Abrahamic / Middle Eastern Christianity Emmanuel: God With Us Is God for Us Christmas Prayer of Intercession to Emmanuel Share Flipboard Email Print Photo Source: Pixabay / Composition: Sue Chastain Christianity Christian Prayers Christianity Origins The Bible The New Testament The Old Testament Practical Tools for Christians Christian Life For Teens Weddings Inspirational Bible Devotions Denominations of Christianity Funerals and Memorial Services Christian Holidays Christian Entertainment Key Terms in Christianity Catholicism Latter Day Saints View More By M.Y. Lee Updated February 17, 2019 The alternate spelling for Emmanuel is Immanuel. Immanuel is the masculine Hebrew name meaning "God is with us." It appears twice in the Old Testament and once in the New Testament. The name means, literally, that God will demonstrate his presence with his people in deliverance. Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled the meaning of Emmanuel because he left heaven to live on earth and deliver his people, as the prophet Isaiah foretold: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14, ESV) Emmanuel Christmas Prayer: God With Us Is God for Us God of every nation and people,From the beginning of CreationYou have made known your loveThrough the gift of your SonWho bears the name Emmanuel, "God with Us." In the fullness of time the Christ-child cameTo be the Good News to all humankind. Emmanuel, God lives with us as one of us;Christ, the Word made fleshHas come to us as a vulnerable,Weak and dependent babe;A God who hungered and thirsted,And longed for human touch and affection;A God who chose to be bornIn obscurity and shame,To a virgin, an unwed maiden,With a dirty stable as a homeAnd a borrowed manger as a bed,In a tiny, insignificant town called Bethlehem. Oh, Mighty God, of humble origins,Christ, the Messiah, whom the prophets foretold,You were born at a time and in a placeWhere few welcomed youOr even recognized you. Have we, too, lost a sense of joy and anticipationIn what the Christ-child may bring?Have we been preoccupied with endless activities,Distracted by the tinsel, decorations, and gifts—Busy preparing for the birthday of Christ;So busy that there's no room in our cluttered livesTo welcome Him when he comes? God, grant us the grace to be patient and vigilantIn watching, waiting, and listening attentively.So that we won't miss ChristWhen he comes knocking at our door.Remove whatever hinders us from receivingThe gifts which the Savior brings—Joy, peace, justice, mercy, love ...These are the gifts we are to shareWith the downtrodden, the oppressed,The outcasts, the weak, and the defenseless. Christ, you are the hope of all peoples,The wisdom who teaches and guides us,The wonderful Counselor who encourages and consoles,The Prince of Peace who calms our troubled mindsAnd restless spirits—Granting us true inner peace. Christ, you who are the radiant dawn,Shine on those who live in darkness and in shadows,Dispel fears, anxieties, and insecurities,Restore hearts that have grown cold and distant,Enlighten minds which have become darkenedThrough greed, anger, hatred, and bitterness. We remember those who are living in shadows of a marginal existence,We pray for the homeless, jobless and retrenched,Those struggling to keep their lives together,We lift up families, especially the childrenWho may not experienceThe joy of Christmas celebrations this season. We pray for those living alone,The widowed, the orphans, the elderly,The sick and bedridden, the migrant workersFor whom the Christ-event may hold no special significance.As happens with most festive seasons,May it not deepen their sense of abandonment and alienation. Christ, You who are the Light of the World,Help us to radiate the warmth of your presence.Enable us to give of ourselves generously and compassionatelyIn bringing joy, peace, and hope to others. As we wait for the dawnOf the coming of the Christ-child,We do so with anticipationOf new and unexpected challenges.Like Mary, we sense the birth pangs of a new era,A new kingdom waiting to be born. May we, like Mary, be filled with courage,Openness, and receptivityTo be the bearers of the Christ-childIn receiving and bringing forth the Good NewsAs we continue to be witnessesOf God's truth and justice,As we walk along the path of peace,As we are strengthened in our love for ChristAnd for each other. In the words of Isaiah:"Arise, shine, for your light has come.The glory of the LORD has risen upon you.Even though darkness shall cover the earthAnd over its people,Yet the LORD will be your everlasting light." Amen. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Lee, M.Y. "Emmanuel: God With Us Is God for Us." Learn Religions, Aug. 25, 2020, learnreligions.com/emmanuel-god-with-us-is-god-for-us-700916. Lee, M.Y. (2020, August 25). Emmanuel: God With Us Is God for Us. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/emmanuel-god-with-us-is-god-for-us-700916 Lee, M.Y. "Emmanuel: God With Us Is God for Us." Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/emmanuel-god-with-us-is-god-for-us-700916 (accessed February 25, 2021). copy citation