Daily Prayer

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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a prayer for clarity

Lord of Light and Clarity,

As we begin this season of Advent, fill our hearts with your beautiful light.

As seasonal candles are lit, bring the warmth of the time to our hearts.

In the darkness of uncertainty, remind us that your love never fails.

Bring clarity to our lives as we confess our trust in Your presence.

Help us to recognize the still small voice of your Spirit.

Bring grace to our lives as we lean into your presence in us.

Strengthen our hearts and minds for the days ahead.

Help us to carry your light and hope into the world.

Amen

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A Prayer as we Prepare for Christmas

Lord Jesus, master of both the light and the darkness,

Send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.

We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day.

We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.

We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.

We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.

We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.

To you we say, "Come Lord Jesus!'

Amen.

- Henri J.M. Nouwen

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as we navigate holiday grief

Dear Father,

We come to you with heavy hearts as we navigate this holiday season.

We know that you are with us in our sadness.

We pray for Your comfort and peace in the midst of our sorrow and loss.

Wrap us in Your love and strength, and remind us that we are not alone.

Please bring us courage to face each day with hope.

Grant us grace that we might find hope and healing, even through the pain.

For we who mourn, let your presence be our solace.

And let our memories of our loved ones be a source of peace.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

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Deliver Me from Slothfulness, Lukewarmness and Dejection (John Wesley)

Deliver me, O God, from a slothful mind, from all lukewarmness, and all dejection of spirit. I know these cannot but deaden my love to you; mercifully free my heart from them, and give me a lively, zealous, active, and cheerful spirit; that I may vigorously perform whatever you command, thankfully suffer whatever you choose for me, and be ever ardent to obey in all things your holy love.

John Wesley

Romans 12:11 (ESV)

11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Revelation 3:16 (ESV)

16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

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Confidence in Jesus

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on forgiving others

Father,

This week many of us will come to the table for holiday celebrations. And sometimes, Lord, it's hard for us to come to this table without hurt, baggage, and trauma around other at the table who've hurt us. It's hard to forgive those who haven't asked for forgiveness, or to forgive those who don't think they've done anything wrong.

May we be reminded that refusing to forgiving others is hard on our own hearts.

You've established forgiveness as a command, but a command for our good. When our sense of justice gets in the way, Lord remind us that release is good for our body, hearts, and souls.

We come with open hearts and open hands. Give us the grace to forgive all who have offended us. Give us the grace to let go.

Help us to walk in the forgiveness you have given us. Encourage unconditional love.

Teach us to forgive as we are forgiven.

Amen.

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giving thanks in every season

Heavenly Father,

You are the God of all seasons.

You are with me in my joys and in my sorrows.

I thank you for your unconditional love.

I am blessed to have you in my life in every season.

I am so thankful that you are working all things for my good.

I pray for the strength and faith to walk through every season.

I praise you in both glad times and in painful times.

I am trusting in you as I become more and more like your Son.

In every season, I give thanks to you and for you.

Amen.

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a prayer of thanks in rough times

There is something healing about the giving of thanks. We acknowledge God's goodness when we give thanks to him in the midst of struggle and pain. We seemingly reach back to times of divine blessings when we remember what God has done in our lives. Such memories can be an anchor in the storm.

I can relate to times of pain when all I had was a memory of the goodness of God. There is something about a memory that can cause me to be thankful. When my parents passed on my memories of them caused me to be thankful for their lives. I think that it is helpful to give thanks to God in rough times.

With that in mind, I ask you to pray with me.

We remember what you have done in our lives Lord. And we give thanks.

For your presence in good times and bad. We give thanks.

For the people that you have placed in our lives. We give thanks.

For the ways that you work all things together for our good. We give thanks.

For the gift of your Son. Our hearts are filled with Thanksgiving.

Amen

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May the Words We Have Heard Be Grafted in Our Hearts (George Whitefield)

Grant, we ask you, Almighty God, that the words which we have heard this day with our outward ears, may through your grace be so grafted inwardly in our hearts, that they may bring forth in us the fruit of good living, to the honor and praise of your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!

George Whitefield

Matthew 13:23 (ESV)

23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

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a prayer for mental peace

O God, the One who has set us free - the One who is our peace:

We seek the strength of your Spirit, that we may live in a more deep and powerful union with you.

May Your faithfulness be a source of comfort for us as we live in the reality of a world, a community - and even our own hearts - that struggle to thrive in the midst of loneliness, political upheaval, financial battles, health concerns, broken relationships, and the continued deep divide between people with different beliefs.

Teach us to give grace when we don't understand.

Give us eyes to see those who are drowning in despair.

Give us hearts to help, and feet that are ready and able.

May Your hope overcome despair, may Your love be felt by those who feel far away from it, and may Your provision come to those who need it. Grant that we may gain courage to love and understand each other, and live with mercy toward those that need Your help and our help. May the Great Comforter - the Holy Spirit - wash over each one of us this day and every day forward.

Amen

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