Jesus, anything good or praiseworthy in my life is simply a reflection of Your abiding presence in me. Help me to grow in Your grace and knowledge so that I place more emphasis on Your kingdom than on my achievements. The only true success in my ministry is when I point others to You and deflect anything that would center upon me. I want to walk in humility today as I pray, “Jesus, You must become greater in my life, but I must become less.” I ask You to be at the center of my thoughts, my attitudes, and in my conversations today. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Father, we thank You for Jesus who came to this earth as a tiny baby with a mission to die on the Cross as a sacrifice for our sins to reconcile us to You. Not only are we forgiven and reconciled to You, but we also are made joint heirs taking on our new identity as “children of God.” What an incredible honor and selfless act of love that You would place us in Your Kingdom whose reign is for all eternity. This is the wonder of Your great love for all and the other wonder is that it is imparted to me personally. I can express agape’ love to others because Jesus modeled it, taught it through Scripture, and the Holy Spirit graciously provides it through us as we lay down our own preference in deference to Your perfect will! May we live the Christmas story everyday as we serve others above ourselves through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Father, we’re so thankful for Jesus whose infant birth took place in a smelly stable and whose bed was a feeding trough padded with stubbly straw and hay. It was certainly not a welcome setting for the infant born King but we can now see the stable as a composite of this unwelcoming world toward King Jesus. We’re so glad that He was willing to come to earth though He would be rejected by the majority. Yet we gratefully number among the many who receive Him as our personal Savior. We thank You that He came to deliver us from our fears and to release us from our sins. Through Your own eternal Spirit rule in our hearts today and raise us to Your glorious throne on Your appointed day. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Loving Father, Paid In Full is engraved on the loving hands and feet of our Lord Jesus Christ who gave His all that we could be fully pardoned. We accept this marvelous provision though it is incomprehensible by our finite minds to fully grasp. So many refuse Christ’s substitutionary death and continue to bemoan their pitiful plight in life, wallowing in their dismal existence. But for those of us who accept Christ’s full pardon we enjoy an abundant life, freed from the guilt of our past, and unfearful of our future. Our reservations for the New Jerusalem were secured upon our acceptance of Your free gift of salvation. It’s a win/win situation for all who forsake their sinful life and take up the cross of Jesus. We will still be praising You and giving thanks one million years from now, for never has there been such a gift offered by human hand. It’s because of Jesus and Your amazing grace that we have access to the throne. Amen.

Father, our hearts are heavy when we awaken each day with widespread evil, whether it’s in our region of the world or in a distant land like Pakistan where over 100 innocent children were slaughtered by Islamic terrorists overnight. It could drive us to despair when we consider the continuous chipping away of Biblical morals and godly restraint sweeping across the globe. Additionally so many deal with these troubling situations through a politically correct lens instead of the black and white truth. The only lasting answer to our soul’s diseases and widespread evil is provided for us in the arrival of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Though the majority reject Your answer for our sin problem, how grateful that Jesus still came, for He lives within the hearts of those who see their need and receive His forgiveness. In the midst of the prevailing darkness, like Longfellow, we declare that You are not dead and You do not sleep. Darkness is a temporary state, but Yours is an everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee, O God of light! Help us, in the midst of our own despair, to hear the bells. Amen.

Father, the message conveyed by the angels was heard by the shepherds and rings out for all generations. Multiple circumstances can frighten us causing us to lose hold of the assurance that You watch over and care for us. We need not fear the terror of night nor the arrow that flies by day, moving swiftly, coming suddenly, and striking when we least expect it. Though trials assail us they will not engulf us, for we overcome the enemy of fear through the word of our testimony. Jesus overcame the enemies of hatred, persecution, suffering and death and rose victorious over the grave. May the same resurrected power of Jesus subside our fears and doubts and build our faith and trust in the Holy One of Israel. Amen.

Loving Father, from Your generous hands flows every good and precious gift. We receive physical, material, relational, and spiritual blessings that far surpass our daily needs. We acknowledge that You are the one and only true God, the Savior and Redeemer of our soul. We give You glory for all that we are and all that we hope to be. Be glorified in and through us as we walk in humility and express thanksgiving to You in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Father, just as the shepherds spread the word concerning what had been told them about the Child we too want to spread the word regarding all that we learn about the Christ Child through the revelation of Scripture and the Holy Spirit. Thank You for sending Jesus not only to royalty but also to the peasant, not only to the influential but also to the unknown. We do not hesitate but joyfully and openly bring Him glory and honor; the Babe, the Son of Mary. It is in His name that we pray. Amen.

Father, Your love comes like a light in the darkness, like the bright star in the east that burst forth in the Bethlehem skies. The hosts of heaven made it a song of joy and celebration as Jesus was born into the world, the Saviour for all mankind. In the darkness of night the light of Christ appeared drawing people near and far, then and now. Love enters the hearts of many as they contemplate the message of Christmas, that it is a message of love and provision; love for all and provision for our sins. Love has come to us; love that brightens our lives and fills us with hope now and for all eternity. And at the same time there are many who are drawn to darkness like King Herod who sought to destroy the Christ child. We don’t understand such thinking once we come into the light, but it was a reality then as it is now. Thank You for the freedom to choose, and Lord, we choose You! Amen.

Jesus, we know that You no longer physically occupy a place where we can see, touch, or talk with You face to face. But You reside within the hearts of those who make room for You. We place You on the throne of our hearts where Your principles and Your divine guidance are the authority and rule for our lives. Though the world may cast You aside we place You front and center of all that we do so that all who see us will also see You. May the love You shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit also be spread around to those whom we regularly have contact with through Christ our Lord in whose name we pray. Amen.