We've all seen the bumper stickers. 'Keep Christ in Christmas.' If you speak any Spanish at all, you probably want to take the Christ out of Christmas so you can get 'mas' out of the holiday. (Joke.) I know how it feels to get presents and deck the halls and light up the Christmas tree, but we need to aim true when it comes to the sacred holiday of Christmas, and keep our sights set not on the tree and the bows and the carols, but on Christ Himself.
December 25th is all about Jesus. It's the day Our Lord and Savior was born. If ever there was a time for rejoicing, surely it would be on the birthday of the Son of God, on the anniversary of the day our God made the choice to send His only Son out into this fallen world to save the souls of the righteous. Hallelujah, He is born!
Yet, so many of us forget that the holiday is all about Christ. We get lost in the shimmering lights and the tantalizing lure of greed. We loose sight of what is truly important about Christmas. What can be done, besides keeping faded bumper stickers on our cars, to keep the Christ in Christmas?
I'd like to propose that we celebrate the birth of Christ every day in December, and not just on Christmas. First of all, how awesome would it be if your birthday were celebrated all month long? Doesn't the very Savior of our souls deserve that awesome feeling? In addition to our prayers to God the Father, let's all pray to Jesus not in petition, but in glorious praise. Let's thank Him for what He did for us.
In honor of the birth of the lamb, Letters to God: Prayers for December will be all about Jesus. Want a preview? Here you go:
Keeping the Christ in Christmas - Announcement about Letters to God: Prayers for December
Dear Jesus,
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he 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)
You are so much more than a candle in the dark. You are a torch that cannot and will never be extinguished, one that burns with the light of ten thousand young stars. You are the light of the world, the one to which my soul is drawn, the one that far outshines the feeble light of false gods, the one which illuminates the entire universe with its glory. I will follow Your light, Jesus, as sailors of old followed the Northern Star to guide them to a safe port. My spirit is newly born in You, and while my legs are still coltish and sometimes stumble, I will abide by a saying we have these days – “Aim true.” And, Jesus, all my sights are set on You. Amen.
If your soul is hungry for more prayer, check out Letters to God: Prayers for August and stay on the lookout for its sequel, you guessed it, Letters to God: Prayers for September.
May God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit bless you.
