Prayer For Christmas

Eternal God, our Father, when we come to you in prayer, help us not to try to cover up anything in our lives. Your Word is that you did search us and know us. You know when we sit down and when we rise up. There is not a word on our tongue or a thought in our hearts but lo, O Lord, you know it altogether.
We thank you that even though you know us, you love us. And you seek us out. Even with all our waywardness, your hand is stretched out still to save us. We are invited to come boldly to your throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in every time of need.
So we need not be other than what we really are before you. We are accepted - forgiven - cleansed - made whole - empowered for life - victorious over sin and death. We thank you for your unspeakable gift.
Our Father, Christmas is coming again - and we are asking and are being asked, "Are you ready for Christmas?" May we this hour hear you asking us this question. Oh, let not our hearts be busy inns that have no room for you, but cradles for the living Christ and His nativity!
Help us to take a fearless inventory of our thoughts and plans and activities - and what we cannot lay as a gift before you, let us be strong enough to strike from our lists.
And, our Father, when we think of the sorrow in our own lives and the life of the world, may we remember that Christ was born for this, and therefore Christains everywhere can rejoice with heart and soul and voice if we will give heed to what you have said.
May the message be: "He calls you one and calls you all to gain His everlasting Hall; Christ was born to save, Christ was born to save!"
We make this prayer in his name. Amen