Day 11 reading: Matthew 1:22-25
(Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash)
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”(which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” -Matthew 1:22-25 (NIV)
A Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, Immanuel, thank you that you are with us! We worship you today as the only One, True and Living God who is with His people. We recognize that since the very beginning, your desire has been to be with us, and we hold on to our living hope that one day you will once again cause the dwelling of place of God to be with mankind.
Lord, during this Advent season, help us to connect again with your presence that is with us, through the Holy Spirit. Help our spirit to recognize your Holy Spirit within us, around us and in the lives of so many people that we meet through the week. Once again we pray: let us become more aware of your presence.
We pray for those who struggle to believe in you and in your goodness; for those who are consumed by the worries and pressures of the day; for those who feel abandoned and alone. Lord God, in your mercy would you surround them with your love and care in a way that they can sense and believe. May they recognize in a new way that you are indeed the God who is with them.
We pray for ourselves, asking for your grace that we would be led by the Holy Spirit, even as Simeon was led by the Spirit and was given spiritual eyes to recognize Jesus in the Temple. May we also have spiritual sight that recognizes you, in this Christmas season.
We offer these prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be all honour and glory and power, now and forever more. Amen.
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