Praying for a year full of spiritual joy and peace (From Keighley News)

Praying for a year full of spiritual joy and peace

7:30am Thursday 7th January 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share

M Cluett,

a member of Airedale Church writes

Well, Christmas came and Christmas passed just as it has done for about the last 2009 Christmases but did it bring the gift of peace, fulfilment, hope and the promise of lasting joy, that the peoples of the world pray for? How many even now remember the fading pleasures of Christmas 2009?

But the Bible reminds us that nearly 3,000 years ago, the Old Testament prophet Micah, prophesied that the Saviour of the world would be born in the town of Bethlehem. We perhaps remembered that when we heard the carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem” … at about the same time Isaiah prophesied that the Saviour of the world would be born of a virgin; we perhaps remembered that when we sang “O Come All Ye Faithful … Lo he abhors not the virgin’s womb”… The Gospel of Matthew reminds us that the child would be called Immanuel, which means God With Us.

As Christmas approached we wished each other joy, peace, hope and happiness. Christians believe that fullness of joy, throughout 2010, will come from knowing that God loves us so much that he sent us his only Son.

A lasting peace, whatever our circumstances, will come from knowing that in Christ we shall not perish. Hope throughout the year will not dissipate if we know with certainty that in Christ we have fullness of life and the promised gift of eternal life. The Bible assures us that: “God so loved the world that he sent us his only begotten son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3, verse 16). As Christians, we pray that the people of Keighley will enjoy a happy year full of spiritual joy and peace, with an increasing awareness of Immanuel, God with us.

• Print
• Email
• Share