1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Thank you for listening to your daily prayer, 2 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: where we help you find the words you need to 3 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: connect to your Father in Heaven. No matter what's happening 4 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 1: in your life today, you can trust that God wants 5 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: to hear from you. Right after this short word from 6 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: our sponsors, we'll pray through today's prayer to remember the 7 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: real reason for the season. A Prayer to Remember the 8 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: Real Reason for the Season, written by Vivian Bricker, read 9 00:00:56,640 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 1: by Leah Gerard. Today, in the town of David, a 10 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, 11 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: the Lord. This will be a signed to you. You 12 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in 13 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: a manger. Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly Host 14 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: appeared with the Angel, praising God and saying glory to 15 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: God in the highest Heaven and on earth, Peace to 16 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:25,960 Speaker 1: those on whom His favor rests. Look to eleven through fourteen. 17 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: Due to materialism, the focus of Christmas can stray far 18 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:36,680 Speaker 1: away from Jesus. Christmas is often associated with giving and 19 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: receiving gifts rather than celebrating the Lord. Becoming aware of 20 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:46,480 Speaker 1: the materialism surrounding the holiday season will help ensure that 21 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 1: we keep Christ at the center of Christmas, rather than 22 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 1: placing him on the back burner. Jesus is truly the 23 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: reason for the season, and we must avoid allowing anyone 24 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 1: or anything to distract us from heim. Psalm seventy three 25 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 1: twenty five states, whom have I in heaven but You? 26 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 1: And earth has nothing I desire besides you. I'm not 27 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 1: often persuaded by the materialism of the world, but I 28 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 1: must admit Christmas gets me at times. I want to 29 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: buy lie levels great gifts, but I often don't have 30 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 1: enough money to afford the nicest things, which makes me 31 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,640 Speaker 1: feel ashamed that I can't keep up with this elaborate 32 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: gift giving. You might be struggling with financial hardships this Christmas, 33 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 1: but take solace in knowing that you can still have 34 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 1: a great Christmas. It's not about the huge presence or 35 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: the elaborate parties. Remind yourself of this truth this holiday season, 36 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 1: and it'll help take some of the heavy weight off 37 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 1: your shoulders. The Bible tells us in Luke two eleven 38 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:55,799 Speaker 1: through fourteen. Today in the town of David, a savior 39 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: has been born to you. He is the Messiah. The 40 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: Lord will be a signed to you, you will find 41 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly, 42 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 1: a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the 43 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: Angel praising God and saying glory to God in the 44 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:17,359 Speaker 1: highest heaven and on earth, Peace to those on whom 45 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 1: His favor rests. As the Gospel of Luke records, the 46 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:26,920 Speaker 1: Savior has been born and he is the Messiah. The 47 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 1: heavenly hosts appeared and they praised God. They gave glory 48 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: to God and lifted his name to the heavens. We 49 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 1: need to take a moment to appreciate the lengths God 50 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: went to to save us. He left heaven to save 51 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: us and bring us home to him. Do we also 52 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: have this great love in us? Would we leave the 53 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 1: comfort of our home to die for someone else's sins? 54 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 1: Reflect on the matter and allow it to bring your 55 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: heart back to Jesus. Ultimately, this is what Christmas is 56 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 1: all about. Jesus was born into the world to save us. 57 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: He lived a sinless life and died the death we 58 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 1: deserved for us to live. The greatest gift has been 59 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 1: given to us, and his name is Jesus. During this 60 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 1: Christmas season, let's find our hope, praise, and strength in 61 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 1: the gift that the Savior has come. Let's pray. Dear Jesus, 62 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: I praise you for coming into the world as a 63 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:38,720 Speaker 1: baby to save me from my sins. You grew up, 64 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 1: lived a sinless life and died the death I deserved. 65 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 1: I'll never be able to repay you for what you've done. 66 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 1: All I can do is give you praise and thanks 67 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 1: this Christmas season and every season going forward. Help me 68 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:57,679 Speaker 1: to always keep you at the center of the Christmas season. Lord, 69 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:02,679 Speaker 1: you are truly the reason for the season, and you've 70 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 1: covered me with many blessings. Please prevent my heart from 71 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 1: chasing after materialism again. Help me to only pursue you 72 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:18,160 Speaker 1: and follow your heart. Merry Christmas, Jesus, in your name, 73 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:34,159 Speaker 1: I praise Amen. Your Daily Prayer is a production of 74 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 1: Life Audio and Salem Media. If you haven't already, be 75 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: sure to follow the show in your favorite podcast app 76 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:44,840 Speaker 1: so you never miss an episode. For more faith filled 77 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 1: inspirational podcasts, visit us at lifeaudio dot com.