A Prayer of Hope for When Christmas Is Over
By Debbie McDaniel
“…I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
Often, these days after Christmas can seem maybe, not so sparkly. You might be feeling like the holiday spirit came and went by too fast. Maybe you never did get everything done, but now that the big day is gone, you're already vowing to make next year even more special. Messy house calling your name, organization of it all begging for attention, returns waiting to be done, toys already broken, lights going out...
Deep breath.
His reminder to our hearts this morning: Christmas may be over, but He never changes.
Though some days seem to have lost their shine, He's still the same.
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
On all the big, celebration days and on all the days in between.
The manger is empty and so is the tomb. Jesus didn't stay there, He's alive today, our Emmanuel, "God with us."
Whatever you might be facing, don't ever doubt His great love for you. He sees you and He cares. He made a way for us to be free. And that truth puts all the joy and "Merry" in Christmas and the New Year too.
We still have such reason to celebrate, we still have great reason for joy, today, and every day.
For He is with us.
Resting there today. Hope you are too.
May His peace and joy fill your heart and home today, more than ever before. On this day after Christmas and through the whole New Year.
Dear God,
Fill us with your joy and the peace of your Spirit. Thank you for your reminder that both in seasons of celebration and in seasons of brokenness, you’re still with us. You never leave us. Thank you for your daily Presence in our lives, that we can be assured your heart is towards us, your eyes are over us, and your ears are open to our prayers. Thank you that you surround us with favor as with a shield, and we are safe in your care. We choose to press in close to you, in all these days after Christmas. Thank you for giving us this hope we can carry all year through.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Related Resource: Establishing a Routine of Rest
For a long time, rest felt less like a gift and more like a guilty indulgence — something to be earned, something to feel vaguely ashamed of, something that productive, faithful people did not really need. In a world that measures worth by output, the idea of stopping feels dangerously close to falling behind.
But what if rest is not optional? What if it was never meant to be? Tonight, lay down the hustle. Receive the gift. This is exactly what you were made for. Your Nightly Prayer is a daily Christian prayer podcast from the LifeAudio Podcast Network and Crosswalk.com. Each night, the team behind Crosswalk.com brings you a devotional and prayer to help you end your day in conversation with God. May these nightly prayers help you find the words to pray and focus your heart and mind on the love of God as you end your day. If you like what you hear, subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Wednesday, 29 December 2021.
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