Day 10 reading: Matthew 2:1-12
(Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash)
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” -Matthew 2:1-2 (NIV)
A Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, we marvel at the humble setting in which you were born, in a small town, in a stable, alongside common animals. Your birth was announced by angels and stars yet hidden from human eyes and minds. It was foreigners who sought you out and called you king, but when you came to your own, they knew you not.
Lord God, we live in a world where so many people seek to have their own star rise in our celebrity culture; we ourselves have longed that others would seek us out and give to us a sense of significance and importance. We resist the way of hiddenness that Jesus demonstrated so clearly in his life on earth. Forgive us Lord.
This season of Advent may we consider your humble, hidden birth and ponder the hidden years of your childhood and youth. Come to set us free from our need for the affirmation and approval of others and lead us to become more deeply rooted and grounded in your love and our central identity as your children.
We invite you to move in our lives so that we may know the love of God and the peace of Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen.
Missed a day? No problem! You can find previous posts here.
What a joy to participate in corporate confession and repentance and petition! Thanks so much for this prayer!