Dear Lord, what great hope and mystery surrounds this lovely time of the year, when the body of Christ specially remembers the first advent of our Lord Jesus with such anticipation. That wonderful time when You came into the world, so many years ago, as the King of Israel and Saviour of the world.
Lord, I know that it is not Your will that anyone should perish but that all should come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Who alone can save a dying world, lost in trespasses and sins.
Open the eyes and the hearts of those that are lost in their sins and blinded to the truth of the glorious gospel of Christ. Visit those I pray, who have not yet accepted the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. Convict those who have their attention fixed on the temporal things that are passing away. Lord, at this time of Advent when the people of the world are so busy in making preparation for a secular Christmas, I ask You to convict many hearts of their real need of Jesus Christ as their Saviour.
Bring many to a deeper understanding of the real meaning of Advent and Christmas. Help them to come to realise that this is a time of hope, as we remember when the eternal God became the perfect Man, and was born as a baby to die on a cross for the sins of the world. Help them to understand that He lived His life in the shadow of the cross, so that sinful man could be forgiven, by simply believing on His name. Look down in pity on all who do not know the Lord Jesus as Saviour, and may many be saved at this time. In Jesus' name,
Amen.