A Prayer to Welcome Christ into Our Hearts - Your Daily Prayer - December 12

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A Prayer to Welcome Christ into Our Hearts
By Alicia Searl

Bible Reading:
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. - Ephesians 3:16-18

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I absolutely love the “feel-good” Christmas movies. You know the ones that hold a heartwarming storyline, where the cutest little couple meets back up in their small town and in a span of a few weeks, they try to save a Christmas tree farm, all while falling in love. Aww.

A similar storyline unfolded on a trip my husband and I took when we were much younger. We enjoyed traveling parts of the country together when it was just the two of us, and it was a bit easier to just “pack up and go.” Nowadays, there are no spontaneous trips, as we must plan well in advance due to work and softball schedules, school events, and our untrained dog, which isn’t the best traveler. Not to mention the financial means to simply jump in the car or hop on a plane and explore the country with a family of five (six, if you count the dog), which can cause quite a stretch and strain on the pocketbook.

That said, this one trip in particular made us both feel as if we had stepped into a set of a holiday film, complete with a charming main street lined with quaint and festive shops, a massive, well-lit tree, an ice-skating rink, and the jolliest people who radiated the Christmas spirit.

Adjacent to the main street was a tiny white church with the most beautiful stained-glass windows. In front was a beautiful manger and a sign that shared their upcoming Sunday message: Keep Christ in Your Heart This Christmas. Oh, how I wish we had been able to hear that sermon. Sadly, we left on Sunday morning to return home and step back into reality.

That trip brings so many fond memories, but it also causes me to pause and reflect on how we can truly welcome Christ into our hearts and keep Him the focal point of this entire season.

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 3:16-18 that it is through our faith, and the power that is within us from the Holy Spirit, that Christ dwells in our hearts. As we delve into this Scripture, I think of the Christmas tree that proudly stood at the end of the main street in that small town. The roots of that tree must have been wide and deep, because it was honestly breathtaking and quite humbling to gaze upon.

Our faith is a lot like those roots. When we are grounded in truth and our roots run deep in Christ, it becomes difficult for us to be uprooted or swayed by the temptations of this world. Our God, being the ultimate Creator and Gardener, nourishes us by tending to the root of our faith and our stability in Christ, allowing us to stand firm and not be easily shaken.

This verse holds another powerful message and prayer. Paul wants believers to understand the depth and gravity of His incredible love for us. As I reflect back on the charismatic nature of the people in that quaint town, I am reminded that as a body of believers, we all yearn for a deep sense of belonging. This is intentional on the part of our relational God. He created us for fellowship and to grow together as we grasp the immeasurable love of Christ.

This Christmas, we can welcome Christ into our hearts by standing firm in our faith, just like that tall and sturdy tree, and reflect His love with other believers as we invite Christ into our conversations and radiate His love and light.

Our holidays may not unfold like a heartwarming Christmas movie, but we can take actionable steps to make room for Christ to become the center of this season and allow Him to dwell in our hearts as we honor and celebrate His glorious birth.

Let’s Pray:

God, as we step into another beautiful holiday season, we invite You in. We want to place You at the center of our celebrations and festivities, standing firm in our faith while exuding Your love with others.

Grant us the opportunities to see all the wonders this season holds with a fresh perspective and soft hearts, willing and ready to spread the news of Your glorious birth and what that means for us as believers.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Alicia Searl is a devotional author, blogger, and speaker that is passionate about pouring out her heart and pointing ladies of all ages back to Jesus. She has an education background and master’s in literacy. Her favorite people call her Mom, which is why much of her time is spent cheering them on at a softball game or dance class. She is married to her heartthrob (a tall, spiky-haired blond) who can whip up a mean latte. She sips that goodness while writing her heart on a page while her puppy licks her feet. Visit her website at aliciasearl.com and connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.

Related Resource: Be Still - Advent Meditations

This Advent season can be full and hurried, which is exactly why we need moments to pause and be still with God. So Much More is a podcast created to bring you space to be with God - and this month, we're walking through Advent Meditations all designed to help you quiet yourself and hear from the Lord. If you like what you hear, subscribe to So Much More on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!