Ordinand Danny Abraham’s Prayer for Christmas:
- Obedience – Mary
Sovereign Lord, we thank you for the obedience of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who despite her fear and anxiety, said yes to your will, and so gave birth to the Christ child, the Saviour of the world. May we show the same obedience as her in our own walk with you, and so join her in saying yes to you, and your plans and purposes for us, as we too carry the presence of Christ in our own lives…
- Loyalty – Joseph
God of love, we bring to mind the loyalty of Joseph to his spouse Mary, who in his loyalty to her and through obeying the message brought to him from God, would have faced scorn and disdain from those around him. We ask that you would help us to be loyal to those we love, through the good times and the bad ones, through our joy and our sorrows, and particularly in our relationship with you Lord…
- Joy – Shepherds
As the shepherds rejoiced in the Good News for all of mankind that first Christmas day, may that same joy be evident in our own lives, and so to others this season. As we spend time with loved ones this Christmas, we ask Lord, in your grace, that we will truly enjoy and cherish that time within our own festivities and celebrations, especially in these uncertain days. May our joy, and not the virus, be the most infectious thing this Christmas…
- Perseverance – Magi
God of mercy, we know that following you isn’t always easy, and as we follow you, we are required to die to self, which can often lead to some form of hardship. We ask for the perseverance and the courage of the Magi, as we put all of our trust in you. We pray this for ourselves and also for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ around the world this night, who live out their faith in the face of very real danger. While we may not have expensive gifts to bring you, King of Kings, we bring you afresh our hearts this Christmas Eve…
- Heralds – Angels
As your disciples Lord, we are commissioned to go and make disciples of all nations, and yet this can seem a frightening and daunting task, as we face opposition and scoffing from all angles. Give us the boldness of the angels, we pray, to be heralds of your Good News, Good News that is for all men, women and children in every corner of this world, and may we continually pronounce your blessing on the communities we live in and to the people we meet…
- Making room – Stable animals
As we take the Good News of Jesus Christ into the world, we ask that those who hear it would make room in their hearts to accept you as Lord and Saviour in their own lives, and so reflect the willingness of the stable animals to make room in their homes for you, on that first Christmas Eve. Our lives are dirty and messy, and are in need of your saving presence Lord Jesus, and so may we remember that you were born not into a palace, but a dirty and messy stable, thus from the moment you became incarnate, you showed your intention to meet us, right in the middle of the mess of our lives, and to save us from it…
- Light – Star
In the darkness of the world we live in, we thank you Lord for those who shine your light through the work of charity and mission, as they seek to bring an end to injustice, poverty and inequality. May we, as your followers, have that same passion, to bring to and end those things which bring you pain and sorrow Lord, and may we show forth in our works, your light and presence In the world, and so lead others to the person of Jesus Christ, just like the Star in the sky that led the Magi to Him too…
- Peace and Love- Jesus
Finally, we thank you Jesus that you are LOVE, and for the unconditional love that you show us, each and every day of our lives, even when we mess things up and get things wrong. May we show something of that same love toward others around us, forgiving others as you forgive us, and so be bearers of your peace, a peace that passes all human understanding. May your peace, blessing and love be with us and upon us all, this Christmas, and forevermore…
