Sacred Meditations

On this Christmas Eve–the eve of celebrating Jesus’ nativity–we pray that we may know our gracious Savior both here on earth and perfectly in heaven. The Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Day (second collect), from The Book of Common Prayer.

On this Christmas Day, the yearly festival of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray that we who joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer may confidently behold Him when He comes to be our Judge. The Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Day (first collect), from The Book of …

In this fourth week of Advent we ask our Almighty God to purify our conscience by His daily visitation. Fourth Sunday of Advent, from The Book of Common Prayer.

In this hymn text as a prayer, we bid our precious Ransom, our coming King Jesus, to come and give us hope by His grace. See Lutheran Service Book, 350, stanzas 1 & 3.

This Advent we meditate on our Coming King who comes to save us sinners. Johann Starck, in his Prayer Book, leads us in praying to Jesus who comes to us in our Baptism. Source: Starck’s Prayer-Book, by Johann Starck (translated and edited by W. H. T. Dau, 1921), page 65.

In this third week of Advent, we pray that our Lord Jesus would stir up His power and come among us with great might. Since our sins sorely hinder us, we implore Him to help and deliver us by His bountiful grace and mercy. Third Sunday of Advent, from The …

We love to sing the great Advent hymns. When we speak their verses, we also notice how these hymns make excellent prayers. Here is stanza 1 of “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.” See Lutheran Service Book, 338, stanza 1.

During this holy season of Advent, we meditate on the coming Christ Jesus in the flesh for our benefit. Here we join Johann Starck in his “Morning Prayer” for the season of Advent. Source: Starck’s Prayer-Book, by Johann Starck (translated and edited by W. H. T. Dau, 1921), pages 64-65.

In this second week of Advent, we pray that our merciful God would lead us to heed His messengers who proclaim repentance for the forgiveness of sins, that we may joyfully greet our coming Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Second Sunday of Advent, from The Book of Common Prayer.

The opening verses of this Advent hymn, by Ambrose of Milan (A.D. 340-397), joins us with the Advent prayers of fellow Christians through the centuries. See Lutheran Service Book, 332, stanzas 1-2.