A Prayer for a Silent Evening
By Alicia Searl

“Come to me, all of you who’re weary and burdened, and I offers you relaxation.” – Matthew 11:28

Silent Evening, a beloved Christmas carol with humble beginnings that dates again to 1816. Written by a younger priest in Germany after a longstanding battle and fall in political and social standing, this tune was impressed when he took a stroll one chilly winter night time, noticing the stillness and peacefulness of his little city.

Since then, it has been picked up by a number of composers and carried out in church buildings all internationally, from quaint church buildings in small cities to the biggest of cathedrals, and even presenting it to the King of Prussia. All that to say, there’s a stunning message intertwined between the gorgeous phrases on this tune. It touches every of us on a distinct degree and in an intimate method. Calling us to pause and take discover of what a silent, peaceable, and calm. It does one thing to our weary souls.

Silent Evening. Holy Evening. All is calm. All is vibrant.

These phrases are straightforward to utter, however really being silent and in search of His holiness in a season that’s wrapped and consumed with pressures and calls for to do extra, be extra, get extra, can drive us to a spot of unexpected busyness and even disappointment. Sadly, the tip outcome can steal our peace.

The historical past of this hymn reminds us to step away from all of it and open our hearts in a option to obtain the reward of stillness. Could you discover time to hunt the silent moments this season, the place you’re met with our Holy Creator. Let that lovely interplay can help you lean in and relaxation, prompting you to reward Him for His faithfulness and rejoice in His Son’s beginning!

Let’s pray:

Father God,
We come to You with weary however humble hearts filled with thanksgiving. You’re a type and gracious Father, with such unspeakable love for us, giving Your one and solely Son to tackle our sins in order that we will have a life with You exterior this one (John 3:16).

Lord, I raise up these which are in want of relaxation. Those that are craving a silent night time. I raise up the mother who’s striving to make particular recollections for her kids, solely to turn into overwhelmed by the stress of all of it. I pray for the mum or dad rocking a fussy child to sleep within the wee hours of the morning, in want of a lot bodily relaxation. I pray for the dad crunching the numbers, questioning how he’s going to financially afford all of the gadgets on his youngster’s Christmas checklist. My coronary heart and prayers exit to the lonely grandparent lacking her kids and wishing she was nearer.

O Gracious God, You already know every one in all us intimately and our dire conditions that pull us away from You. Please take away the distractions, heavy burdens, and calls for, and grant us Your peace. Change the fallacies with Reality present in Your Phrase. Give us grace and area in our schedules to satisfy with You and be refueled by Your tender love. Make room in our hearts to obtain that valuable reward of stillness and silence.

We stand upon Your promise to increase relaxation for not simply our bodily, psychological, and emotional well-being however to satisfy us and develop us spiritually as nicely. This isn’t only a reward we need to obtain at Christmas however year-round as You lengthen Your mighty hand to these in want, calling us to take maintain.

After we turn into weighed down by the burdens we supply, we’re so grateful in your Son, Jesus. Jesus reminds us that His yoke is mild and to position our belief in Him (Matthew 11:28-30). But, we regularly overcomplicate Your message and overlook how You step in and provide a protected refuge (Psalm 46:1). You might not take away our burdens, however by way of Your energy, You make them manageable for us to hold (Philippians 4:19). 

Please open our hearts and minds to simply accept the picture of Your pure relaxation after we fall into the patterns of this World and turn into consumed with issues that preserve us stressed. Issues that preserve our minds swirling all night time. After we do that, we fail to acknowledge the character of Who You’re, and it distracts us from the great You’re doing.

Thanks, God, for providing us a silent night time within the reward of Your valuable Son, in addition to an invite to name upon You to satisfy with us intimately. You deserve our thanks and reward.
Amen.

Photograph Credit score: ©iStock/Getty Pictures Plus/MKucova

Alicia Searl is a devotional creator, blogger, and speaker that’s captivated with pouring out her coronary heart and pointing girls of all ages again to Jesus. She has an schooling background and grasp’s in literacy.  Her favourite folks name her Mother, which is why a lot of her time is spent cheering them on at a softball recreation or dance class. She is married to her heartthrob (a tall, spiky-haired blond) who can whip up a imply latte. She sips that goodness whereas writing her coronary heart on a web page whereas her pet licks her ft. Go to her web site at aliciasearl.com and join along with her on Instagram and Fb.

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