Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Speaker 1

Merry Christmas, friend. And that's right, I'm your friend here on Sharing Hope. I'm Joni Eareckson Tada, and I'm so honored that you're choosing to spend Christmas Day, or maybe where you are, it's early morning or late in the evening. Whatever time it is, there is no better time than Christmas to thank God for the awesome gift of his son, Jesus Christ.

And so, listening friend, you might be relaxing on the couch after opening presents, or driving to or from services at your church, perhaps cleaning up after Christmas dinner, or lying in bed ready to go to sleep. Wherever you are on this Christmas Day, would you please join me in a prayer of praise and thanks to the Lord Jesus? And as I pray, whatever you're doing, just whisper yes, or I agree, or amen if you resonate. So let's join our hearts together as with one voice we all pray.

Oh Jesus, we're astounded that you, the King of the universe, chose to be born in a parking lot behind a Bethlehem motel with a blinking no vacancy sign. You incarnated yourself inside the frail frame of a poor peasant girl, and you chose an animal shed for her delivery room. You chose to announce your Messiah manifesto to a ragtag group of scruffy shepherds. Will this Advent help us to understand that this is the way you work? You take delight in choosing the unlikely, the unlovely, the poorly gifted, and we marvel at how this turns up the wattage on your glory.

So here at year's end, we commit not to cherish inflated ideas of our own importance, but humbly lower ourselves before your majesty. We lay our Christmas gift at your feet, yielding our weakness for your kingdom, purpose, and heavenly Father. We don't think we'll ever, ever be able to wrap our hearts nor our heads around your glory. You and all your dazzling perfection are reflected in Christ, the perfect mirror image of yourself.

So Father, no wonder you adore your son. He's the photo image of all your beauty, all your excellence, mercy, and might. No wonder you are enthralled with him. And Jesus, as we celebrate your birth on this special day, all of us thank you for veiling your Majesty to condescend to put on the great indignity of human birth. Though it meant humiliation and great suffering, you and the Father agreed to this amazing plan, all so that you could win yourself children, godly children who would strive to be holy like you.

This plan is all about that you could win for Christ an eternal chorus of worshipers, an army of overcomers, a temple in which your spirit could dwell, and a radiant bride with whom you will share your glory and shower your love on for all of eternity. We can hardly believe that that's us, and that's my friend listening. It's our destiny. And oh, what a Christmas gift.

So all of us in our hearts say thank you, Jesus, on this Christmas Day. Amen. Friend, if you would like a copy of that prayer of ours—and yes, it's your prayer, not just mine—then please visit joniradio.org and download it to give to a friend or to recite anytime you want. It's all there for you at joniradio.org.

From all of us at Sharing Hope, as well as the ministry at Joni and Friends, we wish you and pray that you will have a blessed and peaceful Christmas. Merry Christmas from all of us here at Sharing Hope.