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Everything about CHRISTmas inspires prayer...
Most inspirations are clustered into topics and then listed alphabetically, with a few exceptions. Advent crafts, including the craft in the photograph above, have links on our website for downloadable instruction sheets.
NATIVITY INSPIRATIONS
NATIVITY SCENESThere is so much inspiration for prayer with any nativity scene. I’ll share a few of my favorites to get you started.
JOSEPHWhen I see a depiction of Joseph, I'm reminded of how he was chosen by God to protect and shepherd Jesus on earth because of his obedient heart. When God told him to marry the pregnant virgin, he did. When God told him to take Jesus to Egypt, he awakened Mary during the night, and they left immediately.
Father, may my children, my family, may we walk in Your Presence and at Your direction
with such obedient and tender hearts.
MARYGod chose a young teenager to deliver His Son into the world, so
that He might deliver us. Before giving her this assignment, He knew her heart.
Father,may our daughters be so wholly and holy devoted to Youthat they capture Your attention and in quiet, gentle ways
significantly mark the moments of HIStory.
JESUSKing Jesus,
be the focus of the attentions and affectionsof my family, friends, church, and people throughout the earth.
WISE MEN “You will seek me and find me,
when you seek me with all your heart.”Jeremiah 29:13 ESV
~~~How I long for vast multitudes to be marked by
such extravagant wisdom as these men from the East,quickly, relentlessly seeking You
with all of their passionate energies,and when they encounter Your Presence,
then bowing in reverent wonder.
SHEPHERDSIn the chaos that characterized the city of Bethlehem, most of the people missed Christ’s coming. But out in the fields, in the beauty and stillness of the night, shepherds were guarding their sheep from potential predators. Their watchful eyes and hearts were open to receive this treasured gift from Heaven.
Father,help us to quiet our hearts in the chaos of this crazy culture.As the shepherds, may we respond obediently and swiftly,
to embrace Your sacred Presence among us.
SHEEPMany nativity collections have a sheep, one of my favorite prayer
Inspirations} Holidays} Christmas
inspirations.
In John 10, Jesus refers to Himself as The Good Shepherd, stating that His sheep follow Him because they recognize His Voice – they will not follow a stranger. So whenever I see a sheep, I pray that my family, friends, and church recognize His Voice at all times and in all places, whether He shouts or chooses to whisper... That the voice of the enemy of our souls stirs a sense of revulsion deep within us so that we turn and flee from the seductions of this crazy, mixed up culture...
Please protect us from deceptive doctrines.Please, speak to us, King Jesus, even as we sleep.
Place a nativity in the center of the dining room table and see how many prayers your family can come up with during mealtime. Record them. Share them with others. Ask God for greater inspiration – then write a book, blog, or build your own website. Seriously, this crazy world desperately needs prayer!
ADVENT CRAFTS
ADVENT ACTIVITIESWe purchase ornaments to give away to family, friends, or strangers on the street, always assigning them Scriptural significance. Prayers inspired by the above Advent craft we did with the grand-angels:
May Your nail-scarred Footprints providethe pathway for my family...
May they be wise, shining like brilliant stars,leading vast multitudes to righteousness (Dan. 12:3)…
May Christ always be the center of their hearts and lives...May they be as trees planted by rivers of water,
never fearing,bearing fruit in every circumstance and season,
their prayer-saturated efforts never wavering or wiltingthat whatever they seek to do for You and the advancement
of Your Kingdom may prosper (Ps. 1:3, Jer. 17:8).
(See website for craft instructions.)http://www.myhomeahouseofprayerforallnations.com/christmas-crafts
ADVENT CALENDARSDaily Advent devotions help us remain centered on the reason for this sacred season. Each day, let’s pray that the hearts of people throughout the world long to worship Immanuel, God with us, in spirit and in truth.
In this Advent calendar, each drawer contains a tiny "Bible" with Advent Scripture for that day. Decorated with torn paper scraps, the instructions are linked below.
(See website for craft instructions.)http://www.myhomeahouseofprayerforallnations.com/christmas-crafts
ADVENT WREATHSThose celebrating Advent will light a series of four candles, leading up to Christmas.
May families be drawn togetherto honor God and one another throughout this holy season.
May every heart prepare Him room...Father, set all our hearts on fire
that we may ignite the hearts of otherswith an explosive passion for You, Your Word, Your Will, Your
Wisdom, Your world, and holiness.
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Advent Candle 1} Purple: Candle of Hope: God keeps His promises. He sent His Son as Savior of the world, making a way for our Eternal King.
MARANATHA!
Advent Candle 2} Purple: Candle of Preparation:May every heart prepare Him room,
take up their cross and faithfully follow,wherever Christ may lead.
Advent Candle 3} Pink: Candle of Joy: Angels joyfully announced Christ's birth.
May we, with joy, continue to announce the Good Newsof Christ’s Love and Light as long as we have breath
no matter what the cost. May the joy of the Lord be our daily strength.
Advent Candle 4} Purple: Candle of Love:God loved the world so much that He sent His only Son to save us.
May we continually and urgently advance to share this lovein a world filled with broken hearts and lives and bodies.
Advent Candle 5} White: Christ Candle - lit on Christmas Eve, symbolizes Jesus as Light of the World.
May we, filled with His Light and Love,faithfully shine within our personal and prayer realms of influence.
(See website for craft instructions.)http://www.myhomeahouseofprayerforallnations.com/christmas-crafts
FOODS
CAKES ~ CANDY ~ COOKIESFood turned the attentions of many Biblical writers toward God, His Words, and His Will.
Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.Psalm 34:8 NIV – a psalm of David
How sweet are your words to my taste,sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psalm 119:103 ESV
"My food," said Jesus,"is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”
John 4:34 NIV
Whenever preparing or eating food,turn our thoughts to You, God.
With every bite, may vast multitudestaste and see that You are wonderful.
May they desire Your Word more than finest foods,recognizing that we cannot live by bread alone,
but by every Word that proceedsfrom the Heart of God (Deut. 8:3, Matt. 4:4).
Whenever asking God to bless a meal, we pray,
May our favorite food be to do Your sovereign Willno matter what the cost.
SPATULA ~ GINGERBREAD MANMay men, women, and children throughout the world
stir themselves up to take hold of You, take hold of Your Word,take hold of Your sovereign Will
no matter what the cost (Is. 64.7).
In the eighteen hundreds, a rhyme appeared about a woman who baked a gingerbread man, but when she took it from her oven, it came to life and ran out of the house, from her and her husband and others who joined the chase while the biscuit cried,
“Run, run as fast as you can, you can’t catch me,I’m the gingerbread man.”
When he had nowhere to turn, blocked by a river, he accepted the invitation of a fox that offered to take him across. As the river
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grew deeper, the gingerbread man found himself seeking safety on the fox’s nose until the fox seized the opportunity to devour him.
Can you find a few lessons here to share with your children? And can you find any inspiration for prayer?
So many men, women, and children are running from You. Pursue them with Your sacred Presence and Love.Like the fox, satan seeks to deceive them with false promises. His only intent is to steal, kill, and utterly destroy them emotionally, mentally, spiritually, physically, and to claim them for his courts eternally.While all who pursued the gingerbread man were hungry and desired him as their personal delicacy, may we run with a sense of urgency to sincerely rescue those who are treading in treacherous waters.May they taste and see that You are wonderful!And so that together Your children may fulfill Your Great Commission, let there be an explosion of individuals who are urgently and passionately dangerous in their prayers.In the sacred Name of our Savior, King Jesus...
CANDY CANESThere are many stories about the origin of the candy cane. Whether they're true or not, Christians have adopted a symbolism - the crook as a "J" for Jesus, RED for His Blood, WHITE for our sinless Savior and how He cleanses us from our sin, and then flip the candy and it becomes a shepherd's staff - He is our Good Shepherd and we are His sheep.
How many other prayer inspirations can you draw from this one?
CHOCOLATEAmericans spent $16 billion dollars on chocolate, eating 28 billion pounds in a single year! When eating chocolate, let’s pray...
Father, please grant us such an obsessive passionto consume Your Word and share Your Light and Love
with a world that’s starving for Jesus.May You be our holy obsession!
(“By the Numbers – How Americans Spend their Money” by Lucas Reilly, http://mentalfloss.com/article/31222/numbers-how-americans-spend-their-money)
HOT CHOCOLATEWhen making or drinking hot chocolate, I pray,
Oh Father, please keep my family, friends, and church far from complacency and comfort, but rather may our thoughts,
actions, and motives be recognized as HOT,impossible to be perceived by any as lukewarm or cold,
so that we may serve our King and His Kingdomin a manner that will bring a smile to Your Face
and move Your Heart to dance with delight.
POPCORNMy favorite snack anytime, but especially while sitting near the tree reading a book, playing a game, or watching a Christmas movie. It’s amazing how when heat is applied to this seed, it’s transformed into something unique, pretty, and delicious.
Father, may our trials result in ongoing transformation that expands our zeal for You…
And may all taste and see that the Lord is good (Ps. 34:8).
DECORATING
While decorating is a fun family activity, we cannot overlook the heartache many are suffering because of death, divorce, disease, or other circumstances. They should always hold a very special place in our hearts. So even while decorating, we can use many of these prayer inspirations to cover and comfort them. No, this is not depressing. God lavishes His Presence upon those concerned about the brokenhearted. Besides, we will certainly experience the same need many times throughout our lives.
So let’s rejoice. Let’s sing. Let’s worship. Let’s give thanks. And
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let us never forget those Jesus told us to remember.
May we be Your hands to bind up the broken hearted and meet their physical and spiritual needs throughout this sacred season.
CHRISTMAS TREESIn all their splendor, Christmas trees remind me of this Verse,
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,and he who wins souls is wise.
Proverbs 11:30 NASB
Consider the explosive potential if we unite to pray this Verse over our family, church, nations throughout the world - every time we see a Christmas tree – or any tree...
Father, help us to live holy and righteous lives before You and the watching world. Please grant us such wisdom in prayer and faith-filled action that will crush satanic strongholds, break spiritual chains and unleash vast multitudes to live for our King and the expansion of His Kingdom.
Another powerful tree Verse,
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green,And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.Jeremiah 17:7-8 NKJV
Let this be us, God . . . Firmly planted in Your Truth, Light, and Love . . .
Never fearing, fully trusting . . .Never anxious, but faithfully abiding in You . . .
Please, let this be us, God!May our children, families, church, friends –
people throughout the world
ceaselessly bear fruit in every season and circumstance.
There are many other references and analogies to trees throughout the Bible. Searching them out is a great Advent project. Psalm 1 and Isaiah 61 are also favorites.
May we be as trees of righteousness, a planting of the Lord,for the display of His splendor (Is. 61).
LIGHTSThere’s a song about the darkness all walk in until we personally encounter Christ, “The Light of a Million Mornings.” Isn’t it just like this – the light of a million mornings and more?
What Bible Verses or prayers do you think of when turning on a light switch or enjoying the soft lights of a Christmas tree? I’ll leave you to build your own list; I’ll share only one.
So live as people of light! For this light within youproduces only what is good and right and true.
Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.Ephesians 5:8-10 NLT
Light of a Million Mornings, Brooklyn Tabernacle Choirhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5p_bcrZTjU
ANGELSThey’re frequently portrayed as pretty girls in frilly clothing, but they’re actually powerful warriors, worshipers, protectors, and much more. (What does the Bible say about angels? This is a great Bible study.) One favorite verse:
In the same way, I tell you,there is joy in the presence of the angels of God
over one sinner who repents.Luke 15:10 NAS
Whenever we see any representation of an angel, let’s pray that our united prayers and activities result in powerful explosions of such joy in heaven.
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CHRISTMAS PAJAMASSpeaking of angels...
Sliding this one in here because our oldest daughter’s family presents Christmas pajamas to the kids while decorating the tree...
Father,speak to Your children, even as they sleep.
GLASS When carefully handling things that will break,
May we sincerely appreciate how fragile life is, always recognizingthat we’re surrounded by fragile hearts and minds and bodies.
While here on earth,may we value and protect our families, friends,
those who are lost or hurting...
GLITTERIt sticks to the hands, and unfortunately, it sticks to hearts as individuals trade time and attention to God, family, and friends; displacing them to labor for things that grow dingy and dirty and will ultimately be burned in the final fires of testing.
May all be quickened to discern the differencebetween glitter and gold ~
trash vs. treasure,valuing those things God values ~
people over possessions.
ORNAMENTSWe find such powerful inspiration for prayer in our ornaments that we never rush to take our tree down – all so beautifully suspended from one special place. It carries us from the living room onto the battlefield of prayer – into the hearts and circumstances of those we love and multitudes we’ll never meet this side of Eternity. Sit down in front of your tree with a cup of hot chocolate and ask the Holy Spirit guide you.
~~~Purchase ornaments for individuals who need encouragement. Write a Bible Verse and/or prayer on a pretty piece of paper. Place both into a small cello bag with a little shredded paper and seal with a pretty ribbon. Hobby Lobby is my favorite source for everything needed. God's Word will never return to Him void but will accomplish the purpose for which He sent it. It's inexpensive, but packed with power.
Examples below.
BALLSAs a globe, they’re a reminder that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord (Is. 11:9).
Father, use us – send us and spend us for the fulfillmentof the Great Commission throughout the earth.
BELLSWe often associate bells with horses in the song “Jingle Bells,” but the Biblical priests wore bells on their robes, announcing their presence in the Temple, and Zechariah 14 speaks of a time when horses will have the words “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” engraved on their bells. So when we see or hear bells, may we be reminded that we are called to be ministers to God and to His people, and that we’re called to be holy.
Father, please unleash a passionate passionfor holiness among Your children...
CROSSI buy every cross ornament I can find or afford, giving them away throughout the year. There are so many verses to choose from. My personal favorite,
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselvesand take up their cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it,but whoever loses their life for me will save it.
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Luke 9:23-24 NIV
I showed Tim an image of what I wanted in our front yard at Christmas, and he built a cross and manger with seasoned wood a neighbor had discarded. I couldn’t bear to store it, and so he moved it to the back yard, just outside my kitchen office window.
DOVESDoves symbolize the Holy Spirit and peace. Many cry out for glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to all men, but peace is granted to those on whom His favor rests (Luke 2:14). ("’There is no peace for the wicked,’ says the LORD.” Isaiah 48:22 NASB) And so we pray for hearts fully surrendered to know and love Jesus so that they may enjoy peace that surpasses all human understanding (John 14:27, Phil. 4:7).
Move us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves,and strengthen us to face any circumstance in a manner
that will turn vast multitudes to You (Matt. 10:16)…
FAITHIt’s the substance of things hoped for (Heb. 11:1)…
Lord, please grant me faith to move great mountainsof human hearts
as well as great mountains within human hearts...Especially within my own heart…
HEARTSome people are easy to love; others require a fierce tenacity to overpower our reluctance, with the latter needing our love the most. We’ve all been hurt, and we have all regrettably hurt others. Praying this when I see a heart helps me remain faithful when I want to turn and run.
May our love be inflexibly committed to healing hurtsand expressing the love of Christ, even as He cried,
“Father, forgive them” as the nails were driventhrough His Hands and Feet and Heart.
Help me to love like this.~~~
Help me to love You with all of my heart, mind, soul,and strength.
~~~May our hearts beat with Your Heart
and break with Your Heart.~~~
Create in me a pure heart, O God,and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 NIV
HOPEI keep a HOPE ornament in a prominent place throughout the year. It’s such a powerful word!
When suffering, we can choose to be happy, recognizing that suffering develops perseverance, character, and hope – a hope that doesn’t disappoint because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 4:4-5).
But those who HOPE in the Lord will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles;they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.Isaiah 40:31 NIV
Father God, please grant us opportunities to share this hope,this comfort, in this world that’s so blind and broken.
JOYIt was very difficult, dirty work – rebuilding the walls while enemies taunted and threatened them. They worked with their weapons and didn’t change their clothes, but in Jerusalem, the JOY of the Lord was their strength (Nehemiah). This was before Christ’s first coming. Now we can have even greater joy regardless of our circumstances.
May JOY be strongly woven into our spiritual DNA
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so that others will find HOPE that crushes hopelessness,FAITH that moves mountains,
LOVE that disarms hatred,PEACE that surpasses all human understanding,
with the resulting and resounding JOY!~~~
I have no greater joy than to hear that my childrenare walking in the truth.
3 John 1:4 ESV
LION & LAMBThe Messiah is the Lion of Judah and Lamb of God, slain to cover every human sin. One day every earthly government will fall as He takes His place to reign in an Eternal, unshakable Kingdom that is so saturated with peace that all tears will be wiped away. No conflict. No terror. PEACE among all who have chosen to live there.
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lambbe blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
Revelation 5:13 ESV
NUTCRACKERSSome will think I'm a little crazy, but this little guy keeps me focused on the urgency of these Last Days. It's altogether too easy to become distracted by things that are meaningless - things that take us away from God, family, and The Great Commission. So here's my prayer,
May we endure hardship as a good warrior of Jesus Christ.As soldiers engaged in warfare, may we strongly resist being entangled with the affairs of this life so that we may please
our God who enlisted us (2 Tim. 2:3-4).
REINDEERHere’s another example of how an author in the Bible, the sons of Korah, saw something in nature – a deer panting for water - and associated it with how they felt about God.
As the deer pants for streams of water,so my soul pants for you, my God.
Psalm 42:1 NIV
Oh let this be us, God. Please,let this be my family, my friends, my church...
Let such passion saturate the nations.
SNOWFLAKESMay our children and grandchildren, family and friends
desire to live pure and holy livesbefore You and the watching world...
May all recognize that as snow melts, our lives, too,are but a vapor vanishing away...
May we be mindful of our legacy and spend ourselvesmaking a God-honoring, world-influencing difference
that will last far beyond our final breath...Please melt all cold and hardened hearts –
and Father, please begin with me…
STARSThis is one of my favorite prayer inspirations. I have stars throughout our home, even suspended from the ceiling fan cords. They remind me to frequently pray...
Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens,and those who lead many to righteousness,
like the stars for ever and ever.Daniel 12:3 NIV
Father,please grant us such wonderful wisdom!
You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers –the moon and the stars you set in place –
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,human beings that you should care for them?
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Psalm 8:2-4 NLT
CEDARKing Solomon used special cedar from Lebanon in paneling the Temple. When seeing cedar trees found in America or other parts of the world,
May our hearts and homes be paneledwith wisdom and praise.
HOLLYSome refuse to decorate with holly because of its association with wiccan worship. But in this, the enemy stole what God designed for His delight and glory. So let’s take it back – the beautiful prickly green leaves – may they remind us to stand guard against satan’s every painful and deceitful assault.
The berries,
May anything the color red inspire us to rememberthe Blood of Christ, with profound and reverent gratitude.
And may we overcome by the Blood of the Lamband the word of our testimonies,
not loving our lives more than to die for the advancementof our Christ’s Kingdom (Rev. 12:11)…
MISTLETOEIt's a parasite the Druids hung in their homes to ward off evil spirits. In Norse mythology, it was a sign of love and friendship from which the custom of kissing under mistletoe originated. We know that God created it for His glory. Whenever we see mistletoe, we might pray that those who are single rise up and commit to emotional and physical purity, creating a special distinction within this present darkness... That those who are married remain tenaciously committed to their covenant relationship before God and the watching world...
PINECONESThey’re laced with sharp barbs and may sting when touched.
Father, may our children – our families,stand firmly against every sharp, venomous arrow
of the enemy of all souls.Strengthen us to resist every form of evil,
with wisdom, quickly recognizing the sting of deathis sin (1 Cor. 15).
POINSETTIASTraditional symbolism - the red bracts, a reminder of the Blood of Christ; the white bracts, purity; and the shape, the star of Bethlehem that led the wise men to Christ.
Jesus, thank You for shedding Your Love, Your Life - Your Blood so that we might spend Eternity in Your glorious Presence.
Help us to live holy lives that will honor and serve You.As with the star of Bethlehem, lead us deeper into Your Will so
that we might shine Your light, leading others to You.
WREATHSPrayers that commitments to family, friends, God, and the ministries to which He has called us be as a wreath, firmly knit together from the beginning, and without an end...
CANDLESMay we, our families, friends, the church, and the nations
lay aside all works of darknessand put on the armor of light (Rom. 13:12).
Jesus, You are the Light of the world. As we follow You,we do not walk in darkness, but enjoy the light of life (John 8:12).
Set us on fire with Your Love and Passion and send usinto the world to set others on fire for You, Your Word, Your Will,
Your Wisdom, and holiness…
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowshipwith one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son
cleanses us from all sin.1 John 1:7 NKJV
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QUILTSMy mother made the beautiful Christmas quit pictured on our website. As I cover myself, I try to remember to pray for my parents and extended family... Prayers for the homeless and helpless – those persecuted, those forgotten, those suffering physically or emotionally…
Father,cover Your children with Your Presence, Comfort, and Love…
This night, draw them near and speak to themeven as they sleep…
~~~Hatred starts fights, but loves pulls a quilt over bickering.
Proverbs 10:12 MSG
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 NIV
CHILDREN
CHILDRENChildren are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.
Psalm 127:3 NLT
Every good and perfect gift is from above,coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.James 1:17 NIV
Father,please raise up a generation of women like Esther –
obedient, teachable, passionate, and compassionate…Raise up a generation of men like David and Daniel
with a profound understanding of the times and the wordsto sway the hearts of kings and citizens of all nations,
stirring them to take hold of You.May these continually grow in wisdom and stature and favor
with God and man.
All your children will be taught by the LORD,and great will be their peace.
Isaiah 54:13 NIV
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMSAs children sing or speak roles in Christmas dramas, we can pray they have boldness in sharing the Light and Love of Christ everywhere… And may every seed that’s planted in their hearts through this experience take firm root, producing much fruit throughout their lifetimes.
May our children bring forth thousands multiplied by ten thousands of spiritual children* - as the stars of the sky that cannot be humanly measured, their descendants possessing the gates of their spiritual enemies.
*Those we lead to the Lord or mentor.Inspired by the blessing on Abraham (Gen. 22:17)
and the blessing on Rebekah (Genesis 24:60).
SANTAI won’t argue about Santa here. He’s never been a spiritual threat to our family as he receives so little attention in our Christmas activities and celebrations. Making the most of every opportunity, the grandangels carried Christ-centered ornaments to Santa. He was pleasantly surprised. Consider adding this to your Advent activities.
Our Santa prayer inspiration: As one sits on his knee, or whenever seeing the kneeling Santa ornament, it reminds us to pray that people throughout the earth bow now in reverent wonder, as someday every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father (Rom. 14:11).
STOCKINGSPlease direct my children’s footsteps according to Your Word;
do not let any sin rule over them (Ps. 119:133).
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May we all be faithful to use our God-ordained authorityto trample on spiritual snakes and scorpions,
overcoming all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19).May Your Footsteps be our pathway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Crucial lessons on raising children from our Father and His Son...
When questioned by a Biblical legal expert as to what the greatest Commandment was, Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 – that we should love God with all our heart, soul, and strength (Matt. 22:37, Luke 10:27, Mark 12:30). But do you know what the following verse from Deuteronomy is?
6 “And these words which I command you todayshall be in your heart.
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children,and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,
when you walk by the way, when you lie down,and when you rise up.
8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand,and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your houseand on your gates.”
NKJV
But there’s more, and this is so important...
Do you remember the story about the temptation of Jesus by satan in the wilderness? (Here’s the LINK to the story on our website: http://www.myhomeahouseofprayerforallnations.com/our-perfect-example) In it, Jesus dealt three crushing blows to his adversary satan by citing Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:13, and 6:16 – two of those blows from the same chapter quoted above. But there’s more.
God felt this lesson about raising children was so important that He quickly repeated it in Deuteronomy 11:
18 “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand,
and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.19 You shall teach them to your children,
speaking of them when you sit in your house,when you walk by the way, when you lie down,
and when you rise up.20 And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house
and on your gates,21 that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them,
like the days of the heavens above the earth.22 “For if you carefully keep all these commandments
which I command you to do—to love the Lord your God,to walk in all His ways, and to hold fast to Him— 23 then...
NKJV
But does this Old Testament edict apply to us today? What did Jesus say? Having fasted 40 days in the wilderness, satan dared Him,
“If You are the Son of God,command that these stones become bread.”
Matthew 4:3 NKJV
But the Living Stone replied,
“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone,but by every word of God.’”
Luke 4:4 NKJV – citing Deut. 8:3
Where was it written? Deuteronomy – before Jesus began His ministry... Before He chose His disciples... Before there were any miracles to record... God had something critically important to say to us. satan knew this and has murdered and deceived many millions to keep us from wielding this powerful weapon against him.
Oh Father, the world is a mess. We are losing Your childrenof all ages as they melt into the mire of this culturebecause we have not followed Your instructions.
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Grant us a passion for Your Word and Your Willclearly expressed in Your Word.
Grant us a relentless urgency regarding this present crisis. Please raise up a generation who are serious and dangerous
in their prayers and faith-filled activitiesto rescue as many as possible.
Get up, cry out in the night. Cry all through the night.Pour out your heart like water in prayer to the Lord.
Lift up your hands in prayer to him.Pray for the life of your children.
They are fainting with hunger on every street corner.Lamentations 2:19 ICB
Let the little children come to Me; do not get in their way.For the kingdom of heaven belongs to children like these.
Matthew 19:14 VOICE
From the mouths of little children and infants,you have built a fortress against your opponents
to silence the enemy and the avenger.Psalm 8:2 GWT
May we never forget that we are stewards of thesemost precious gifts You've given us. May it always be our priority
to ensure they know You as Father, Savior, and Friend.May we not miss any opportunity
to sow seeds of Light and Love into their lives.May we execute this assignment with profound reverence,
recognizing it's a charge for which we will somedaybe required to give an account.
CHILDREN
GIFTS ~ GIFT WRAPPINGAmericans currently (2017) spend over $800 billion for Christmas gifts that will soon be worn out, lost, or broken. I’m guilty.
Most of my gifts have prayer inspirations attached to them – a list
I will someday add to this website. My favorite gifts are coupons for specific and special activities with those I love.
While shopping, I pray that the miserable bondage of coveting, greed, and idolatry be broken... That hearts be turned to Christ and the Priceless Gift of Love that cannot be bought or sold...
While wrapping, that hearts throughout the world receive the Baby bound in ribbons of swaddling and surrender their lives to Him... While tying bows, that our hearts be bound to His sacred Love and Will for our lives, no matter what that looks like...
RIBBONSWhen tying and untying ribbons, I'm prompted to pray a key prayer that's unleashed at most Church of the Highlands prayer services,
Father, we bind the spirit of darknessthat blinds the minds of unbelievers so that
they cannot see the light of the gospel and the glory of Christ,and release the Spirit of Adoption into their hearts
that they may earnestly cry out to God,“Abba Father” (2 Cor. 4:4, Rom. 8:15).
We loose the spirits of wisdom and revelationso they may know You, understand Your Word, and enjoy
an intimate, dynamic relationship with You (Eph. 1:17).~~~
And Father, please bind us to Your perfect, sovereign Will
no matter what that looks like.
And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.Matthew 16:19 NKJV
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,that whoever believes in Him shall not perish,
but have eternal life.
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Inspirations} Holidays} Christmas
John 3:16 NASB
Every generous act of giving and every perfect giftis from above and comes down from the Father
who made the heavenly lights,in whom there is no inconsistency or shifting shadow.
James 1:17 ISV
As you read through our website, ask God to inspire your thoughts as to how you can associate your gifts with Scripture and prayer, which can be used as a source of encouragement to Christians or an outreach to non-believers. Candles, plants, vases... As you pray about it, God will take you on a gift-giving journey. While I don't enjoy shopping in December, every moment with Jesus is funderful. (No, it's not a misspell.)
SHOPPINGSometimes the crowds are demanding and oppressive. Many are shopping with broken hearts from broken relationships, overwhelming circumstances, or concerns that weigh more than they’re able to carry. For many, it will be their last Christmas.
Father, please grant us Your eyes filled with compassionfor the people, spiritually harassed and helpless,
like sheep without a shepherd. Help us to be patient and tender.The harvest is great, but the laborers are few.
Please embrace all with Your Presenceand draw them near to You throughout this holy season.
Send out more laborers into Your harvest.Here I am - send me…
And let's pray for those intolerant of the term “Merry Christmas” and those using the Christmas season merely for financial gain…
Oh God, help me to love sacrificially...To love You with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength,
and to love even my enemies with the same energetic passion
with which I love myself.
WONDERFUL REMNANTS
CHRISTMAS CARDSWhen sending or receiving cards, prayers for those with whom we’re connecting… We made our cards for many years. We plan to add these to our creative pages.
COLD TEMPERATURESSometimes I kick the bed covers off or step outside into frigid, windy air to pray, remembering those whose circumstances bind them to extreme discomfort. Some are persecuted in other nations. Many are homeless, sleeping in bitter winds and freezing rains. Many of these are tired and hungry.
Father, please be a fire in their hearts,surrounding them with those willing to minister
to physical and spiritual needs, Your needs.Here I am, use me…
Jesus said,
“I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink;
I was a stranger and you took Me in”… Matthew 25:35 HCSB
ICE ~ ICICLESPlease, may the fire of our love,
the Love You’ve equipped us to share,melt cold and hardened hearts throughout the world.
SNOWSnow moves us to stand in awe of God’s breathtaking imagination and majesty. It also inspires prayers for purity and a passion for holiness to blanket the earth.
Each crystal is unique, as we are each unique.
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Inspirations} Holidays} Christmas
Receive each snowflake on your face as a tender kissfrom God.
Father, Savior, Holy Spirit,kiss Your children. Cause them to experience Your Presence in
this very moment.May all respond with extreme love and adoration
for all that You are, all that You’ve done,and all that You ever will do.
SNOWMENMay our children and grandchildren, family and friends desireto live pure and holy lives before You and the watching world.
May all recognize that as snow melts,our lives, too, are but a vapor vanishing away...
May we be mindful of our legacy and spend ourselves seeking to make a God-honoring, world-influencing difference
that will last long beyond our final breath.Please melt all cold and hardened hearts –
and Father, begin with me.
FIREPLACEWhenever we build a fire in the fireplace or see any form of fire, let's surrender our hearts, our lives, our agendas...
Every morning I lay out the pieces of my lifeon your altar and watch for fire to descend.
Psalm 5:3 MSG
INCENSEMay all our holy prayers unite and rise before Your Throne –
continually spreading as fragrant incensethroughout all time and space
until Your Work and Will are completely fulfilled here on earth.
DRIVING ~ LOOKING AT CHRISTMAS LIGHTSThis has been a lifelong family tradition. Even as a child living in Brooklyn, we drove around looking at Christmas lights.
Many houses are beautifully lit on the outside, but within many hearts and homes, there is grave darkness, oppression, or sadness. We can have an impact on these through prayer.
Father, please invade the hearts and circumstancesof those within every home we pass.
May they desperately long for Your Light and Love and Truth.Draw them into Your Word. May it become
a lamp to their feet and a light to their paths (Ps. 119:105).May Christians let their light so shine before others that the world
may see their hearts, kindness, and motivesand glorify their Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16).
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me
will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."John 8:12 NIV
Please grant us all hearts that willingly follow wherever You choose to lead.
And as these days grow darker, here's one to share with the world,
"The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life –
of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 NIV
ConnieMy Home, a House of Prayer for All Nations
www.myhomeahouseofprayerforallnations.com
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