Prayer for Others: Christmas

Here is a Christmas prayer of intercession from the Christian Aid website.

Prayer of Intercession for Christmas

'For a child has been born for us, a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders;

and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.' (Isaiah 9:6)

                   

Wonderful Counsellor, grant wisdom 

to political leaders to govern with kindness and care, 
to campaigners to creatively challenge injustice and inequality, and 
to peacemakers to find lasting solutions to protracted conflict. 
May the light of your wisdom dawn in the darkness of selfish ambition.

Mighty God, grant courage, 
to those having to escape their homes to find refuge, 
to those dreading the next violent outburst, and 
to those unsure of the future for their families. 
May the light of your courage dawn in the darkness of fear.

Everlasting Father, grant us inspiration, 
to imagine a world free from species extinction and climate chaos, 
to make economic decisions so all the earth may flourish, 
to commune with creation as creature before consumer. 
May the light of your inspiration dawn in the darkness of eco-despair.

Prince of Peace, grant the peace 
that silences gunfire and bombs, 
that stills us to recognise complicit choices, 
that reconciles war-weary enemies. 
May the light of your peace dawn in the darkness of conflict.

We pray in the authority of the child that has been born for us, 
the son given to us this day. 
Thanks be to God, Amen.

~ posted on the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/