The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Luke 2:1-21 (NIV)

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Image Source: https://www.dayspring.com/ecards/ecard/view/ecard/1975/category/103/

Luke 2:14

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Luke 2:14 (NIV)

A Pattern for Prayer

I would like to share with you this Prayer Pattern from In Touch Ministries Daily Devotion.

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Adoration of the Father (Matt. 6:9). “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
God the Father is the focus of all our prayers. We should never forget what a privilege it is to bend our knees on earth and reach almighty God in heaven.

Submission to His Will (Matt. 6:10). your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Prayer should reflect a desire to align ourselves with God’s goals and purposes, not to get Him to follow our plans.

Petition God for our needs (Matt. 6:11). Give us today our daily bread.
We are dependent upon the Lord, and He wants us to come to Him with our requests.

Confession of sins (Matt. 6:12). And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
When we repent and forgive others, we maintain fellowship with God. But if we hold grudges, that fellowship is broken.
God loves to answer our prayers when the lines of communication are not disrupted.

Deliverance from evil (Matt. 6:13). And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
Our enemy is too strong for us, but Christ has already won the victory over him.

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Article Source: https://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/a-pattern-for-prayer
Image Source: http://www.freeimages.com/photo/praying-hands-1411879