DEVOTION // May Christ be born in you

In her book When the Heart Waits, author Sue Monk Kidd describes her visit to a monastery. It was shortly before Christmas. 

May Christ be born in you

“Merry Christmas,” she said to a monk as he walked by. She didn’t know what to make of the monk's reply. "May Christ be born in you," he said.

I’ve wondered, too, about the monk’s Christmas prayer. I’ve never heard anyone use that Christmas greeting. I’ve never seen it on a Christmas card. But perhaps it should become my greeting this time of year.

When the Christmas angel announced Jesus’ birth to the Bethlehem shepherds, he proclaimed, “Today in the town of David, a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord.” Then, assuming the shepherds would go to see for themselves, he added, “This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:11,12).

The angel's prayer

The angel’s unspoken prayer for the shepherds was that they would come away from the Christ-Child’s cradle as believers. His prayer was that the Christ, born in Bethlehem, would also be born in them.

Of course, for those of us who are believers, there’s no need for faith in Jesus to be born in us. But we have daily need for the joy of Christmas to be reborn in us – to be remembered, refreshed, and rejoiced in.

My prayer

My prayer for you this Christmas is that the Savior who was born in David’s city 2000 year ago

• has also been born in your heart, 
• has the most-treasured position there, and
• will continue to transform your life through his loving presence. 

May Christ be born in you.