Christmas in the Dark

What is it like to live in a country where celebrating Christmas is forbidden? Where Christians are persecuted? Where millions have never heard about the God Who loves them and gave His Son to die for their sins so they can be free?

I can tell you. Because we’ve lived there.

For most of the people we passed every day in the dark country where God called us to live and shine His light, Christmas was just one more day of the year. They go to work like any other day, sell their wares on the streets, gather up vegetables to take to market, chat about the weather.

You’ll find no decorations in shop windows. No wide-eyed children filled with excitement. No carols playing. No houses lit up with colorful decorations. No nativity scenes. No choir concerts. No Advent wreaths. No preaching about the Greatest Gift of All….

They don’t know Him. They’ve never heard. And those who want to tell them are forbidden. How can they celebrate the One in whom they have not believed?

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?

Romans 10:14-15a NIV

Oh, God, please don’t give up on these countries shrouded in darkness. Invade every heart and home with Your light. Perform signs and miracles. Pursue the lost relentlessly. Visit them in their dreams. Stand in front of them, so they will come face-to-face with the Living God Who loves them and gave His Son to die for them so they can be free. Lift the veil from their eyes so they will see You as You truly are. Make the way for them to hear the Good News clearly stated in a language they can easily understand. Make Christians in those countries bold, grounded in truth and love, and empowered by Your Spirit to SHINE like lights in the darkness for all to see, drawing all people to Yourself like moths to a flame. Deepen their faith. Broaden their love. Widen their peace. Give them excitement and courage to gathert together to study Your Word, pray, and worship You, even if it must be in secret, even if they fear for their lives. And if they are brought before the authorities, give them Your words to speak (Matthew 10). Draw every persecutor to his knees in worship of You alone as the One True God. May those who come against Your children see the love, joy, and peace in them and long for it themselves, even asking Christians how to be saved. Sustain those who love You but live in dangerous places. Empower them, embolden them, renew their strength, chase out all fear with Your perfect love, and make them wholly Yours, filled with Your love, walking as one with each other and with You and bringing You glory. In Your name. Amen.

About the author: Mikaela Vincent and her husband have served the Lord for many years in a dark area of the world where Christians are persecuted and few have heard the good news about Christ. They 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 giving a donation, shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, praying for them or inviting them to speak at your church, retreat or other event, click the buttons below:

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