Christmas is coming and each year we are reminded this is a great time for evangelism. Though year after year it can sometimes feel like an endless effort with no visible results. Thank you for taking on this prayer challenge. Today is a reminder that as we talk about Jesus now at Christmas and throughout the year, we cannot lift the veil and make someone believe; only God can make this happen. Just as the song ’12 days of Christmas’ keeps coming back to the Partridge in a Pear tree, so do we as Christians keep coming back to prayer as the foundation to all we do, including evangelism. As we step into this prayer journey for Christmas, let’s remember the one who made it possible to pray is the very one whose birth we are celebrating.
Luke 18:1-8 ‘Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” ‘
For which people do you need to show the sort of tenacity of the widow. Who needs your persistent prayer?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that because of Jesus’ obedience, I can speak to you now. Please help me to remember to pray for those in my life who do not know you yet. Please lift the veil from (insert colleague) eyes and help them to see you this Christmas. Amen
