Truly, Lord, how great is Your love that You have lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! (1John 3:1) Help us to really grasp it, Father: You love us as dearly loved children. We can extend love to others when we receive Your love to the core. Living water flows from within when we believe. (John 7:38) Your love lives in us through Your Holy Spirit. You ARE love and You demonstrated Your love for mankind by sending Your one and only Son. (1John 4:8) Thank You, God! Jesus is the greatest gift ever. There simply is nothing that could ever exceed the gift of our Savior. We worship and adore You, Jesus. Receive our praise.
Today I lift those who are hurting during this holiday season. Some have just learned of a serious diagnosis and are reeling with the shock of it. Others are struggling through difficult treatment and have no energy, or maybe even depressed. Still others are experiencing a “first” holiday without a loved one and wrestling with loneliness and heartache. Life is good, Lord, but sometimes it is just hard. I pray Your palpable Presence to these who are in emotional pain and grief. Let love surround them in both simple and profound ways. Reveal Yourself, Lord, and sustain them by Your grace. You are faithful and will do it.
Thank You that our identity is not defined by our circumstances. We are Your beloved children, co-heirs with Christ Jesus. According to Ephesians 1, we are loved, accepted, adopted, forgiven, blessed, lavished with love and chosen by You. Press these truths into our minds.
Please bring good memories to mind that warm the heart. May the love of family and friends be a treasure-house to the suffering. Thank You for the excitement and innocent wonder of children. They truly are a gift! Your Word says “Children’s children are a crown to the aging and parents are the pride of their children.” (Proverbs 17:6) Bless our families and let us not take for granted the time we have together. Father, please bring rich conversation and laughter to this season; here and now; may new memories be tucked away. Lord, let us all be sincerely thankful for the friends and family that are here. We acknowledge that nothing stays the same except You, Lord. Seasons of life come and go; people come and go … but You remain the same. (Hebrews 13:8) Hallelujah.
Gratitude. Such a simple thing, really. May it become a lifestyle, not just part of prayer. Gratitude and bitterness cannot co-exist, so let it be on purpose that we speak it to You and to those around us. In spite of illness or grief, I pray for positivity and a joyful spirit to come forth in Jesus’ Name. Lord, Your Word says “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stall, yet I will rejoice in the LORD. I WILL BE JOYFUL IN GOD, MY SAVIOR.” (Habakkuk 3 17,18) We want to be people of joy! I believe You put that in us and, therefore, it is You who accomplishes it. Thank You, Father. You cause joy to live in us even in hard times. We are different because of You. We choose JOY and stand firm in faith. Help us in our unbelief and increase our trust in You.
Lastly, Father, I pray for opportunities to encourage/point people toward You during this holiday season. Let others be drawn to the hope in ____________ because Your Light shines through him/her. Peace rests on _______________ in Jesus’ Name because Your Spirit ministers, strengthens, directs and comforts. Thank You, God, for Who You are, for all You’ve done and all You continue to do. All our hope is in You.
Because of Jesus, and in His name we pray. Amen