Category: December

A Prayer about Treasuring and Pondering  

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:16–19 NIV)  

Gracious Jesus, I’m very drawn to Mary’s response early in her journey of nursing you and knowing you. Even as I write these words, I realize what a holy mystery the incarnation was. You, the very God who created all things, who sustains all things, and who is making all things new—you drew nourishment from a young maiden’s breast. 

And Mary “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” “Hurrying off” like a shepherd to tell others about you has always been easier for me than sitting still and letting you tell me about yourself. 

It’s always been easier for me to talk than to listen, to stay busy than to relax, to be “productive” than to be meditative. I confess this as sin, Jesus. This isn’t okay. It can be explained but not justified. For knowing about you is not the same thing as knowing you. An informed mind is not the same thing as an en flamed heart. 

To know you is eternal life, and I do want to know you, Jesus, so much better than I already do. I want to treasure you in my heart and ponder who you are. I want to contemplate everything you’ve already accomplished through your life, death, and resurrection; everything you’re presently doing as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; and everything you will be in the new heaven and new earth as the bridegroom of your beloved bride. There’s so much to treasure and so much to ponder.

It’s not as though I’m a stranger to treasuring and pondering, for I treasure and ponder a lot of things, Jesus — things, however, that lead to a bankrupt spirit and an impoverished heart. May the gospel slow me, settle me, and center me, that I might say with the psalmist, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Ps. 73:25–26)

I pray in your peerless name.

Amen. 

A Prayer about a Standing Shepherd 

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely,
for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
And he will be our peace. (Mic. 5:2, 4–5 NIV)

Most loving Jesus, there are so many reasons to love and worship you. First and foremost, you are God, who, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit, is singularly worthy to be worshiped with everything we have and are. The fact that I’m even tempted to worship other gods is irrefutable confirmation that I’m a broken, sinful man, desperate for the salvation that you alone can give. 

Today I’m especially moved to worship you, Jesus, for being the Shepherd Savior that you are. Having laid down your life as the Lamb of God, you’ve risen and are now the standing shepherd— relentlessly caring, vigilantly protecting, and faithfully providing for us. You never sleep or slumber. You are constantly caring for us. Be praised and worshiped, O good and engaged Shepherd.

Jesus, because of your great love for me in the gospel, I lack nothing that I need. I don’t get all my wants, but I do have everything I need for life and godliness . . . and a whole lot more. I praise you that it’s green pastures and quiet waters to which you lead me— all for the restoring of my tired, weary, broken, rebellious soul. 

For your glory and my good, you guide me along paths of righteousness, goodness, truth, and grace. And even as that journey involves traversing places marked by decay and death, you are with me, and that’s all I really need to know. I don’t have to be afraid of anything or anyone, for you are with me. 

You nourish me all the time, even when enemies are close by and threatening. Your generous anointing overflows for the blessing of others. To follow you is to be followed by the fragrance of your goodness and love. Even in the new heaven and new earth, you will be our shepherd, leading us to springs of living water. (Rev. 7:17)

Your greatness, Jesus, will reach to the ends of the earth, and we will always live securely, for you are our peace, now and forever. 

In your great and gracious name we pray.

Amen. 

A Prayer about Immanuel’s Presence and Presents  

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Rom. 8:28–32)  

Jesus, I’m thankful to know that every word of the Word, in one way or another, is ultimately about you. Every command drives me to you. Every promise is fulfilled in you. Every story whispers your name, points to your glory, and proffers your grace. This is why I love the Bible more than ever. 

Yet there seem to be some Scriptures that are kind of like “homeroom” to me, like a favorite chair, jogging path, or scenic view. To go there puts everything into perspective. This portion of the Word is just such a place. All the Immanuelises, all the carols and hymns of Advent converge right here. The hopes and fears of all my years are met right here.

Jesus, I praise you for being Immanuel— God with me and God for me. Your presence and your presents are all that I need, much more than I realize, and way beyond all I could have ever hoped for or imagined. 

You’re at work in all things for your glory and for my good— in the obvious and in the not-so-obvious, in my gains and in my pains, in what I “get” and in the things that seem to contradict what I know, when I’m “feeling the love” and when I’m feeling very lonely, when the gospel makes all the sense in the world to me and when I’m tempted to say with John the Baptist, “Are you the Messiah, or should we be looking for another?” 

But there is no other Messiah, Savior, or Lord but you, Jesus. And absolutely nothing can separate me from your love, for I’ve been called according to the Fa- ther’s purpose, which will never fail or falter. He “foreknew” me; he set his affec- tion upon me before the world began, and he will continue to provide everything necessary to complete the work of the gospel in my life, in the whole family of God, and in the entire creation. “Thrice hallelujah!” I shout. 

I pray by the light of this good news of great joy.

Amen. 

A Prayer about One Blessing after Another  

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This was the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me be- cause he was before me.’”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
(John 1:14–16 NIV)

Dear Jesus, I can understand why, of all the accounts of your birth, John’s is least often chosen as the script for Sunday school Christmas pageants and programs. After all, what parts would the children play? What cute costumes could they wear? There’s no manger, no Joseph and Mary, no shepherds and angels or wise men and lowing cattle. But there certainly is you. You’re the only star on the horizon in this nativity scene, and how you shine.

I praise you, Lord Jesus, for becoming flesh and “tabernacling” among us for just the right amount of time. Though equal to yet distinct from the Father, you didn’t consider your glory something to be tightly grasped or held on to selfishly. Rather, you emptied yourself by becoming a man—but not just any ordinary man but a servant-man, the servant of the Lord, the second Adam, our Savior . . . my Savior. 

In your thirty three years of incarnate life, you accomplished everything necessary for the redemption of the people for whom you lived and died but also for the restoration of the world you created and love. Be magnified, adored, regaled, worshiped, and loved, Lord Jesus. What a wonderful, merciful Savior you are! What a God who is so mighty to save!

I cannot sing Isaac Watts’s great Advent hymn “Joy to the World” without thinking of John’s Advent narrative. For you are presently ruling the world with your grace and truth— the grace and truth with which you are full. You’re making the nations prove the wonders of your love as the gospel runs from heart to heart and nation to nation. 

From the fullness of your grace I keep receiving one blessing after another and one blessing on top of another: the blessings of your imputed righteousness, the blessings of perpetual favor with God, the blessings of your intercession and advocacy, the blessings of your Spirit’s work in my life, the blessings of citizenship in heaven, the blessing of knowing the good work you have begun in me, and in the cosmos, will be brought to completion! Hail the incarnate deity! Joy to the world, and to me, indeed! I pray in your most glorious name.

Amen. 

A Prayer about Singing Mary’s Song  

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.”
(Luke 1:46–50)

Jesus, I woke up today so thankful for the gift of music, especially the songs of Advent. I’m more likely to lose my inhibitions singing Christmas songs than any other genre. And it’s not rocket science to figure out why this is so. Every Advent hymn, carol, and chorus I treasure— from your Word, in my hymnal, or on my iPod— propels me into hope and gratitude and more hope and more gratitude. And when my heart is fueled by these twin graces, I’m much freer and so much more full of faith. I praise you for igniting my heart to sing your praise.

I praise you for giving me a reason to sing, Lord Jesus. I praise you for songwriters who capture what I feel and give me the vehicle for expressing what I long to say to you. 

Mary’s story is different from mine, and yet I join her Advent refrain today. I can sing her song. I must sing her song, for you’ve been so mindful of my humble, broken, sinful state. I have nothing to boast in but you, Lord Jesus. You came to me when I wasn’t seeking you. You are being formed in me as surely as you entered the world through Mary’s womb. 

I’m a blessed man because you’ve done great things for me, and you continue to do great things for me. Holy is your name, Lord Jesus! I have no concern for what any generation may say about me. It’s enough to know what you say about me: that I’m yours, that I’m forgiven, that I’m righteous in you, and that nothing can separate me from your love. 

Your mercy has been extended to my generation and to me personally. Therefore, my soul glorifies you, Jesus, and my spirit rejoices in you, my God and my Savior. As the gospel goes deeper into my heart, free me from all fears except the fear of the Lord. I want to be filled and freed with an affectionate reverence for you alone, Lord Jesus. I sing and pray, in your most glorious and gracious name. 

Amen. 

A Prayer about a King, Not a Co-Pilot  

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish and uphold it with justice and
righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
(Isa. 9:7)

Merciful Jesus, I thought I’d seen it all. I didn’t really think there were many more surprises waiting for me . . . until yesterday. The SUV in front of me looked like a Christmas tree with blinking lights, ornaments, an angel on top and all. But right there on the bumper there it was—centered and unblemished, a 15-by-4-inch banner proclaiming, “Jesus Is My Co-Pilot.” 

After repenting of my cynicism, I was happy to affirm in busy traffic, as I do this early morning, that you’re not a co-pilot. You’re a king, the King of all kings, “the ruler of kings on earth” (Rev. 1:5) and everything else. The last thing I need in life, or in death, is a co-pilot. Co-crucifixion and co-resurrection with you, yes! Co-pilot, no.

Advent’s the season in which we get to acknowledge there’s only one government and one peace sufficient to meet the needs of our sinful hearts and this bro- ken world. King David’s throne has now become a throne of grace from which you rule the world, advancing your kingdom of peace, justice, and righteousness in the hearts of your people, among the nations of the world, and in every sphere of your creation. 

Jesus, with zeal and grace you’re working all things together after the counsel of your will. You— the Lamb of God, the Lord of Lords, and the Lamp of the New Jerusalem— are working in all things for your glory and for our good. No one and nothing can derail, deter, or distract you from bringing to completion your good work of redemption and restoration. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! 

As the gospel of your kingdom continues its transforming work in my life, Jesus, may it advance through my life. As you love me passionately, I would love you missionally, living in your redeeming story, to your matchless glory, with your unspeakable joy. I pray in your mighty and merciful name.

Amen. 

A Prayer about a Delightfully Huge Christmas 

See, I will create new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy.
I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people;
the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.
(Isa. 65:17–19 NIV)

Heavenly Father, the long line at Costco gave me more than a chance to whine about the wait. Casual conversation with fellow shoppers once again highlighted the multiple ways the story of Christmas is told and experienced. 

To start with, Bing Crosby was crooning, “Have yourself a merry little Christmas,” but on top of that I kept hearing this shopping cart refrain: “We can’t afford much Christmas this year” and “We’re downsizing Christmas this year.” I found myself grateful for the way you tell the story. 

Father, we’re not the ones who “do” Christmas; you are, and there’s really nothing merely merry or little about the day. The size of our Christmas has absolutely nothing to do with how much discretionary money we have to spend on bigger and better gifts. How I praise you that every Christmas is huge, delightfully huge, irrespective of any economy or currency.

Through the gift of Jesus, you’ve promised to create a new heaven and new earth from the stuff of this very broken world— a new creation world in which you will find great delight. We praise you for your generosity and your joy, mighty Father. 

You’ve promised to redeem a people from every race, tribe, tongue, and people group to live in that eternal world of peace and joy— a people in whom you find great delight and over whom you will rejoice forever. We praise you for your generosity and your joy, merciful Father. 

Lord Jesus, I intend to fix my gaze on you today and not on my shopping cart. For you’re the object, author, and perfecter of our faith. It’s because you have come and are coming again that we live with the blessed assurance that all our sins have been wiped away and the glorious hope that all of our tears likewise will one day be wiped away. This is huge, delightfully huge! I pray in your holy and loving name.

Amen.

A Prayer about the Most Holy Paradox 

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion —
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. (Isa. 61:1–3)

Jesus, I’m marinating this morning in the holy paradox of the weakness of your birth and the magnitude of your calling. Who could’ve ever imagined that a baby whose birthing room was a stable would be the means by which God will ultimately stabilize and transform everything awry in the universe?

Who had any way of knowing that the child who nursed from a very young mother’s breast was actually the Ancient of Days— the one who brings the nourishment of salvation, redemption, and restoration to God’s pan national people and much beloved creation? 

Who recognized that the cute, cuddly spirit of this infant was actually the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord by which one day all oppression will be stopped, all chains will be broken, all injustice will give way to justice, mourning will be replaced with gladness, broken hearts will become healed hearts, despairing hearts will become praising hearts, and the disfavored will become the favored of the Lord? Who possibly could’ve seen, known, and believed such a thing? 

We praise you, Lord Jesus, for displaying your splendor most clearly in the gospel of your kingdom and of God’s grace. May your splendor be more fully revealed in us and through us, until the day you return to finish making all things new. May we who have been declared righteous by faith in you live as a people who love your mercy, advocate for your justice, and walk humbly with you, our God. I pray in your most glorious name.

Amen. 

A Prayer about the Perfect Birthing Experience  

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to son ship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. (Gal. 4:4–7 NIV)  

Dear Jesus, like others, I often sentimentalize the circumstances of your birth, judging Jerusalem for missing the moment, criticizing innkeepers for gross in- hospitality, and pitying Joseph and Mary for the birthing room they had to endure. Yet everything happened just as you, our Father, and the Holy Spirit planned. “Doing all things well” didn’t just start happening after your resurrection.

“When the time had fully come” you came, not a day early and not a day late. As humbling as it was to be born under the ceiling of a stable, being born under the weight of the law was a far greater burden. Yet that’s exactly why you came into the world— to be born under God’s law to redeem us— to redeem me from my sin and my rebellion, to rescue me from my unwillingness and inability to love God as he deserves. There’s no way in the world I could’ve ever fulfilled the demands of God’s righteous, perfect, and holy law. Only you could and only you did. I worship, praise, and adore you, Lord Jesus. 

Because you lived in my place and died in my place, I’m no longer a slave but a son of the living and loving God, with the full rights thereof. Abba, Father has robed this prodigal with your righteousness and has sent his Spirit to live in my heart. My future looks amazing, as I will co inherit the new heaven and new earth with you! Oh my . . . what can I say but “Hallelujah, what a Savior! Hallelujah, what a salvation!” 

I will not judge innkeepers, but I rejoice in the God of my salvation. I pray in your matchless name.

Amen. 

A Prayer about Christmas Memories  

He [God] has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.
(Luke 1:51–55 NIV)

Heavenly Father, as the Holy Spirit prayed this magnificent prayer through a stunned Mary, little could she have imagined what was ahead. Her birth pains in nine months would be greatly surpassed by her heart pains thirty-three years later at the foot of her son’s cross. 

But there’s one thing she did understand— at least one thing she took to heart from her years of growing up in a home of faith. She was taught that you are a God who remembers to be merciful. You have proved this beyond all doubt. 

Father, I worship and adore you this morning for your memory and for your mercy. I’ve got a lot of great Christmas memories, but I am most thankful that Christmas is a celebration of what you did not forget and what you will never forget. With the gift of Jesus, you remembered all the promises you made to Abraham and to his descendants, which includes me. I’m humbled and overwhelmed. 

You promised Abraham you would take him to a land of your choosing, make of him a great nation, and through that nation ultimately bless all the families on the face of the earth (Gen. 12–17). No one could fulfill these promises but you. 

Like Mary, Abraham could not have begun to imagine how all of this would play out. But the promises you made to Abraham and the prayer prayed through Mary all find their fulfillment in your Son, Jesus. I praise you for your memory and your mercy, Father. 

Indeed, Jesus, you are the fulfillment of all the covenant promises God has made. Because of your faithfulness, from the cradle to the cross, we live in the embrace of the Father of mercies, whose mercies are new every morning. Great is his faithfulness! Because of you, Jesus, the only sign of amnesia in our Father is his forgetting to remember our sins against us, forever! What peace, what joy, what hope this brings me today. 

I pray with the faith of Abraham and the humility of Mary, in your gracious and loving name.

Amen.