Prayer As We Celebrate Birthdays And Prepare For Christmas

Birthdays

Many of you know that I come from a big family.  I’m number 7 of 12 children.  Next in  line, child #8 Stephen has his birthday today.  I’m thousands of miles away from him and most of the rest of the family but we celebrate his life anyway.

Christmas is the birthday of Jesus.  Jesus came to earth and was born as a baby in Bethlehem for us.  From the beginning of time God had a marvelous plan for each of our lives where we would be useful – be a blessing to God, to one another, to wildlife, to the earth – everywhere we went we would leave a blessing.  That was always God’s agenda for our lives and actually – that is still God’s agenda.  That’s why Jesus came to make a way for us to have our relationship with God brought to life so we could, in fact, do what God originally intended for us. 

I love how the prophet Isaiah tells us about that:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

Isaiah 61:1

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

Isaiah 61:2-3a

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.  They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

Isaiah 61:3b-4

I want to enter into that kind of healing strengthening ministry today don’t you?  God will show us how to be that kind of person in whatever our circumstances are today – even in this COVID-19 pandemic world.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

Isaiah 61:1

Lord Jesus, please pour out Your Spirit on us again today.  Our world is full of so many kinds of poverty.  We want to be those who bring good news to the poor.  If we’ve ever seen people brokenhearted by everything that is going on in the world, we’ve had such a clear picture in 2020. 

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

Isaiah 61:2-3a

Come Lord Jesus, heal us and make us strong to carry a message of comfort and healing for the brokenhearted – those who mourn and grieve.  Help us to figure out how to come alongside those who suffer and mourn, maybe who are even in despair these days. Even though we have to be careful and be physically distant, help us to reach out in whatever ways we can to care for others and lift them up to you.

Thank you for the message of freedom in Jesus we have to share with others.  Help us to take the initiative to do that in caring and intentional ways today.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.  They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

Isaiah 61:3b-4

We trust You when You promise that as Your Spirit is poured out on people that they will become strong like mighty oak trees planted by You.  Not only do You bless us so we are blessed and strong, but You give us all we need so we can help others rebuild and see their own lives and circumstances renewed.  This isn’t just the work of a government subsidy program.  A bit of money is certainly going to help some people in the short term but the real work of rebuilding and renewing comes from You and is done by You and those You welcome into Your service.

So as we began, so we end here – be poured out again on us Holy Spirit.  Anoint us.  Send us out to minister healing, encouragement, and freedom.  Amen

So, Happy Birthday, Stephen.  Thank You for your birthday, Lord Jesus.  Let’s all have a great day empowered by God’s Spirit.