A Prayer About Christmas Memories
“(God) has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.” Luke 1:51-55
Heavenly Father, as the Holy Spirit prayed this magnificent prayer though a stunned Mary, little could she have known everything involved in its fulfillment. Her birth pains in nine months would be way surpassed by her heart pains thirty-three years later, at the foot of her Son’s cross.
But there’s one thing she did understand-there’s at least one thing that she took to heart though her years of being brought up in a home of faith, a home in which your Name and Word were honored. You’re the God who remembers to be merciful.
Oh, how I adore you this morning for your memory and for your mercy, dear Father. I’ve got a lot of great Christmas memories, but more than those, I praise you that Christmas is a celebration of what you remember and will never forget. With the gift of your beloved Son, Jesus, you’ve remembered all the promises you made to Abraham, and to his descendents… which, “Glory Hallelujah!”, includes me.
You promised Abraham that you would take him to a land of your choosing, make of him a great nation, and through that nation, ultimately, bless all the families on the face of the earth (Genesis 12-17). Like Mary, little could Abraham have understood everything this would mean. But the promises you made to Abraham, and the prayer prayed through Mary, all find their fulfillment in your Son, Jesus. Be praised for your memory, oh great and gracious God!
Indeed, Lord Jesus, you are the fulfillment of all the Covenant promises God has made. Because of your faithfulness, from cradle to the cross, we live… I live… in the embrace of the Father of mercies, whose mercies are new every morning… great is his faithfulness! Because of you, Lord Jesus, the only thing my Father will forget is to forget to remember my sins against me forever. What peace… what grace… what joy this brings me today.
So very Amen, I pray, with the faith of Abraham, the humility of Mary… and in your name, gracious and loving Lord Jesus.