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Tuesday, December 24, 2013
A Prayer from Indiana
Heavenly Father,
This morning I was reading your Word in 2 Timothy 4, and read Paul's words to Timothy:
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
This reminded me of someone who seems to have gone down this very path. In another passage, in Hebrews 6, it speaks about knowing those who have been saved by whether they bear fruit or briars. And I remembered this friend mentioning in passing her "salvation moment", calling it "a mystical experience" but never further elucidating.
And I thought, if we are to have a testimony, should it not begin with our salvation moment- especially at the time of year we remember Your Son's manifestation on earth? For every one of us was born a "little Israel", having knowledge of You, but in the darkness until Jesus was born within us. Thus You dealt with me; I knew who You were, instructed in religion by Pharisees and scribes, until the moment a group of friends- my Angels- announced to me Jesus' coming birth. Led by common shepherds, You drew me to the manger.
The darkness on the land, for me, was like a chorus of demons, calling me, screaming at me, telling me I was their slave. It was not just faith, but their oppression that drove me to my knees. I was at the bottom of what I would be. But then, I called out to you, and a voice bid me step into the manger. And there Jesus was born, within my heart, and the demon-darkness rose like a curtain from over me, never to rule me again. Nothing "mystic", lightning didn't fall from the sky. But I was changed. The faith of my fathers had born its ultimate fruit in me.
Heavenly Father, while we find a time every year to concentrate on that birth, so often we fail to consider that Christmas is actually that moment of salvation- and so is Good Friday, when Jesus died for our sins, and Easter when He rose again. The holiest of the days You give us is just that one. And as I finish this prayer, I praise You for bringing THAT day to my soul.
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This is part of the 50 States of Pray event formed by Mark Koopmans over on his blog. I thank him for the opportunity and hope you will follow the links and read some of the other prayers as well.
Hi, Chris! Thank you for sharing this prayer.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure. Merry Christmas to You!
DeleteThat was beautifully written, CHRIS!
ReplyDeleteStopped by to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Thank you! Merry Christmas to You! (ya think anyone will notice that I've been pasting "Merry Christmas to You!" all morning?)
DeleteAmen, Chris! I had two such moments in my life. But for me, He came when I least expected it. He knew it was when I would need Him the most. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThat's the way He works- just what we need, when we need it. Merry Christmas to You!
DeleteChris:
ReplyDeleteIn times such as these, THERE is a reason to take pause, catch our breath, and allow ourselves to become a bit contrite and yes, honestly penitent before our Creator.
Humility begets appreciation.
Excellent post and prayer.
Stay safe up there.
Isn't it neat how the greatest truths with God are counter-intuitive to man?
DeleteThanks for sharing these beautiful words.
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed and peaceful Christmas, Chris.
Writer In Transit
Thank you for stopping by. Merry Christmas to You!
DeleteLovely prayer, Chris. Hope you have a blessed celebration.
ReplyDeleteAnd for you and yours. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteHi Martin,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely and meaningful prayer for the day,
Indeed a well said prayer, He came on earth to save us from our sins, Thanks for the reminder, Let us eagerly wait for His second Coming,
God Bless
Love
Phil
PS
Thanks for dropping by
Best
Happy to meet you!
DeleteThank you for your meaningful prayer! Christmas is not only the day we celebrate Jesus' birth, but we celebrate Him as Emmanuel - God With Us - in the manger, on the cross, and in our hearts, souls, and minds as our Savior from the darkness.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Thanks for popping in, and have a good Christmas!
DeleteIt never fails to amaze me that God should come to Earth to die for the sake of our souls. What love!
ReplyDeleteMay your Christmas be wonderful.
No supposed god is so Amazing as Our God. Merry Christmas to you!
DeleteYou've made me think about 'that' moment. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteGlad I could be of encouragement.
DeleteThank you for the reading, CW.
ReplyDeleteMERRY CHRISTMAS!
Yes, this is a special day. Our savior has come to teach us, heal us, and keep us on the right track.
Wishing you a healthy and happy new year!
And to you and yours.
DeleteHi CW bloghopping from England :) Wishing you a blessed and peaceful Christmas.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne @ Suzannes Tribe
x
Thanks for popping in!
DeleteHello, CW. I am getting through this list of prayers rather slowly
ReplyDeleteGod has been good to me and mine. I trust He has been good to you and yours. Merry Christmas and continued blessings into the new year.
He is always good...
DeleteAloha Chris,
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm so late getting to you, but wanted to say thanks so much for being a part of the 50 States event and *that* was a prayer, my friend.
Nice job - and thanks for sharing.
Happy New Year :)
Thank you, Mark.
DeleteBeautiful reflections and prayers. May you have a blessed, peaceful and prosperous new year! Writer’s Mark
ReplyDeleteAnd to you, Nancy.
DeleteA wonderful prayer. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. :)
ReplyDeleteStill having, in fact. Hope you are, too.
DeleteHi Chris .. yes we need to reflect don't we - to remember in peace and to encourage others to have peace, while hoping our leaders will lead us on with compassion for their peoples ..
ReplyDeleteWith thoughts - Hilary
Thanks for stopping in!
DeleteI've thought about this a lot this Christmas. Thank you for sharing your insights about it. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteAnd to you and yours.
DeleteThank you for your lovely post. Merry Christmas to you and all those you love. Happy New Year too!
ReplyDeleteAnd to you and yours...
DeleteMy first moment with God was really when I was too young to understand its importance. I guess that sense of majesty only really dawned on me in my teens.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a wonderful Christmas!
Mine as well. We have had a good holiday, and hope you did the same.
DeleteWhat a thoughtful post you shared as part of the 50SOP. I am a fellow contributor who did not take the time to read posts, choosing to focus on my family during the holiday week.
ReplyDeleteCan't blame you there.
DeleteA good reminder. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteYou, too!
Delete