Christmas prayer

Practically everyone I know is scrambling around getting ready for Christmas. Kids are getting excited and adults are looking forward to a joyous festive holiday and some well-deserved vacation. I have one friend however that is going through a very difficult time right now. His wife has been diagnosed with a dangerous form of malignant cancer. She will undergo surgery in a few days and it will be determined whether or not the cancer has spread or is confined to one area.

My friend has asked for the prayers of his friends and I ask you to say a prayer for them as well. If it is within the Lord’s will, God can and will heal my friend’s wife. The Bible tells us that the prayers of righteous Christians are powerful and of course the Lord listens intently to them and is often persuaded by them. I know that His will is perfect and I fervently pray that God will ordain that this fine Christian family spend many more Christmases together for many more years to come before either is called home.

This has weighed heavily on my mind of late. I have been absorbed with my vacation, the blessing of my wonderful grandchildren, and good fortunes associated with business and have not spent much time considering that there are many people in the world who are not so fortunate and are undergoing tribulations at this very moment. In this old dangerous world, our good fortune can be far removed in an instant and the reality of serious illness and even death and other trials and tribulations can be upon us in a moment.

My friend and his wife are solid Christians and he and his wife are prepared to accept whatever God has in mind for them. Of course they are praying fervently for good news, but in the end realize that God is sovereign and His perfect will is going to prevail. All Christians realize that one day God will call them home and although the last thing anyone wants to do is leave loved ones; nonetheless realize that there is a time appointed to us all to do so.

Wouldn’t it be terrible to face such a frightening thing without God?
The Bible tells us that God is hope and without Him there is none. This Christmas and every Christmas we should be especially thankful that some 2000 years ago God sent His only Son to die for our sins to give us hope for eternal salvation. What a wonderful gracious gift to all of humanity. Christmas is about Jesus Christ and hope and not about Santa and the reindeer as the secular world would have us believe. I hope that we can all keep that thought at the top of our minds as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ this year with our Christmas celebration.

John 11:25
I am the resurrection
and the life. He who believes
In Me shall never die