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A Prayer about Making Room for Jesus

by | Dec 16, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Making Room for Jesus

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

Lord Jesus,

Sometimes I think the innkeeper has gotten a bad rap 

in all of our Christmas programs 

for not making room for the baby Jesus. 

After all, if he had known 

the Messiah would be born in his inn, 

wouldn’t he have found him a room?

As I consider his story and the busy days of the Christmas season, 

I pray that we will see who you really are—

the Messiah, the King of Kings, 

who humbled yourself to take on humanity, 

who submitted to being born in a stable 

and laid in a feeding trough.

I pray that we will make room for you 

in our noisy hearts. 

Still us and silence us 

that we might hear your kind invitation 

into the space of forgiveness, 

into the deepest, truest love 

we have ever known. 

By your Spirit, move us toward you, 

the one who came to live among us 

that we might live forever with you. 

In your hospitable name.

Amen.

Read Luke 2:1-7; Psalm 46:10.

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



 

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 “God-with-us”

by | Dec 13, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about “God-with-us”

Greetings, O favored one. The Lord is with you! Luke 1:28

Lord God,

I don’t know about everyone else praying this prayer, 

but around this time every year, 

I need to remember Gabriel’s assurance to Mary: 

“The Lord is with you!” 

You are with me, and in Christ, 

you are in me. 

You are with me 

when I am afraid.

[Name some things you are afraid of right now…

being alone,

not getting the right gifts for your family, 

that your children will abandon their faith?]

You are with me 

when I find my rest in other things.

[Name some other places you seek 

security, significance, or a sense of calm].

You are with me 

when I try to earn my favor—

with you or with others.

[Name some ways 

you are seeking either God’s approval 

or others’ by performing].

Thank you, Lord, 

that you sent Jesus, 

Immanuel, “God-with-us,” 

that we might never walk alone. 

In his very near name we pray. Amen. 

Read Luke 1:28; Joshua 1:9; Psalm 145:18-19; Isaiah 41:10; Romans 8:38-39.

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



 

A Prayer about the Hope for Our Bodies

by | Dec 12, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Hope for Our Bodies

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…John 1:14

Lord Jesus,

As we celebrate your incarnation, 

which literally means “enfleshing”, 

may we not miss the wonder 

that you became a human body. 

May we see the beauty of the bodies 

our Creator God formed for each of us to inhabit, 

and may we thank God for this precious gift. 

May we see how the fall broke our bodies, 

making us know shame 

in our minds, spirits, and bodies (Genesis 3:1-8).

May we marvel at the truth 

author John W. Kleinig describes:

you “took on a human body 

to reclaim us bodily 

for fellowship with God the Father” 

and because you did, 

“our bodies once again become 

what they were meant to be.” 

In union with you, 

we share your holiness 

as we are filled with the Holy Spirit. 

In union with you, 

we “share in God’s hidden glory 

and display it by word and deed 

to the world.” * 

Throughout this season, 

every time we think of the incarnation, 

may we rejoice in the hope 

of the full redemption of our bodies 

we will experience when you return.

In your embodied name. Amen. 

Read John 1:14-18; Genesis 3:1-8; Romans 8:23. 

Quotes from John W. Kleinig, Fearfully Made: A Protestant Theology of the Body

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



 

A Prayer about the Lord’s Majesty, Might, and Mercy

by | Dec 11, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Lord’s Majesty, Might, and Mercy

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

Luke 1:46-47

Majestic Lord,

we join with Mary in magnifying you, 

in proclaiming your greatness.

Indeed, you are mighty, 

and you have done great things for us, 

and your name is holy (Luke 1:49).

Your mercy is for us who fear you; 

your mercy continues through the generations 

to all who live in awe of you (Luke 1:50).

You have “shown strength with your arm, 

“scattering the proud 

and bringing down the mighty 

from their thrones” (Luke 1: 52).

You have filled “the hungry with good things” 

and sent those who think they are rich away, empty, 

because they refused to name their need for you (Luke 1:52-53).

You have helped your servant Israel 

and your servant (insert your name), 

not because of anything we’ve done, 

but because you remembered your mercy (Luke 1:54).

You have spoken your covenant, 

your unfailing promise, of redemption, 

and what you speak comes to pass (Luke 1:55).

May we meditate on these truths today and every day. 

In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen. 

Read Luke 1:46-55. 

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