fbpx

A Prayer about “Happy Holidays”

A Prayer about “Happy Holidays”

Joyful Lord,

It’s already happening. 

I feel my inner Grinch creeping, 

ready to make a sneak attack 

on the poor unsuspecting checkout folks 

who cheerfully call out, “Happy Holidays” 

after I’ve just bought Christmas ornaments. 

Lord, I know they’ve been told what to say. 

Lord, I know that Christmas 

has become commercialized. 

And yet, these stores will still play songs like,

“Joy to the World, the Lord is come, 

let earth receive her King,” 

and “Hark, the herald angels sing, 

‘Glory to the newborn King.’”

 So rather than getting all grinchy 

when someone tells me, “Happy Holidays,” 

help me to joyfully respond, “Thank you,” 

or even, “Joy to the world!” 

Help me to see that even the “secularization” of Christmas

offers prime opportunities 

to share the true reason for our joy — 

we have a great King, 

and that King has come, 

in the form of a baby human! 

It’s game-changing news, 

but many don’t know it. 

May we seek this season 

to share this news 

in the best way we know how, 

by living and loving 

in the fullness of our Savior’s joy!

Amen.

Read Psalm 98; Luke 2:8-20.

Pray through Advent with a daily prayer. Get the daily prayer in your inbox at 6 am central. Subscribe now (Check Daily Prayer on signup) and get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free. 

Get Finding Rest in Christmas for Free

Do you need help finding rest in Christmas?

Four-part devotional series designed to help you…Slow down. Let go…of the frenzy, worry, rush…
Hear the story of the wonders God has done—in the lives of people who also struggle with fear, anxiety and loss of hope.

FOUR WEEKLY GUIDES|FIVE DAILY ACTIVITIES 

Day 1: Devotional

Day 2: Reflection Questions

Day 3: Story Starters

Day 4: Prayer

Day 5: Music

A Prayer about How Christ’s Birth Disrupts Us

A Prayer about How Christ’s Birth Disrupts Us

Wondrous God, 

Even though this verse isn’t usually 

the subject of memes or cross-stitched wall-art, 

we need to ponder it.

It reminds us of just how disruptive 

the birth of Christ really was, 

how Christ in fact came 

to disrupt any self-made shalom, 

any peace we’ve gained on our own terms, 

any security and significance 

that doesn’t come from you. 

We can imagine how confused 

Mary must have been, 

how disruptive the news 

of her imminent pregnancy was to her.

After all, what would Joseph, 

her betrothed say?

And yet, she doesn’t quarrel 

with the angel Gabriel. 

Instead, she wonders, “How can this be?”

Lord, in this season of Advent, 

draw us to wonder 

about the disruptive grace 

of Jesus Christ. 

Make us sit and rest and ponder 

the enormity of this question, 

“How can this be….” 

In Christ’s wonderfully disruptive name. Amen.

Read Luke 1:26-38.

Get Finding Rest in Christmas for Free

Do you need help finding rest in Christmas?

Four-part devotional series designed to help you…Slow down. Let go…of the frenzy, worry, rush…
Hear the story of the wonders God has done—in the lives of people who also struggle with fear, anxiety and loss of hope.

FOUR WEEKLY GUIDES|FIVE DAILY ACTIVITIES 

Day 1: Devotional

Day 2: Reflection Questions

Day 3: Story Starters

Day 4: Prayer

Day 5: Music

A Prayer about Undeserved Grace

A Prayer about Undeserved Grace

Wondrous God,

As advent, the season of celebrating the wait for Christ to come, 

begins today, 

open our eyes to see the hope-full truth:

Grace is all about you! In Greek, 

the word for “favored” is “graced,” 

so Gabriel is really telling Mary, 

“Greetings, O graced one, the Lord is with you!” 

What make us “graced”? 

We are “graced” with your presence. 

In this season leading up to Christmas, 

may we exchange time stocking up on presents 

and for moments soaking up your presence. 

For indeed, that is the true meaning of Christmas—

you sent your Son to earth, 

fully God, fully human, 

a baby to be carried in the womb of Mary, 

the graced one. 

We didn’t deserve the present of your presence, 

but you were determined to give it! 

May we take time this season to rest 

in your life-giving, undeserved grace. 

In the name of our gracious Savior. Amen.

Read Luke 1:28; Ephesians 2:4-10. 

Get Finding Rest in Christmas for Free

Do you need help finding rest in Christmas?

Four-part devotional series designed to help you…Slow down. Let go…of the frenzy, worry, rush…
Hear the story of the wonders God has done—in the lives of people who also struggle with fear, anxiety and loss of hope.

FOUR WEEKLY GUIDES|FIVE DAILY ACTIVITIES 

Day 1: Devotional

Day 2: Reflection Questions

Day 3: Story Starters

Day 4: Prayer

Day 5: Music

A Prayer about Preparing for Thanksgiving

A Prayer about Preparing for Thanksgiving

Lord God,

As we prepare in America for Thanksgiving Day, 

I am reminded that for Christians, 

every day should be “Thanksgiving Day.” 

When we insert the Greek words for the English, 

we see the meaning more clearly:

Charis increases eucharisteo. 

Charis, that is, “grace,” 

increases eucharisteo, that is, “happy-grace,” or “gratitude.”

Grace increases gratitude.

Even now as we pray, may we remember the many ways you have shown us your grace—Throughout our lives…

[Name some ways you have seen his grace in your lifetime]

Throughout this year…

[Name some ways you have seen God’s grace this year]

Throughout this past month

[Name some ways you have seen God’s grace this month].

May our hearts overflow with gratitude for all of your many gifts, 

and may the world see your glory!

In Jesus’ gracious name. Amen. 

Read 2 Corinthians 4:13-18.

Want to read more about thanking God while we live in the “already” and “not yet”? I’ve begun two new newsletters on Substack, one on living in hope in the already and not yet, and the other on aging, caregiving, and the end of life. Please check them both out!

The Mother’s Day Gift She’s Sure to Love

The Mother’s Day Gift She’s Sure to Love

Her children rise up and call her blessed. Proverbs 31:28

I’ll be honest. I’m not really looking forward to this Mother’s Day. It will be the first since my mom died. I didn’t always do a good job of celebrating her. Life got busy, and of course I had my own Mother’s Day to celebrate with my kids. It was also hard to come up with a gift. Especially in the latter years of her life, she insisted that she didn’t want any more “stuff,” so it was hard  to find something she would want. She also didn’t enjoy going out to eat as much as she once had, so I couldn’t take her to lunch. The last few years I usually just settled on a scarf or some earrings and a handmade card. When I was going through her “stuff” after she died, I was surprised to see how many of my Mother’s Day and other cards she had saved. I don’t know why I was surprised. I usually save all the cards my kids send me. There is something about a kid (even, or especially, an adult kid) taking the time to write things down.

All of this leads me to this guide to writing a thank-you letter to your mom. I know, buying a card and signing it is easier. Sending a handprint of your preschooler is easier. Writing a thank-you letter is hard, because we have to stop and think about our mother’s life and how it has shaped us. We have to try to put words to thoughts that are hard to articulate.

It’s even harder if you lost your mother early in life or if your mother wasn’t much of a mother to you. Maybe you would like to consider writing a thank-you letter to someone who has mothered you well. I pray there’s someone in your life like that. It may even be a friend around your same age. Some of you, like me, may have lost your mother recently. I plan to do this exercise in remembrance. I believe it will help me as I grieve. Maybe it would help you too.

Life is short, and words are meaningful. Let’s take the time to write them down and give them to our moms.

To get you started, I’ve provided a few prompts and tips for writing.

Prompts:

Tell her something you love about her…

Her cooking, her sense of humor, her wits, the way she provided for you and your family

Tell her a way she’s really helped you…

Always being there when you call or text

Bringing your lunch to school when you forgot it

Taking care of your kids so you could get some time away

Tell her about a characteristic or practice she has that you’d like to develop…

Her kindness, faithfulness, boldness

Her discipline in reading the Bible, her commitment to exercise, her love of prayer

Tell her about lasting impact she’s made…

on the world, on you, on your family, on your friends, on her work.

Think about things she’s really good at…

things she says a lot (even if you got tired of hearing it),

things she loves…

Tips for Writing Your Letter

  1. Pray about it. Ask God to help your memory and your imagination. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the right words.
  2. Brainstorm…Set a timer for 15 minutes and get all your ideas down on paper or into the voice recorder on your phone. Talk to your siblings or your dad if you get stuck. Try to come up with as many specific examples of things your mom has done for you as you can.
  3. Write a rough draft. Set a timer for 15 minutes and just start writing. You can always change things later.
  4. Don’t worry about having the right grammar or the best words.
  5. Do try to be specific…remember to try to “show” rather than “tell”:

If you do this exercise, I’d love to hear about it. Comment below or shoot me an email here.

A Prayer about God’s Miraculous Rescue

A Prayer about God’s Miraculous Rescue

Merciful God,

You are a God who hears, who sees, 

who moves on behalf of your people. 

Long ago, you heard your children crying out in Egypt. 

You remembered your covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 2:23). 

You rescued your people 

and brought them out of slavery (Exodus 3:8).

Today, you still hear the cries of our groaning, 

and you have sent a far greater rescuer and redeemer, 

your Son, our Savior.

Help us to live today in the freedom 

for which Jesus has set us free (Galatians 5:1).

May we bear all sorts of lovely fruit 

like peace and joy and gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22). 

In Jesus’ rescuing name. Amen. 

Read Exodus 2:23 – 3:9; Galatians 5:1-26.

Get free printable prayer worksheet and cards