It is popular today to ask people about their “Christmas Wish”, but wishes can be fleeting. This year, SGM Radio asked several friends, pastors and artists in the Southern Gospel industry to share with us their Christmas Prayer for 2010. Here are their responses:

My prayer for Christmas 2010 is one of gratefulness for sparing Tracy’s life this year! Also, I pray that more people will forget about the commercial side of Christmas and get back to the true meaning of Christmas. I pray for peace, love and grace to visit everybody in the world this Christmas and everyday. -  Libbi Perry Stuffle, The Perrys

I pray that Christmas will bring a season of joy to most of us, as it always does. I pray that we remember the birth of Christ, and that some who feel pain and hurt during this season will find comfort and strength. – Andrew Ishee, musician

My prayer for this Christmas is that everyone could just stop finding fault with each other and try to help one another. And when we talk about our neighbors or folks from other denominations, let’s point out the good things in them, rather than finding fault. The Church we should want to be a part of is one that accepts and loves everyone. If we’ll just lead people to the Lord, the Holy Spirit can deal with them as necessary. – Calvin Newton, soloist

My prayer is that no one is alone during Christmas. For those without family still living, I pray they will be welcomed in by another. – Scotty Inman, Triumphant Quartet

My prayer is that true Christians would stand up and proclaim God’s truth and love to this Nation. Be bold for God and not back down to the liberal agenda the enemy tries to push forward. There is Hope. There is Peace. There is abundant Life. And it all came in a little baby called Jesus! May the world find Him; Jesus the light of the world!  – Karen Harding, soloist

My prayer is God bless America again! –Kevin Spencer, soloist

Christmas is probably my favorite time of the year, but I must admit, it has become so commercialized that it takes some of the fun out of it. My prayer this year is that people will stop for a moment and realize that it’s not about the biggest present, the most expensive gift, or the fanciest clothes. We’ve already been given the greatest gift of all, Gods only Son. This was the most expensive gift ever given as it cost Christ His life. We’ve also been given many other gifts too, like family, friends and blessing beyond what we deserve. So let’s keep our focus on what really matters, have fun with your friends and family, but put Christ first in all we do! Merry Christmas – Greg Bentley, industry specialist, soloist

I’d like for more people to laugh and have a merry heart. I’d like to see more unity among the children of God, and that they would be more submissive to the Lordship of Jesus, not only for people to receive Him as Savior but serve Him as Lord. I’d like for them to love one another as Christ loves the church and gave Himself for it. I pray for God’s people to be more compassionate, as He was and still is. It seems that compassion is lacking very much in the world today, not just America. I’d like to see America become more reliant on Jesus and to put our trust back in Him. Government is limited. Mankind is limited. His power is limited by our faith or the lack thereof. I pray that I would be able to believe more in Him. – Stephen Widener, Pastor and soloist

My Christmas prayer would be that America would come back to God and that everyone in the world would be able to not just share a gift with someone, but to share the greatest gift, Jesus Christ, with someone else. – Joseph Habedank, The Perrys

My prayer is for all Christians to remain solid in our stance for Christ! – Clayton Inman, Triumphant Quartet

This Christmas season my prayer is that hearts will be filled with the true Joy of Christmas and that is the joy and peace that only comes through salvation. Christ died so we could go free and to this honor we celebrate Him this Christmas, not the hype! –
Jason Funderburk, Driven

At Christmas, I suppose so many folks would give a heartfelt, “Peace and goodwill towards men,” and I second that emotion. On a personal note, my prayer is that people of this world could do away with hatred of one another. I pray that words like homeless and hunger would cease to exist and that the country I live in, the USA, would revert back to its original Christian morals for all the children of the future. I pray that my family and friends will all meet again some day, without the loss of one, in a wonderful place called Heaven. Oh, and I pray for peace and goodwill toward men and women. Merry Christmas, happy holidays and season’s greetings. – Rusty Golden, artist and songwriter

It is my prayer that Christians will love one another as Christ loved us. We must stand together and know Jesus Christ is The King of Kings. Without Jesus there is no Hope as He is The Hope. Merry Christmas! – Ron Blackwood, The Blackwood Quartet

My prayer is that America will wake up, see the decay of our society, turn its face toward heaven and ask the almighty God to heal our land. Christmas is the time we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Remember the reason for the season. May God bless you all!  – Brian Free, Brian Free and Assurance

Lord, I ask that you’d encourage each Southern Gospel singer this Christmas. With so many groups struggling to make ends meet, we need a touch from You. Remind us of the importance of singing Your music for Your eternal purpose, even if You are the only one in the audience. In Jesus Name, Amen. – Rodney Griffin, Greater Vision

As we enjoy the Christmas Season with our family and friends and celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus, we look around our community and our world and see the ugliness of sin. Let’s pray for our neighbors, our cities and our countries this Christmas. Let us thank God for His Wonderful Gift and His abundant life! At SGM Radio, our most fervent prayer is that you would experience the abundant life offered by the Baby born in the manger who became our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!