A Christmas Prayer (Based on Luke 2:13-14)

This prayer comes from Scotty Smith's Blog which seems to be prayers based on biblical texts and truths.

A Prayer of Awe: God’s Favor Permanently Rests Upon Us in Jesus!

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13-14

Heavenly Father, I can’t imagine any other phrase that even begins to come close to capturing our deepest longing and core need: “Peace to men upon whom his favor rests.” It’s all right there in this one doxological declaration, this astonishing angelic proclamation, this gospel-filled affirmation. Because of what you’ve done for us in Jesus, we can know with certainty that you, the thrice holy God, are at peace with us—that we are a people upon whom your shalom-making favor permanently rests. This is so much more than I ever could have hoped for or imagined.

Advent isn’t a story about you giving us a second chance to do better or our rededicating our lives to you. It’s the story of sovereign grace—how you have chosen to lavish mercy, grace and acceptance upon ill-deserving, unlikely people, like me. Father, if unredeemed angels were in awe of such good news, how much more should I be staggered and astonished, humbled and grateful, liberated and transformed?

We invest so much of our lives looking and lusting for favor—wanting to be wanted, needing to be needed, craving to be celebrated, and aching to be accepted… intensely looking for intimacy. I grieve how I’ve looked to people and work, to education and exercise, to money and things, even to spiritual disciplines and ministry to give me what you alone give us so freely and fully in the gospel—your undiluted unconditional acceptance and delight.

But what a freeing paradox, Father: the more we come alive to the riches of the gospel, the less we obsess about ourselves—the less we are preoccupied with finding favor in any other place or embrace than yours. We don’t end up thinking more of ourselves or less of ourselves; we just think of ourselves less often. How liberating and transforming… and all of it is because of Jesus.

Lord Jesus, may this old host of angels drive us, like the shepherds, to find you and worship you this Advent season. It’s only because you submitted to the fullness of God’s judicial disfavor for us that we can boast of have the fullness of God’s filial favor resting on us. We praise… we honor… we adore you, Lamb of God and Lord of Lords. We will not look at your cradle this season without gazing at your cross. So very Amen we pray, in your holy and loving name.