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Praying the Tenth Day of Christmas

 Heavenly Father,

As I reflect on the meaning behind the ten lords a-leaping, I’m reminded of the strength, authority, and energy their image conveys. They are leaping with joy and good energy, not dragging and lagging. 

In Christian symbolism these ten lords represent the Ten Commandments—Your holy laws given to guide, protect, and shape the lives of Your people. Just as the lord’s leap with purpose and dignity, Your commandments stand firm, beckoning me to live with integrity, reverence, and obedience.

Lord, thank You for giving these commandments. They are not burdens but given as expressions of Your love—healthy boundaries that lead to freedom, peace and righteousness. Help me to honor them and not hate or resent them. Teach me to love You above all else, to treat others with respect and compassion, and to walk in ways that reflect Your holiness.

Father, let the image of these ten lords remind me that Your law is good, it’s steady and life-giving. May I leap—joyfully and willingly—into obedience, trusting that Your ways are always meant for my good. As I celebrate this season, help me remember that the birth of Jesus fulfilled the law and revealed Your grace, inviting me into a life shaped by both truth and love.

Thank You for Your commandments and for the guidance they provide. May they lead me closer to You each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen 

Going Deeper 

And God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands[b] of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.[c]

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”—Exodus 20:1-17

Praying Day Nine of Christmas

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me Nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree

Heavenly Father, 

As I reflect on the meaning behind the nine ladies dancing, I’m reminded of the joy, movement, release, and grace that dance brings. In Christian symbolism, these nine dancers represent the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There are not qualities I can produce on my own; they can only come through and are the beautiful evidence of Your Spirit at work within me.

Lord, just as dancers move in harmony and rhythm, help my life to move in step with Your Spirit just as Your Word instructs me. Let love guide my actions, joy fill my heart, and Your glorious peace steady my thoughts. Teach me to have patience in difficulty, to be kind in my interactions, and make good choices. Strengthen my faithfulness, soften my spirit with gentleness, and help me practice self-control in all things. 

Father, may these fruits grow in me like a graceful dance; let them become the dance I do with You—flowing, vibrant, and full of life. Let others see Your character reflected in the way I live, speak, and respond. As I celebrate this season, remind me that true joy comes from Your presence and that the work of Your Spirit brings beauty far greater than any earthly gift.

Thank You for the fruits You cultivate in my heart. May they flourish and bring glory to You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Going Deeper:

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!—Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) 

Praying Day Eight of Christmas

  On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtledoves and a partridge in a pear tree

Heavenly Father,

As I reflect on the meaning behind the eight maids a-milking, I’m reminded of the humility, nurturing, provision, and humble service that this image represents. Milking was a task of daily labor, often done by those of low social standing, yet it was essential for nourishment and life, much like those who do essential work today but don’t make very much.

In Christian symbolism, these eight maids point to the eight Beatitudes; the teachings of Jesus that reveal the attitudes and virtues of a heart shaped by Your kingdom.

Lord, the Beatitudes call me to a life of humility, mercy, purity, and peace. They remind me that true blessing is not found in status, wealth, or comfort, but in a heart aligned with Your will. Just as the maids carried out their work faithfully and quietly, help me to live out these virtues in the ordinary moments of life.

Teach me to be poor in spirit, gentle in my responses, hungry for righteousness and steadfast in showing mercy. Help me to keep my heart pure, free of bitterness and resentment, to work for peace, and to stand firm when I face hardship for the sake of Christ. May these qualities grow in me like steady, faithful labor—simple, sincere, and pleasing to You.

Father, as I celebrate this season, let the symbolism of the eight maids a-milking remind me that in Your kingdom humility and service are valued. I pray, shape my heart through the teachings of Jesus, and let my life reflect that same quiet strength and devotion Jesus modeled that honor you.

In Jesus’ name. Amen 

Going Deeper:

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
 for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4 God blesses those who mourn,
 for they will be comforted.
5 God blesses those who are humble,
 for they will inherit the whole earth.
6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
 for they will be satisfied.
7 God blesses those who are merciful,
 for they will be shown mercy.
8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
 for they will see God.
9 God blesses those who work for peace,
 for they will be called the children of God.
10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
 for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.—Matthew 5:3-10 (NLT)