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A Prayer about the Baby Born to Be King

by | Dec 9, 2022 | Advent, Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, Seasons & Holidays

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 Finding Freedom in the Long-Expected Jesus

by | Dec 8, 2022 | Advent, Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, Seasons & Holidays

A Prayer about Finding Freedom in the Long-Expected Jesus

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. Romans 6:22

Lord Jesus,

This morning we are meditating 

on the good news about you—

our “long-expected Jesus,”

as Charles Wesley wrote about 

in one of my favorite Advent hymns.

Indeed, Jesus, you were “born to set thy people free.”

Thank you for freeing me from…

[name some of the things Jesus has set you free from…].

Thank you for releasing me from my fears and sins 

[name some of the fears and sins he has released you from…].

Thank you for being my strength in weakness 

[name some of your weaknesses].

Thank you for being my consolation when I am sorrowful 

[name some of your sorrows…].

Most of all, thank you 

for letting me “find my rest in thee.” 

In your long-expected name. Amen.

Read Isaiah 61:1-2; 2 Corinthians 4:14; Romans 6:22.

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, 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.