Good morning, Father.
During 2016 help me to be faithful in my prayer walk. It is most important that we who serve preschoolers remember to pray for the next generation. Teach me how to pray for these children.
Father, help me to worship the KING this Christmas. I want to take a prayer journey to Bethlehem. I desire each day, on my own, with my family, or with the preschoolers I encounter, to step aside for a few minutes to worship Him for who He is and what He means to me.
Today I have a question. Do you have a Nativity set? For many years, I did not. When I was gifted with one, as I set up the pieces, I thought what an odd assemblage of people. What kind of relationship with God did they have to merit such a prominent roll in His Story?
Baby Jesus: Savior, Christ and Lord; His birthplace–was it dark and dirty, a reminder of the kind of place the Messiah had come? Jesus was Immanuel–God with us–who trusted Himself into the frail and faulty care of humans so that He could be our Rescuer.
Mary, His Mother: a young girl; her response to God and His plan for her life was faith, obedience, and praise.
Joseph, Mary’s husband: a righteous man; his faith was stronger than his circumstances. Therefore, he had instant obedience to what was revealed to him.
In the corner of the stable, I place the Shepherds. What stirred inside them as they listened to the angels tell of what had happened? They stopped what they were doing and went to stand in awe of Jesus, to take it in, to worship. They came to look at a baby and instead saw a King.
I put the Magi outside the stable; they had journeyed by following the star, arriving perhaps as late as two years after Jesus’ birth. They came to look at a baby king and worship Him with gifts.
I also add a figurine of a Girl in the stable to represent me. How do I respond to God’s interruptions in my life? If my life is connected to Him, I will respond in faith, obedience, and praise. Bethlehem changed everything. I invite you this Christmas to look at the baby and behold the King.
“Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.” (Luke 2:11, HCSB)
In the powerful name of Jesus–the Word, Creator, the God-Man, Messiah, the Promised One, Savior, Love, Worthy, Lord of Hosts, Immanuel, King of Kings,
Janet Waters, Preschool Sunday School Teacher/BBC Prayer Room Ministry