A Prayer about Not Being Alone at Christmas
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.
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![Have you ever felt forsaken?
He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:8
Faithful Father,
In times that we feel forsaken,
whether because of betrayal or abandonment or loss,
may we remember,
“It is the Lord who goes before [us],”
and you will never leave us or forsake us.
You are a God who made a covenant,
a promise of love to your people
that you alone upheld.
Even after Adam and Eve disobeyed you in the garden,
you promised to send your Son to destroy Satan (Gen. 3:15).
You promised Abraham to make him a great nation (Gen. 12:2),
and you continued to love your people, the Israelites,
even though they continued to rebel against you:
“For the mountains may depart,
and the hills may be removed,
but my steadfast love will not depart from you” (Isaiah 54:10).
In your most stunning proof of your commitment
to bring your people back to you,
you allowed your Son to be forsaken on the cross,
to die for our sins,
that we might become your children.
Because you will never leave nor forsake
your children in Christ,
when we feel lonely
or exiled
or forgotten,
we need not “fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
In Jesus’ faith-full name we pray. Amen.
Read Deuteronomy 31:8; Isaiah 54.
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