ABIDE Prayer
The purpose of ABIDE is to help us draw near to God in prayer as we gather in small groups or as we spend time alone with God.
More of Jesus
Christmas is only a few days away. The beautiful lights, decorations, sounds and smells of Christmas will soon be behind us. Special gathering with friends and family will soon be back to the ordinary. The passing of Christmas can be hard on our hearts as a season of celebration and anticipation no longer surrounds us.
However, what if we continue to celebrate within our hearts the message of Christmas long after the passing of Christmas? What if this Christmas, we asked Jesus for more of Him? What if we opened our hearts to receive more of Him? Somehow, the celebration and anticipation of Christmas will no longer feel like a passing season but a true, real story that is everlasting.
Opening Prayer
Let’s begin ABIDE by taking a moment to quiet our hearts and minds before God. Simply take a deep breath and exhale slowly. You may want to pray a “breath prayer” as you inhale and exhale, such as, “Jesus, I want more of you.”
Note: If you are leading a small group through ABIDE, pray the first prayer below over those you are leading. If you are praying ABIDE alone, use the second prayer.
Small Group Prayer: Lord, we give our hearts and lives to you. We surrender all that is within us to you. We love you and we need you. Spirit, fill us and lead us as we pray. We consecrate this time of prayer to you. Remove any distractions and help us focus on you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Personal Prayer: Lord, I give my heart to you. I surrender every area of my life to you. I choose to trust you with my whole heart and with everything in my life. You are my good, good Father who loves me. Thank you that you are faithful, all-knowing and all-powerful. Remove any distractions from me and help me focus on you. Holy Spirit, fill me and help me discern your voice as I pray. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayers of Praise & Thanksgiving
Scripture tells us in Ephesians 1:3, “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.” Our Heavenly Father gave us every spiritual blessing we could possibly need when He sent Jesus into the world as a baby to save us and rescue us from darkness.
Jesus is God’s gift to us, but we need to humbly confess our need for Jesus and open our hearts so that we can receive more of Him.
Spend a few moments slowly reading the name or title of Jesus.
Jesus is the…
Author and Perfecter of Our Faith – Hebrews 12:2
Bread of Life – John 6:35
Beloved Son of God – Matthew 3:17
Deliverer – 1 Thessalonians 1:10
Faithful and True – Revelation 19:11
Good Shepherd – John 10:11
Great High Priest – Hebrews 4:14
I Am – John 8:58
Immanuel – Isaiah 7:14
King of Kings – Revelation 17:14
Lamb of God – John 1:29
Light of the World – John 8:12
Messiah – John 1:41
Mighty One – Isaiah 60:16
One Who Sets Us Free – John 8:36
Our Hope – 1 Timothy 1:1
Redeemer – Job 19:25
Savior – Luke 2:11
The Word – John 1:1
Victorious One – Revelation 3:21
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace – Isaiah 9:6
Prayer: Jesus, I/we praise you because you are ______________________ (fill in the blank with one of the names or titles of Jesus). Thank you for coming to ______________________ (fill in the blank with something Jesus came to do in your/our lives).
Prayers for My Heart
Luke 2:1-20 tells the story of the birth of Jesus. Luke 2:7 says, “Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”
Jesus came to earth and was born in a manger. A humble manger that was dirty and had no beauty and glory until He entered. Like the manger, our hearts are transformed when Jesus enters and brings His glory. Yet, our hearts can become full of a variety of things so that we don’t have “room” for Jesus.
Let’s make room for Jesus in our hearts through prayer and ask Jesus to fill us with more of Him – His love, peace, healing, hope and freedom.
Prayer: Jesus, I/we want more of your ______________________ (fill in the blank with an area of your heart where you need Jesus, such as fears, your relationship with your children, finances, struggles, business) and ask you to fill my/our heart with your __________________ (fill in the blank with an attribute of Jesus – you can refer to the list of names/titles of Jesus).
Prayer for Other’s Hearts
In Luke 2:8-20 we read that the shepherds were visited by angels and were told that Jesus, our Savior, was born. In verses 16-17, we read, “They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”
The shepherds were in the very presence of King Jesus. They saw with their own eyes the glory of God, lying in the manger. As we seek and receive more of Jesus, like the shepherds, the glory of God transforms us. We are changed and now we have a story that must be told.
Prayer:
Ask Jesus to make you excited like the shepherds to seek Him and share your story, His Christmas Message, to those around you.
Ask the Spirit to bring to mind people who need to hear the message of Christmas – the Gospel- and take a moment to pray for them.
Closing Prayer
Jesus, we need you. We want more of you. Would you open our eyes so that we can see you more clearly? Help us see you, hear you and experience more of you in our hearts and lives. Make us like you, who humbly came into the dark, broken rooms of our hearts and laid down your life for us, first in a manger and then on a cross. Teach us to lay down our lives for you and for one another as we receive more of you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
