A Prayer for a Glistening Christmas - Your Daily Prayer - December 16
A Prayer for a Glistening Christmas
By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading:
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” - Luke 2:11
Listen or Read Below:
Christmastime is one of the most magical times of the year. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, we notice how much kinder everyone is to us. There seems to be a special joy in the air when Christmas is approaching. While I cannot give you a dogmatic reason for this kindness and joy, I know it is from the Lord. And through his generous common grace, he allows non-Christians and Christians alike to feel this joy and experience this kindness.
Even though there is much joy to be had at Christmas, some of us lose the joy of Christmas when we let rampant materialism take over. Rather than Christmas being a day to celebrate the Lord, we can get stressed out about buying presents for others, cooking elaborate feasts, and making sure our Christmas outfits are perfect. All these things can derail us from the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas isn’t about the gifts, the food, or the clothes we wear. It is the anniversary of the Lord’s first advent into the world. Jesus left Heaven to be born into the world, to grow up, and to save us from our sins. There is no greater love than this. The very act of Him leaving the beauty of Heaven to die for us demonstrates His everlasting love, grace, and forgiveness.
Luke 2:11 says, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” An angel spoke these words to the shepherds in the field and they were overcome with joy to hear the good news. The long-awaited Messiah had finally been born into the world. He saved us from our sins and gave us eternal life through His Name.
Jesus needs to be the focus of our Christmas celebration and the source of our joy. But, for some, Christmas can seem painfully plagued with loss, grief, and illness. If you know someone going through this, be caring, sympathetic, and compassionate toward them. Spend time with them, listen to their pain, and validate their feelings. No longer will they feel alone or helpless, but they will know someone cares. Let’s focus on Jesus and how we can extend His love to others this holiday season. Visit a sick friend, cook a dish for an elderly neighbor, or try to reconnect with a struggling family member. Let us strive to follow Jesus’ example of loving others as He loves us (John 13:34-35).
Let’s Pray:
Dear Jesus, thank You for leaving Heaven to save me from my sins. Please forgive me for all the times that I celebrated Christmas in a way that was focused on materialism. Help me to make the change going forward, to celebrate every Christmas by giving glory to You and following Your example. All glory, praise, and thanks belong to You, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Kevron2001
Related Resource: When Life Unravels: Biblical Strategies for Hard Seasons
Few challenges stretch a parent’s faith and emotional reserves more than life’s unexpected curveball seasons—the plot twists that leave you wondering, “God, what are you doing?” How do you remain anchored in truth when the bottom drops out?
This week on Christian Parent/Crazy World, Catherine welcomes back her very first guest and trusted friend, Dr. Erin Barry, to help parents not only survive, but find hope and stability in life’s most turbulent moments. Dr. Barry is a clinical Christian counselor, author, homeschool expert, and co-founder of inseparableLives.com. Her biblically grounded wisdom comes from over 30 years of walking families through the storms of life.
In this transparent and practical episode, Catherine gets real about her own season of loss, uncertainty, and a series of shocking life upheavals—from parenting a prodigal, to family moves, to sudden job loss. Using these stories as a backdrop, Dr. Barry unpacks essential biblical strategies for clinging to faith and finding stability when life feels out of control. If this episode helps you be a more thoughtful parent, be sure to follow Christian Parent, Crazy World on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
