22 Dec Prayers of Promise
Christmas is a time of rejoicing in promises answered by God. The passages of scripture in the Gospels where the events surrounding the birth of Christ are recorded also reveal some of the Old Testament passages of promises that were being fulfilled by those events.
As you read the Christmas story this season, you can be greatly encouraged in your prayers by the answered prayers and fulfilled promises that you will encounter. Each of these can strengthen your confidence and expressions of faith in prayer.
Just the incarnation of Jesus alone should cause us to break out in praise as Mary did after the angel Gabriel said “…The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35b) He also told her, “For nothing is impossible with God.” (1:37) Celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ from the scriptural account. Pray with faith and confidence remembering that God answered this promise.
As believers in Christ, we are motivated in prayer as we continue to know that God will also keep His promises to us because we are in Christ Jesus and He dwells in us by the Holy Spirit. In 2 Corinthians, Paul shares this gem of truth revealed by the Holy Spirit, “But as Surely as God is faithful….no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Corinthians 1:18a, 20-22)
Pray boldly because God keeps His promises! Have a Merry, prayerful Christmas. Please also begin to pray in preparation for 21 Days of Prayer in January. More to come.
Greg Murphy – Minister, Pastoral Care, Prayer, and Life Discovery