Pray that you will be aware that the enemy wants to steal your joy. “…the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 The enemy is a hater of joy. He makes it his business to unsettle our spirits. True joy in the Lord and is our very strength.
That you will not neglect spending time with God as the season gets busier. God intended that we take time to get away and rest. It’s the only way we can live one day at a time in a way that honors Him. We need to be sure that we remain consistent every day – even through the holiday season.
For spiritual refreshment – We would do well to pray, not only prayers that we will be aware of how the enemy wants to invade our lives, but prayers asking for spiritual renewal and fresh growth.
That you will tune into the spirit and take time to pray before you spend time with friends and family. “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy…” (1 Peter 1:8- 9) Pray that the filling of “inexpressible and glorious joy!” would shine through your words and all that you do.
That you will remember to take the time to pray for those that you will be spending time with. Take time to think of those you will be spending time with and mentally enter into their suffering. Pray for each need whether it be spiritual or physical. Your prayer fueled visit will be one where you are tuned into the Holy Spirit, and you will be able to serve those you spend time with.
That you will be aware of those who may be lonely or suffering from depression during the holiday season. There are those who have lost family members this past year. There are older people who can’t get out to go to church or to visit family and friends. Be available to them. Invite them over or visit them. Pray for them and with them.
That you will be an instrument of his love. Be a living example of God’s grace and sacrificial love to those that you come in contact with during the holiday season. Pray that your words and actions will be filled with “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
That you will be instruments of his peace. “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2-3) Any time you get a group of people together (especially extended family) there is the potential for conflict, irritations, or unmet expectations that can cause division. Pray that God would enable you to love those you come in contact with in the way that Ephesians 4 suggests.
That you will be compassionate. Pray that God will give you the ears to hear and the eyes to see the needs of those around you.
Pray for those family and friends who are not believers. Pray that you will not be indifferent to their need for Christ because of familiarity that might be there. Pray for their eyes to be opened to their need for Christ.
Pray that you will not forget that you have received the message of reconciliation. “…All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5) God has given you the message of reconciliation so that you might offer it to those you come in contact with. We are His representatives.
For the past 20+ years Gina and her husband have served on a Christian college campus as the on campus parents, and her husband has been a professor and dean of students. They have lived on the campus where they homeschooled and raised both of their children. In her spare time she loves to write and recently authored her first book “Grace Gifts: Practical Ways To Help Your Children Understand God's Grace". She also writes at her personal blog: ginalsmith.com
So many great reminders here, thank you for this very timely list!
I’m opening my home to a group of women for us to gather together and participate in an online bible study. #4 and 5 definitely stood out as something I need to do for this group. I plan to print this list to keep close for my own personal time with Him, I’ve got a few things I can add to prayer list Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, Kristen! I’m so thankful that it was a blessing to you! And PLEASE feel free to share additional prayers with us! It will help all of us as we prepare for the holiday season! <3
I love #3..prayers to be aware of how the enemy wants to invade our lives. Sometimes (often) I feel like the enemy has a complete stranglehold on me, as I continue to behave in ways that do not reflect Christ. I prayed that prayer immediately upon reading it!
These are SO awesome! I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to share them with my table at my MOPS group. We all need to be reminded of these! Thanks Gina!
THE MOB SOCIETY IS NOW MILLION PRAYING MOMS!
For close to 10 years, Erin Mohring and Brooke McGlothlin served mothers of boys, helping them raise godly men in a world that constantly fights against this calling. In 2019, they followed the Lord in creating a brand new online space for moms called Million Praying Moms. To those who have followed The MOB Society for any length of time this will come as no surprise, as the foundation of MOB has always been one of prayer.
Read more here!
Visit our “Just for Boymoms” Page at Million Praying Moms!
Our GOD is so good
Yes, Kathy! He is!
So many great reminders here, thank you for this very timely list!
I’m opening my home to a group of women for us to gather together and participate in an online bible study. #4 and 5 definitely stood out as something I need to do for this group. I plan to print this list to keep close for my own personal time with Him, I’ve got a few things I can add to prayer list Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, Kristen! I’m so thankful that it was a blessing to you! And PLEASE feel free to share additional prayers with us! It will help all of us as we prepare for the holiday season! <3
I love #3..prayers to be aware of how the enemy wants to invade our lives. Sometimes (often) I feel like the enemy has a complete stranglehold on me, as I continue to behave in ways that do not reflect Christ. I prayed that prayer immediately upon reading it!
I can feel the same way as you described! We are in such an intense battle! We need to cling to Jesus!! Thanks for sharing, Jill!
These are SO awesome! I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to share them with my table at my MOPS group. We all need to be reminded of these! Thanks Gina!
PLEASE DO share them! I LOVE that you WANT to! What a blessing! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment! You have encouraged me!