Every year at Christmas we hear people say, and we have probably said it ourselves (I know I have), “Jesus is the reason for the season “ It sounds good when we hear and say it but most often our actions say something else.
Our actions say that this is a season to get friends and family together, it's a time for co-workers to get together and act like they like each other, it's a time to see who can get or give the best gift, it's a time to have a few days off from work, it's a time for great food, it's a special time for children. We.completely forget that this is a time to recognize the most important birth in history and what that child did to redeem mankind, and to look forward to the end of the story when that baby returns in the clouds to claim ultimate victory over evil, sin, and death; we become stressed, on edge, weary and worn, and our tempers become short. What's supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year can often feel more like madness - in the traffic - in the crowds - in the shopping frenzy.
Think about hitting the pause button and taking a break. A break to reflect on that statement “Jesus is the reason for the season”. Here's a short prayer you might want to pray during that pause so that you can refocus and change your perspective and realize that God is not so interested in whether we "get it all done" with a few days to spare before Christmas. He's interested in "you," in your heart, in your life.
Dear God,
Help us to keep our focus first on Christ this season. Please forgive us for giving too much time and attention on other things. Help us to reflect again, on what Christmas is really all about. Thank you that you came to give new life, peace, hope, and joy. Thank you that your power is made perfect in our weakness. Help us to remember that the gift of Christ, Immanuel, is our greatest treasure, not just at Christmas, but for the whole year through. Fill us with your joy and the peace of your Spirit. Direct our hearts and minds towards you. Thank you for your reminder that both in seasons of celebration and in seasons of brokenness, you’re still with us. For you never leave us. Thank you for your daily powerful Presence in our lives, that we can be assured your heart is towards us, your eyes are over us, and your ears are open to our prayers. Thank you that you surround us with favor as with a shield, and we are safe in your care. We choose to press in close to you today…and keep you first in our hearts and lives. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
By Debbie McDaniel from Christmas Dinner Prayers - Beautiful Family Blessing for the Meal & Fellowship Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff
Our actions say that this is a season to get friends and family together, it's a time for co-workers to get together and act like they like each other, it's a time to see who can get or give the best gift, it's a time to have a few days off from work, it's a time for great food, it's a special time for children. We.completely forget that this is a time to recognize the most important birth in history and what that child did to redeem mankind, and to look forward to the end of the story when that baby returns in the clouds to claim ultimate victory over evil, sin, and death; we become stressed, on edge, weary and worn, and our tempers become short. What's supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year can often feel more like madness - in the traffic - in the crowds - in the shopping frenzy.
Think about hitting the pause button and taking a break. A break to reflect on that statement “Jesus is the reason for the season”. Here's a short prayer you might want to pray during that pause so that you can refocus and change your perspective and realize that God is not so interested in whether we "get it all done" with a few days to spare before Christmas. He's interested in "you," in your heart, in your life.
Dear God,
Help us to keep our focus first on Christ this season. Please forgive us for giving too much time and attention on other things. Help us to reflect again, on what Christmas is really all about. Thank you that you came to give new life, peace, hope, and joy. Thank you that your power is made perfect in our weakness. Help us to remember that the gift of Christ, Immanuel, is our greatest treasure, not just at Christmas, but for the whole year through. Fill us with your joy and the peace of your Spirit. Direct our hearts and minds towards you. Thank you for your reminder that both in seasons of celebration and in seasons of brokenness, you’re still with us. For you never leave us. Thank you for your daily powerful Presence in our lives, that we can be assured your heart is towards us, your eyes are over us, and your ears are open to our prayers. Thank you that you surround us with favor as with a shield, and we are safe in your care. We choose to press in close to you today…and keep you first in our hearts and lives. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
By Debbie McDaniel from Christmas Dinner Prayers - Beautiful Family Blessing for the Meal & Fellowship Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff
STOP!!! Take A Holy Break
A Prayer For A Holy Pause This Christmas
By Julie Gillies
“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” (Psalm 46:10 NLT)
If, like me, you’d love for life to slow down, particularly as the holiday season begins to ramp up, it’s important to understand that we can choose to still our hearts. It may not be easy, but if we desire the authentic, heart transforming experience of Christ’s presence in the midst of the Christmas crazy, We Can Choose A Holy Pause.
A holy pause is the opportunity to step out of the madness, the demands, and the haste of the season, and into His presence. It’s the decision to shut ourselves away from the endless noise and commotion and quietly engage our hearts with His. It’s the chance to trade His stillness for our rushing, His peace for our panic, and His joy for our irritability.
Life doesn’t stand still, but we can.
God desires for us to honor Him by spending the expensive currency of our time, even in the busyness of the season. To engage in the difficult but oh-so rewarding discipline of quieting our minds, bowing our hearts, and pausing before Him. It’s then that we can begin to experience the beauty of His awesome, all-sufficient presence.
What if we allowed our hearts to marvel at His unfathomable journey from eternity into an unassuming, most unroyal manger? What if we pondered the miracle of His birth and the reason behind it? What if we asked Him to fill our hearts to overflowing with the reality of the priceless gift of His presence?
Prayer
Lord, I Bow My Heart Before You And Honor You. Help Me To Choose Not One But Many Holy Pauses This Holiday Season. Please Nudge Me By Your Spirit And Remind Me To Step Away From The Christmas Crazy And Get Alone With You. In Jesus’s Awesome Name, Amen.
A Prayer For A Holy Pause This Christmas
By Julie Gillies
“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” (Psalm 46:10 NLT)
If, like me, you’d love for life to slow down, particularly as the holiday season begins to ramp up, it’s important to understand that we can choose to still our hearts. It may not be easy, but if we desire the authentic, heart transforming experience of Christ’s presence in the midst of the Christmas crazy, We Can Choose A Holy Pause.
A holy pause is the opportunity to step out of the madness, the demands, and the haste of the season, and into His presence. It’s the decision to shut ourselves away from the endless noise and commotion and quietly engage our hearts with His. It’s the chance to trade His stillness for our rushing, His peace for our panic, and His joy for our irritability.
Life doesn’t stand still, but we can.
God desires for us to honor Him by spending the expensive currency of our time, even in the busyness of the season. To engage in the difficult but oh-so rewarding discipline of quieting our minds, bowing our hearts, and pausing before Him. It’s then that we can begin to experience the beauty of His awesome, all-sufficient presence.
What if we allowed our hearts to marvel at His unfathomable journey from eternity into an unassuming, most unroyal manger? What if we pondered the miracle of His birth and the reason behind it? What if we asked Him to fill our hearts to overflowing with the reality of the priceless gift of His presence?
Prayer
Lord, I Bow My Heart Before You And Honor You. Help Me To Choose Not One But Many Holy Pauses This Holiday Season. Please Nudge Me By Your Spirit And Remind Me To Step Away From The Christmas Crazy And Get Alone With You. In Jesus’s Awesome Name, Amen.
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