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A Prayer about Waiting at Christmas

by | Dec 15, 2023 | Christmas, Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Waiting at Christmas

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart, and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

Coming Savior,

In this season of “advent,”

 as we remember your first coming, 

we anticipate many things, 

some eagerly, some anxiously. 

Some of us are waiting eagerly for family members to arrive 

or to give a special surprise we have long planned 

or to sing Silent Night at the Christmas Eve service. 

All of those are sweet things to look forward to. 

Others of us are quite literally in waiting rooms 

as a loved one undergoes surgery 

or in waiting seasons wondering when we will get a new job 

or weeping as we continue to mourn a lost loved one 

and wondering when the pain will pass. 

Whether we are anticipating the many joys of this season 

or weeping as we wait for renewed hope, 

may we never forget that we are waiting for you to come again. 

May we be strong in your strength, and

may we take heart in your consolation, 

knowing that you are “coming soon,” 

and that when you come,

 you will bring the perfect peace and joy 

this season is really all about. 

We will know intimacy with you and with others 

as we have never known before. 

We will know the rest of never struggling with sin again. 

We will know the joy of serving you 

in the best work you’ve designed us for—

to multiply your glory forever and ever. 

Today, we will focus our hearts 

and our hopes on the horizon, 

looking for your next appearing.

In your en-couraging name we pray. Amen.

Read Psalm 27; Revelation 21 and 22.

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.



 

A Prayer about a Baby Who Took on Our Burden

by | Dec 14, 2023 | Christmas, Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about a Baby Who Took on Our Burden

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,

you have shattered

the yoke that burdens them,

the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor. Isaiah 9:4

Lord Jesus,

Many of us will probably see at least one nativity scene today. 

If we do, or even if we don’t, 

pause us in our busyness 

to wonder about this remarkable story:

This baby lying in a manger would be you, 

our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

You, our Prince of Peace,

would be the warrior 

who brought peace for us 

and for the cosmos 

by dying on a cross.

You, our Prince of Peace, 

would deliver us 

from the oppression of evil and sin.

You, our Prince of Peace, 

would free us 

from the burden of guilt and shame.

You, our Prince of peace, 

would beckon us to come to you, 

to be yoked (united) to you, 

and to know the rest only you can bring. 

May we truly marvel at this wonder 

and find our rest in you today. 

In your peace-bringing name. Amen.

Read Isaiah 9:1-7.

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.



 

A Prayer about the Baby Born to Be King

by | Dec 9, 2023 | Christmas, Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Baby Born to Be King

And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him. Daniel 7:14

Lord Jesus,

As we continue meditating 

on my favorite Christmas hymn, 

“Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus,” 

we marvel at the fact that you were a baby 

delivered to deliver…

”born a child and yet a King!”

You weren’t born to become 

the president of the United States 

or the president of a corporation, 

nor were you born to win battles 

through military prowess—

You were born to win our hearts back 

from the kingdom of darkness 

by paying the debt of our sin. 

You were born to “reign in us forever,” 

to displace anyone or anything 

that might try to rule falsely over us.

You were born to rule forever, 

in a kingdom which will not pass away, 

in a kingdom in which peace and justice 

are the order of every day.

You were born 

to “raise us to thy glorious throne” 

where we will reign with you 

by serving you eternally. 

May we sing this good news heartily 

and live with joy and hope 

because of it. 

In your reigning name. Amen. 

Read Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 21:24-25, 22:5.

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.



 

A Prayer about the Comfort of a Suffering Savior

by | Dec 7, 2023 | Christmas, Christmas, Grief, Seasons & Holidays, Suffering

A Prayer about the Comfort of a Suffering Savior

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4

Father of All Comfort,

With the losses of recent years mounting, 

divisions among friends and families, 

disease throughout the world,  

death of dear ones, 

we’re aware that this Christmas season 

may not be so merry for everyone. 

And yet, into the silent and dark season long ago, 

you sent your very own Son, 

a baby born to bear our griefs, 

a child delivered to carry our sorrow, 

an infant sent to suffer for our sins, 

Because he submitted to this suffering, 

we can know the “peace on earth” 

we will sing about in this season. 

Because he was “afflicted” by you (Isaiah 53:4), 

we can know the “joy to the world” 

we sing about in this season. 

Even in the midst of sorrow, 

may we see the profound hope of healing 

we have in our suffering Savior.

Amen. 

Read Isaiah 53:1-12. 

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.



 

A Prayer about Not Being Alone at Christmas

by | Dec 6, 2023 | Christmas, Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Not Being Alone at Christmas

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20

Ever-present God,

We’ve seen too many Christmas programs 

with Mary all alone on the stage singing

about how a baby changes everything. 

I guess it’s because 

we admire Mary for facing such a daunting task—

to birth and raise the Son of God, 

but we’re prone to forget 

that she was never alone in her calling, 

that she’s not some 21st century independent woman, 

bold and brave and free, 

walking this hard road in her own strength. 

Indeed, the angel Gabriel is right there with her 

in this radically life-altering moment, 

and you were with her all along.

Her cousin Elizabeth is with her, 

believing the impossible with her. 

Even if her husband initially rejected her 

and the village folk talked about her behind her back, 

she had the assurance that her heavenly Father favored her.

And we have so much more than Mary had. 

We have the knowledge that Christ the King 

was born as a baby, 

lived and loved on this earth, 

died on the Cross for our sins, 

rose from the dead, 

and is seated at your right hand. 

We know that one day he will come again 

to restore all things, 

to right the wrong, 

to call his people home. 

Show us today

where we need to surrender to your plan, 

and remind us that we are never alone 

in living this glorious calling to be your bond servant. 

Do your will in us, 

and remind us of the many ways 

you’ve already shown us your favor 

and empowered us to serve you. 

In Jesus’, Immanuel’s name. Amen. 

Read Luke 1:26-45. 

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.



 

A Prayer about the First Gift of Christmas

by | Dec 5, 2023 | Christmas, Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the First Gift of Christmas

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
John 1:12

Dear Giving Father,

‘Tis the season to buy and wrap the gifts of Christmas. 

Even as we make our lists and check them twice, 

even as we laugh at Billy from The Polar Express shouting, 

“I want the first gift of Christmas, 

I want the first gift of Christmas!” 

may our desire grow for your “indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15), 

your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

May we know this gift, the unexpected and life-altering love of Jesus. 

May we enjoy this gift, which you gave to us freely, 

by grace alone, through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8).

May we treasure this gift, 

thinking deeply about it every time 

we see the Christ child in the manger. 

And may we share this gift with all we meet

as the first and best gift of Christmas.

In Jesus’ sacrificial name. Amen.

Read John 1:9-18.

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.