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A Prayer about the Comfort of a Suffering Savior

by | Dec 7, 2022 | Advent, Christmas, Daily Prayer, 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 the last two 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, 2022 | Advent, Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, Grief, Seasons & Holidays

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 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 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, 2022 | Advent, Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, Seasons & Holidays

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.

A Prayer about the King of Kings

by | Dec 4, 2022 | Advent, Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, kingdom living

A Prayer about the King of Kings

The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” Revelation 11:15

Mighty King, Lord of Lords,

Over the coming weeks, 

many of us will hum or sing along 

to Handel’s famous Hallelujah chorus: 

“King of Kings, and Lord of Lords…

And he shall reign…

Forever and ever.”

We pray that we will not sing these words mindlessly, 

but that you, by your Spirit, 

would awaken our imaginations, 

that we might truly see 

this very baby who Gabriel said would 

“reign on the throne forever” (Luke 1:33), 

firmly planted on the throne in this very moment. 

We pray that our vision of this reality 

would shove aside bad news and fake news 

of the frail and faulty rulers of this world, 

that it would cheer our hearts 

with the goodness of the truest 

and best news about our Savior. 

He is the “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:6). 

He reigns now, and he will reign forever.

One day he will return and establish his kingdom, 

redeeming us and redeeming this earth, 

making all things new. 

In that day, we will bow before him, 

“reigning forever and ever” 

with him as his servants (Revelation 22:5). 

May we sing this good news loudly and cheerfully.

In the name of our Savior King. Amen.

Read Luke 1:33; Revelation 11:15; Revelation 19:6; Revelation 19:16; Revelation 22:5.

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

A Prayer about Jesus’ First and Second Coming

by | Dec 1, 2022 | Advent, Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, Joy, Seasons & Holidays

A Prayer about Jesus’ First and Second Coming

Surely I am coming soon. Revelation 22:20

Lord Jesus,

In this season of celebrating your first arrival, 

our longings are piqued for your second arrival. 

You say, “Surely I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:20), 

and we say, “How soon is soon?” 

As we see the glory and healing and hope 

you brought at your first coming, 

as we see the many wonders that await us 

when you return, 

oh how eager we are, 

far more eager than a five-year-old 

on Christmas Eve. 

For we know the gifts you bring on that day 

will never get old or boring: 

the consummate intimacy with you and others, 

the complete healing from sin and sickness, 

the perfect peace with all who love you, 

the lovely diversity and abundant life… 

All gifts whose shine will never fade away—

these are the things we most deeply long for. 

You say, “Surely, I am coming soon.” 

We say, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”

Read Revelation 21-22.

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

 

A Prayer about the End to Sorrow and Sighing

by | Nov 29, 2022 | Advent, Christmas, Daily Prayer, Grief, Seasons & Holidays, Suffering

A Prayer about the End to Sorrow and Sighing

And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isaiah 35:10

Good Father,

In these days, the calls of “happy holidays” 

may fall deaf on the ears of those 

whose hearts are filled with sorrow and sighing. 

How grateful we are for the hope of Jesus’ first coming 

which brought ransom and redemption 

to “captive Israel,” 

which transformed her mourning into joy.* 

Fill our heavy hearts with the vision Isaiah paints 

of what has already begun 

and of what will one day be full and final 

when Jesus returns:

“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; 

the desert shall rejoice and blossom 

like the crocus; 

it shall blossom abundantly 

and rejoice with joy and singing” (Isaiah 35:1-2).

“[We] shall see the glory of the Lord, 

the majesty of our God” (Isaiah 35:2).

May we who have “anxious hearts” 

hear your reassuring voice 

speaking to us from your Word: 

‘Be strong; fear not!” 

Indeed, one day soon, 

Jesus says, 

our God will judge all evil. 

In that day, 

all “sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10), 

and we will know gladness and joy forever and ever. 

In this season of Advent, 

deepen our longing for that day.

In Jesus’ restoring name. Amen.

Read Isaiah 35. 

*Listen to “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”

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