Heavenly Father, beneath the frenzy of the Christmas season, there’s a brooding sense of fear. We brighten the longer evenings with strings of lights, we color the gray of winter with vibrant decorations, because there is a lingering sense of things beyond our control. This is fear. Fear of loss, isolation, worthlessness, pain, or even death. If I quiet myself long enough I can look beneath my worries and find the underlying fears I try to ignore or silence. Especially my fear of… [Take a moment to confess your specific fears.] But when your angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, he told her, “Do not be afraid.” Lord, would you come by your Holy Spirit right now and speak those same words to me? Tell me to fear not—because you are with me. Tell me to be strong and courageous—because you are greater than everything I fear. Every fear, from the small to the great, has been conquered by your Son, whose birth I celebrate this season. You are my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
— 25 Prayers to Christmas: Praying through the Christmas story by Chris Paavola
https://a.co/0lp6786
We leave a little space now to listen...making ourselves available through quietness to the holy spirits whisper flowing from his word.
You may find it helpful to pause this recording and reread the passage and prayer again as you meditate on the following question:
"Jesus what are you saying to me today?"
