Did you consider not celebrating Christmas this year? What got you thinking along those lines? Commercialism? Traditions with pagan roots? Some other reason on an ever-growing list?
Christmas takes on a whole new meaning when you live where it is forbidden. Where even one decoration in your home could get you arrested. Where telling the story of Jesus is against the law, and no Bible is available, even if you wanted to read it. Where being a Christian could cost you your livelihood, your family, or even your life. Where singing carols must be silent, and gathering together with other believers runs the risk of arrest, torture, getting shot at, blown up, killed.
If you’ve been joining us daily here at the Prayer Wall, you may have noticed many of our posts reference Open Doors’ World Watchlist of most dangerous countries for Christians.
Our family has lived in one of the countries on that list. In fact, we raised our children there. You see, the Lord called us to share His love where no one would hear unless we went. Where Christmas is forbidden.
No twinkling lights lining store windows or festive holiday decorations. No big churches arranging choir concerts. No Christmas parties. No carolers. No gifts under the tree. No arguments about whether or not to tell your children about Santa. No Christians wishing all the commercialism would go away so we could just get back to Jesus.
And for the millions of lost all around us, no way to know Jesus, even if you wanted to.
Black Friday just isn’t a thing when you live where all is darkness.
But the world is changing now. A Light has begun to dawn in that darkness. Isaiah 9:2. In some countries closed off to the Gospel of Christ, the Spirit has begun to move in powerful ways, growing the underground church and empowering them to reach the lost.
With social media, seekers in restricted areas have also been reaching out on the internet to find Christians in open countries who will share Jesus with them. Have you come across any of them yet?
Not only that, but the nations are now moving in next to you. Lost people from countries you’ve been praying for may live just a few doors down. Have you met them yet?
Lord, how do You want to use me this Christmas to shine Your light in someone’s darkness? With all the money I’ve spent on Christmas presents for my family, what do You want me to give and to whom so Your Word will be preached among the nations? Show me missionaries in need or other ways I can help the lost hear of Your love. Is there a neighbor from a closed country You want me to share with? Someone who has never heard the good news of Your salvation? Do You want us to invite them for dinner or take them cookies? Move me to step out into the darkness with Your light. To shine for You this Christmas. To be more about how I can give than what I want to happen. To reach out in love to those family members who always seem to make Christmas more difficult. To see them through Your eyes. To truly love them. To feed the hungry. Care for the homeless. Help those in need. O Father, there are so many in need all around me. More need than I even know about. Open my eyes to see what You see and to step out into this lost and dying world holding out to them the One who is Life. Awaken me to Your purposes, O God. Awaken my family to shine for You. And awaken this world to its Savior. Yes, awaken us to You.
Mikaela Vincent and her husband are missionaries who live by faith, trusting in God to provide for their needs as they pray for and share Christ with the nations. If you would like to help their ministry through a donation, or by finding your Christmas presents at Mikaela’s online bookstore, click the buttons below:
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