On the first night of Christmas, I pray to You, Jesus, that I quit hoping for presents that I won't even remember a few years from now. Instead of asking for things I don't really want, why don't I just take what You freely give?
My second prayer of Christmas is that I never forget the difference between things that last a lifetime, and things that last an eternity.
For my third prayer of Christmas, may I not hurt Your plan by living my life no differently than the non-believing world. Will they know I'm a Christian - even if I never say a word? If I don't stand for You, I will fall for everything else!
I want to follow Colossians 3:17 for my fourth Christmas prayer. May I start every morning with You, may everything I do be in Your name, may I fall asleep in prayer. When I stumble, may I quickly and sincerely thank You for Your forgiveness.
Have I not been blessed when I get out of the world and spend time with You? Do Your blessings not rain down upon me when I sing about You, and praise You, with my heart, mind and soul? There are other times, however, when I don't feel "at home". And, I know why. So, on my fifth prayer of Christmas, I thank You that this world is not my home.
I thank You for both the mountains and valleys of my life this sixth prayer of Christmas. May I always realize that the mountains prepare me for the valleys, and that the valleys of this world is where most of Your work is done.
On the seventh night of Christmas, I pray for discomfort. The western world is comfortable with measuring success by worldly standards. We are comfortable, Sunday Christians. At times, we forget You say we cannot love both the world and You. We forget that it is un-comfortable being a Christian in other parts of the world, where being a Christian often involves an absolute and painful, choice: choosing You over comfort, over material things, over safety, over family.
For my eighth prayer of Christmas, Jesus, I pray that I never hear You ask me, "Why did you call me 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I said?"; that I never hear You tell me, "I never knew you."; that I quit being "lukewarm". (Luke 6:46, Matthew 7:23, Revelation 3:16)
My ninth prayer of Christmas is the hope that all of God's children would realize what really takes faith is believing our entire world is merely a coincidence.
On the tenth prayer of Christmas, I pray that I be the last kind of seed mentioned in Luke 8:4-15.
Please give me a peaceful, humble, joy that You promise for this eleventh prayer of Christmas. Forgive my sins of doubt. May my heart be firm in the promise of eternal life You've given me so that I can better do Your work. Give me a hurting heart for those who do not believe it when You say that the only, and narrow, way is through You.
On the twelfth prayer of Christmas, may each prayer last a month; may we change the pronunciation to CHRIST-mas; may we never forget the greatest present is the only way to eternal life - and it was wrapped with just three nails and two pieces of wood.
I would like to thank SONshine Promises for allowing me to use The Twelve Prayers of Christmas. Please visit their website which is full of inspiration and well worth a visit.
