of life to shine.
The lowly were imprisoned.
But Jesus set them free.
The blind wandered aimlessly.
But Christ gave them eyes to see.
The lame were rejected.
But through the Holy One they were made to leap and dance.
The deaf were confined to the silence.
But the song of life unstopped their ears.
The sorrowful grieved.
But God wipes away our tears.
We were alone.
But in Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God is with us.
The people rejected God.
But God embraces us.
The world crucified Christ.
But God would not allow that to be the last word, and gave us the sure hope of the resurrection.
It is the most wonderful time of the year, not because you have to be cheery and happy and merry.

But because you don't.

You can have heavy spirits and shattered dreams. Broken hearts and deep wounds.

And still God comes to be with you.
To comfort you.
To redeem you.
To save you.
To restore you.
To empower you.
To strengthen you.
To grant you peace.
To be raised for you.
To hold you in the communion of saints with those whom you have loved and lost.
To store your tears in his bottle.
To offer you eternal life.
It is the most wonderful time of the year.
For Christ is born.
Love has come.
God is with us!
Thanks be to the Lord our God.

Amen

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a prayer of seeking

Dear Father in Heaven,

We know that you want us to seek you.

We want to know you more - your heart, your ways and your love.

Bless us with hearts that yearn for the reality of your life and presence.

Help us to see you in our lives and your hand in our affairs.

We ask that you make us like Jesus and help us to love as he loves.

Reveal yourself to us in the large and small matters of our lives.

As Moses prayed, we ask you to reveal your glory to us.

We love you Lord.

Amen.

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O Glorious Light Born of the Father (Thomas A. Kempis)

O glorious Light born of the Father,

O bright Wisdom of God, brought forth of a virgin this night,

grant me devoutly and worthily to tender you thanks;

grant me to sing aloud to your name, reverently bow, humbly kneel, worshipfully adore

and with the holy angels solemnly to chant to you, “Glory in the highest.”

For praise and honor befit you, O Lord, Who did deign to be incarnate for our salvation.

Amen.

THOMAS À KEMPIS (CA. 1380–1471)*

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God of Joy

Lord God,

You surprise us with grace that breaks through despair. Your faithfulness brings joy when we remember all that you have done and will do.

Renew our spirits to lead with joy that flows from gratitude and surrender. Let our joy be a testimony drawing others to the hope of your kingdom.

Through your global church help us to embody joy in the waiting.

Amen.

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Trusting in the Slow Work of God

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.

And yet it is the law of all progress
that it is made by passing through some stages of instability—
and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you;
your ideas mature gradually—let them grow,
let them shape themselves, without undue haste.

Don’t try to force them on,
as though you could be today what time
(that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will)
will make of you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming within you will be.

Give Our Lord the benefit of believing
that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
in suspense and incomplete.

- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

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a prayer to increase our strength

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Rhythm of Daily Prayer

One of the interesting things that happen when we spend time with God in prayer is that we find out how tired and anxious we are. If we don't fall asleep, we find out how full our head is of worries and concerns and things we need to do. While we are trying to be with God, we are busy thinking about all the plans we have made. A thousand distractions will come our way, like jumping monkeys filling a banana tree. As soon as we enter into solitude, we discover how chaotic our inner life is. Suddenly all sorts of thoughts, feelings, and fantasies come to the surface, and we soon find ourselves thinking about old pains and old rewards, about appointments we forgot to keep and letters we forgot to write, about people we hope to see and people we hope we never see, about a future vacation, a possible promotion, or our approaching retirement. Instead of being prayerful we become restless and can't wait until our half hour is over.

Don't be surprised at this. You can't just suddenly shut the door of a house that was always open to strangers and expect no one to knock on the door. It will take a while for these countless distractions to disappear, but eventually they will, especially when they realize that you refuse to open the door to them for at least half an hour. If we faithfully keep our time of prayer, every single day, then slowly the distractions diminish and our mind and body join in a rhythm of daily prayer.

“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

- Psalm 119: 130

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Lord, help me to develop a daily rhythm of prayer that I may find true rest in you and be able to cast aside the many unfruitful distractions of my life.

In Jesus' Name

Amen

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His name is Wonderful

LORD,

As this beautiful season of Christmas is upon us, help us to keep our eyes focused on You. Help us to remember that long ago HOLY night when SALVATION descended to the earth in the form of a baby. Help us to keep our gaze toward the GIFT of Jesus. And let our hearts forever be filled to overflowing with the WONDER of Christ.

May we spread the beautiful Gospel of Jesus Christ all the days of our lives…

“For a child will be born for us….He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace…” (Isaiah 9:6)

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a prayer for the unsettled

Heavenly Father,

In this second week of Advent, I know the focus is on the word "Peace" but honestly, my heart doesn't feel very peaceful right now. I'm being pulled in many directions, and my heart feels very unsettled.

I know that the peace the angels spoke of (“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”- Luke 2:14) isn't about horizontal earthy peace, but about the vertical peace we have with you... but I really wish there was horizontal earthy peace right now.

Lord, help me rest in the peace Jesus brought when he came as a baby, a peace in my relationship with you. I am so thankful that I am no longer at war with you because Jesus has covered all my sin. May this peace sink down so deep in my heart that I become an agent of peace in this world.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Amen.

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A Prayer to Celebrate the Miracle of Christmas

Dear Father,

Christmas began with the miracle of the Incarnation.

It seems that it is a time of hope, possibilities and optimism.

We thank you so much for giving us Jesus.

As we celebrate his miraculous birth, turn our hearts toward heaven.

Cause us to see you anew with hearts transformed by your Spirit.

Bless us to reflect your love and goodness to all around us.

You, O blessed Savior, are worthy of all honor and praise.

In this season we celebrate and glory in your Son.

To him belongs all praise.

In love we say amen. And amen.

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a prayer to help others this holiday season

Dearest Lord,

During this season of Christmas we ask you to open our eyes.

Help us to see those who are hurting, sad and lonely.

We pray for those around us who need your touch and ministry.

Extend your hand of compassion and provision through us to them.

Help us to be vessels of Your love and support.

Bless us as we offer helping hands and listening ears.

We thank you, Father, for the privilege of prayer and ministry.

To you belongs all praise and honor.

We love you Lord.

Amen.

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A prayer for Advent to help restore our focus

Come, Lord Christ,

to restore all that has been lost

through struggle and fear,

in sorrow and in pain.

Come, Lord Christ,

to restore the balance of hope

for those oppressed and hungry for justice,

overlooked and counted of little worth.

Come, Lord Christ,

to restore to wholeness

the image that is tarnished

with sin and shame,

neglect and distraction.

Come, Lord Christ,

in poverty and humility

to raise us to your eternal glory. Amen.

Source: Black, Ian. 2011. Prayers for All Occasions. London: SPCK.

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a prayer of hope

Father,

Hope.

It's the first word we often ponder during the Advent season and yet this year it feels strange to even think about hope with so much despair and conflict all around us.

So we lament. We cry out to You.

But in this, there is hope.

Because we wouldn't cry out to You if we didn't hope You would hear us. If we didn't hope You would fix what was broken and right what was wrong.

Lord help us see hope in a new way this Advent and Christmas season. Remind us to find hope in what You have done and what You are doing, and to find hope in the promises You have made for our future. Remind us that we are secure in our place as Your children and that our union with You is at Your gracious and loving hand.

Remind us that our hope is not in the things of this world, but in the person of Jesus Christ who will come again. For this, we wait and hope.

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