What to Pray for This Christmas Season... #5 May Surprise You
Sometimes in the rush of daily life, it’s easy to lose sight of some other things that deserve our prayers...
During the bible study or recovery groups that I’ve led over the past 25 years, I’ve heard dozens of different types of prayer requests. Most common are prayers for a friend or loved one’s health, finances, or relationships. Many others center on decisions to be made, travel safety, or those serving in the military.
All of these are legitimate reasons to pray. God delights in our simple, heartfelt prayers. 1 Peter 3:12 tells us, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their prayer...”
At the same time, it seems there is more need for more prayers of other kinds than ever before. Sometimes in the rush of daily life, it’s easy to lose sight of some other things that deserve our prayers as well. Here is a shortlist of five things you might consider adding to your prayer journal both this holiday week and in the new year to come.
1. Pray for your enemies. There are many in the government and other positions of authority who need our prayers. Many of them, it seems, are willing to promote things that are not right in the eyes of God... things that hurt our country and its citizens. There are also those in business, education, and other positions who also abuse their authority over those in their charge. Still, other people may persecute you or hate you because of who you are. It would be easy to hate them all back, but, as Christians, we are called to pray for them. Jesus put it this way...
44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:44-45 NASB).
2. Pray for the pastors, elders, and deacons of your local church. Many evil forces are coming against the church right now. They are coming, not from the outside, but sadly from inside the church. Pray for discernment for your pastors, elders, and deacons as they deal with those who would lead people astray with false gospels, personal attacks, or discouragement in times of trouble.
Pray also that they would boldly preach the word of truth, contend for the faith, and proclaim the Lordship of Christ. Pray they be encouraged as they bear the burdens of church leadership.
3. Pray that you don’t fall into temptation. There probably isn’t a day that goes by without us being subject to temptations that come our way. God will look favorably on our prayers as we seek to keep His commandments. In chapter six of the book of Matthew, Jesus told us how to ask this in what has become known as the Lord’s prayer with, “and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”.
4. Pray for the salvation of the lost. The Great Commission is this... “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations”. Not all of us are equipped to be missionaries, but we can pray for them and those who are not yet saved by asking God to move in their lives.
“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4)
We must pray if we want to see our child, spouse, boss, neighbor, sister, bother, or anyone else come to Christ. By focusing on others, we fulfill one of Jesus’ commands...
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40 NASB).
5. Pray for Christ’s imminent return. Some people I’ve met are reluctant to read the Book of Revelation. But to do so is to miss out on what is an encouraging promise...
“14 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3 NASB)
In Luke 11:2, we find this from Jesus... “And He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.” (NASB)
Just as children eagerly await Christmas morning, the celebration of His first coming, we should fervently pray that His second is very soon!