A Prayer about Becoming Wise
Wise Lord,
As we enter this first week of the new year,
how desperately we need your wisdom.
We’ve seen the bumper stickers, and they nail it—
“Wise men still seek him.”
Lord, indeed, the first way of wisdom
is to seek Jesus.
For years I didn’t realize that the wise men weren’t Jewish—
they were astrologers,
interpreters of stars and signs and dreams,
likely from Babylon.
Maybe they had overheard some Israelites
who were exiled there
speaking of the “bright morning star”
and they recognized the sign when they saw it.
Lord, help us to recognize you,
and to seek you in a much clearer sign—your Word.
When the wise men saw the sign,
they traveled far, probably around nine hundred miles,
to find the “king of the Jews.”
Lord, make us willing travelers
who will enter the unfamiliar
in order to see you and to share you with others.
The wise men risked their lives in asking Herod,
the appointed king of the Jews,
where the real King of the Jews was.
Lord, make us bold and courageous
in telling the truth about our real King, Jesus.
The wise men “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy”
when they saw the star
and when they discovered the child Jesus,
they “fell down and worshiped.”
Lord, make us people who fall down and worship
when we see you,
and make us see you every single moment of every single day.
In the name of King Jesus we pray. Amen.
Read Matthew 2: 1-12.
(This prayer was inspired by a sermon from our pastor, Joel Treick — you can listen at Pinewoods Church, December 19, 2021.