The Invitation: In the midst of all the to-do’s this month—shopping, decorating, planning, and gatherings—what our hearts truly long for can easily be pushed aside. We may buy a coffee gift card for someone, but what we’d like to give them is restoration of their marriage. We may take a plate of cookies to our neighbor, yet know their longing for purpose and hope can only be filled by the gift of Jesus.
Heaven’s storehouse has the precious gifts we want the people in our lives to receive, and as followers of Jesus, we have access to it. Everything is in stock and His storehouse is always open. From the moment we choose a gift we’d like to give and activate it by declaring God’s Word, God does things.
Yes, it’s a bit of a mystery why we sometimes see the results of our prayers immediately, and other times it seems to take awhile. Perhaps it’s like seeds we plant—some show signs of life above ground quickly. Others take their first steps of growth underground, and it can be months before our eyes see life. But things happen when we pray God’s Word.
For the next three weeks, we’ll share our Christmas Gift Guide with you. Then you’ll ask the Holy Spirit to highlight people on your gift list for specific areas of prayer and declare the Scriptures over them. In just a few heartfelt minutes, you’ll be part of bringing heaven to earth. Be encouraged. Your prayers make a difference.
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
—James 5:16b (NIV)
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,
so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
—2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT)
Your Response: (Pray) Lord, thank you that You count me righteous—right with You—because of my faith in Jesus. Thank you that as a result, my prayers are powerful and effective. Remind me to pray. Thank you for the ways You encourage me as I pray and as I listen to You.
( This week, the Christmas Gift Guide includes prayers for salvation and healing. Ask the Lord who to pray for this week, and fill in their names in the blank spaces. Perhaps you’d like to picture the Lord delivering these gifts to the people.)
(Pray) Holy Spirit, of the people on my spiritual gift list this Christmas, whom would You like me to pray for? Of the people on my heart, who is in need of the gifts of salvation and/or healing?
Prayers for Salvation:
- Thank you, Lord, that You will be found by those who do not seek You, and You will reveal Yourself to those who do not ask for You. Thank you for revealing Yourself to ___________________. In the name of Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:20)
- Thank you, Father, that ________________ confesses with his/her mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, and believes in his/her heart that You raised Him from the dead, and ________________ will be saved. For with the heart ____________ believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he/she confesses, resulting in salvation. In Jesus’ name. (Romans 10:9-10)
Prayers for Healing:
- Thank you, Lord, that _____________ blesses You with all his/her soul and forgets none of Your benefits. Thank you for pardoning all ___________’s iniquities and healing all his/her diseases. You crown ____________ with loving-kindness and compassion. In Jesus’ name. (Ephesians 4:31-32)
- Thank you, Lord, that You heal those who are sick and say to them, “the Kingdom of God has come near to you.” Thank you for coming near to ____________. In the name of Jesus. (Luke 10:9)
Leave a Reply