A Soul Shepherding Moment
By Bill Gaultiere © 2011
Mary offered a little prayer of faith to receive the birth of Christ and the world has never been the same! How might the world around you change if you offer her prayer from your heart?
These days in the Christmas season can be hectic. Many people find their calendars too full with holiday actives and they are hurried and stressed. For some there are family conflicts or financial problems to deal with. Others are lonely. These things — whether happy or unhappy — may distract us from appreciating the Christ of Christmas.
All of us, whether we realize it or not, long to participate in a close friendship and dynamic partnership with Jesus, whose birth we celebrate.
Try Mary’s Prayer
Mary’s prayer that birthed the first Christmas can birth Christmas in your heart:
“Let it be to me… According to your Word” (Luke 1:38, NKJV).
You might find it helpful to meditate on these words of Scripture by breathing them in and out this way:
Breathe in to appreciate the life of Christ flowing into you: “Let it be to me…”
Breathe out to submit to God: “According to your Word.”
Soul Training
After you spend a little time meditating on the Breath Prayer from the Bible try focusing your prayer on a particular stress or opportunity in your life that needs to be submitted to God. To do this simply pray, “Lord as I __________, let it be to me… According to your Word.”
Then see if you can remember to repeat this prayer with a breath now and again as you do what you’re doing throughout the day. In the way you can devote to the Lord each activity and each interaction with another person.
Try it this for a day or a few days. You’ll be amazed at how you begin to experience more of the flow of God’s love, joy, and peace into your life and through you to those around you.
Mary’s little prayer of the heart can facilitate the miracle of Christmas for you today!
More Soul Shepherding
“Advent Breath Prayers” features prayers of the heart inspired by the Bible characters in the nativity.
Soul Shepherding is for you and your ministry. We are dedicated to developing pastors and all kinds of leaders and caregivers through counseling, spiritual direction, and spiritual formation resources. Soul Shepherding is a 501c3 nonprofit ministry. Donations are tax deductible.
Bill Gaultiere, PhD & Kristi Gaultiere, PsyD ~ SoulShepherding.org
