An Advent Prayer (By Elder Fred Archer)

by Pastor Scott Rees on November 28th, 2011

Christians often decry the commercialization of Christmas, and rightly so, because the world never sees Jesus Christ in all the hype of this money making month of the year. I am all for any method for keeping our minds and hearts on Jesus while the world goes crazy around us buying and shopping and partying. 

So, I am posting Fred Archer's prayer from this past Sunday, November 27, because it can be a shield in our mind and heart as you anticipate needing to go buy some gifts for people, as you sort through the ads, as you find a parking space, wait in line, and worry about the bills to come from it all.  I suggest you print this off and keep it handy, maybe share it with loved ones. Better yet, memorize it and breath it while while checking your list twice and wondering who is being naughty or nice.

Thank you, Fred, for praying it over us as a congregation, and may be multiply that prayer as we own it ourselves.

"Heavenly Father, we’re at the start of a pretty busy season.  The funny thing is that you didn’t create the busyness, man did.  Man created the commercials, the shopping, the advertisements, the jingles.  Man created the catch phrases like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and all this was done as part of a tradition to celebrate Christmas, the birth of your Son Jesus Christ.  Lord, as we go through this next month, please help us keep our focus on you, and not on our lists.  Help us keep our focus on you and not on our decorations.  Help us keep our focus on you and not on our parties.  While all of these are not bad things, they can very easily distract us from the true meaning of Christmas.  To that end, please help us keep Christ in Christmas.  As we celebrate this Advent Season, or the Season of the Coming, help us to remember the true gift that we received, the gift of your Son Jesus Christ."