B.L.E.S.S. Before You Gather: A Simple Prayer Strategy for Christmas
By S. Crawley
Photo by Rumman Amin on Unsplash
Christmas is coming!
Family gatherings, office parties, and other celebrations create opportunities for meaningful connection. Are we spiritually prepared for these opportunities? The conversations we have during this season can open doors to deeper spiritual discussions, especially with people who might never step into a church building.
What if you could transform your crazy Christmas social calendar into a strategic prayer journey?
The Gift of Intentional Prayer
Here's a tool that can help us - the 5x5 Blessing Prayer.
It is both simple and profound: five minutes daily, focusing on five people, five days a week. This isn't about manufacturing spiritual conversations or manipulating situations. Instead, it's about preparing our hearts and inviting God's presence into our relationships before we even gather.
Let’s walk through this this prayer tool with someone specific in mind. Think of somebody you care about whom you want to have a deeper experience of God’s blessing. Do you have a name?
Great – let’s go.
How the 5x5 Blessing Works
The framework uses the acronym B.L.E.S.S. to focus our intercession and prayer.
Our friends and family want to be blessed. We want them to be blessed. Our heavenly Father wants to bless them.
God's intention for people has always been profound flourishing - living as deeply loved sons and daughters who are soaked in His goodness and spreading it to those around them.
When we bless, we pray prayers that everybody wants to say, "Yes!" to. This is a great starting point!
Day 1: Body
On Day 1, we lift up concerns about health, protection, and strength for each person on our list. Consider the unique physical challenges each person faces - perhaps a chronic condition, recovery from illness, or the need for renewed energy. Bless them physically.
Helpful Scriptures: 3 Jn 1:2, Mt 4:23.
Day 2: Labour
So much of our lives is spent in workplaces and work activities. Often, it is closely tied to our identity, provision and security. When we bless our friends' work, we bless a God-given part of their lives.
Helpful Scriptures: Deut 28:12, Col 3:23-24.
Day 3: Emotions
Today, we bless our friends with emotional flourishing. Joy to replace stress. Healing for past wounds. Gratitude to overcome bitterness. Even more so during holiday season when there is additional stress and often complex emotions.
Helpful Scriptures: Is 61:1-3, 2 Cor 1:3-4.
Day 4: Social Connections
Relationships form the fabric of our lives. We bless our friends with peace in their families, trust and authenticity in life-giving relationships in every space God has placed them.
The quality of our relationships often determines the quality of our lives.
Helpful Scriptures: Ps 133:1-3, Phil 1:9-11.
Day 5: Spiritual Life
On Day 5, we bless their spiritual life and journey. We bless them for genuine encounters with God's love and truth. We ask for divine appointments and moments of insight that spark curiosity about spiritual matters.
Helpful Scriptures: Num 6:24-26, Eph 1:16-21.
Go with the Flow...
Of course, the outline just provides some guidelines to help us get started.
As you go, you may feel you want to spend more time blessing a particular person in a particular area. Feel free to respond to this! God may be showing you something He wants to do in this person's life.
The Heart Behind the Method
The important thing is that this should not become just another spiritual to-do list!
The 5x5 Blessing Prayer helps us take hold of God's invitation to join Him in preparing the soil of hearts - both others' and our own - for whatever seeds of faith He might want to plant during the Christmas season.
Happy Christmas!
PS: Special thanks and hat tip to Phil Alessi for introducing us to this tool.
For Reflection
1. . A Scripture - Colossians 1:9-12
- According to this passage, what things did Paul and Timothy ceaselessly pray for the Colossian disciples? Why?
- How does this shape our prayer for others?
2. A thoughtful question
- How might consistent prayer for others change the way you approach Christmas gatherings this year?
3. A possible application
- Prayerfully identify five people you think God wants you to pray for. Consider keeping a small journal of how God leads you to pray for them and what He shows you through this process.
Discipling the Urban Harvest provides practical insights and encouragement to walk with God in multiplying discipleship in an increasingly urban world - growing as children of the Father, serving the communities He has called us to, and discipling those hungry to know Him.