For a different look at Christmas, we asked artists what their prayer would be this Holy season. Here is what a few of them had to say:

“Heavenly Father, thank You for all You have done for us and for all You mean to us. Without You, we would have no hope; but because You sent Your Son, Jesus, as the perfect sacrifice for our transgressions, we can be reconciled to You. The Baby in the manger will soon come back as the conquering King to rule and reign over the whole world. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.” – Terry Blackwood, artist

“My Christmas prayer would be that the world would know Jesus in a personal way, that there would be no hungry people, no sickness and no dying.  Also, that this world would always be a happy place to live and raise our families. Sounds like Heaven!” – Kelly Nelon Clark, The Nelons

“My Christmas wish is for people to stop including the wise men in the nativity. THEY WEREN’T THERE! Seriously, my prayer is for my kids to see the love of Christ in everything I do this season. That I can help them realize the truest meaning of the season.” – Pat Barker, artist

“Funny you should write. Just a few days ago, I was digging out books to

read about the stories behind Christmas carols in preparation for Christmas 2015. I came across a really old book of prayers by Peter Marshall who was Chaplain of the U.S. Senate from 1947 until his death in 1949 This is Peter Marshall’s prayer for world peace: ‘We pray for our troubled world. Impress upon the minds and hearts of our leaders that until we are at peace with Thee, we can be at peace with no one else, that freedom can exist nowhere unless it exists everywhere, that the strength of this nation does not lie in armies or navies but in the

integrity of her people, that peace is born out of righteousness and nothing else, that the trouble with our world is still people, that peace is not possible until men’s hearts, our hearts, and the direction of our wills, are changed. Make us willing to be changed, whatever the cost to our self-sufficiency, whatever the price to our insistence on having our own way.’ Amen. The world events of November 2015 are nothing new to God. Human beings still suffer from the same sin-sickness that began with the first man and woman. Hosanna; save us now, Lord. We look for the return of the Prince of Peace.” – Larry Ford [Editor’s notes: The Prayers of Peter Marshall by Catherine Marshall; Hardcover, Published January 1st 1954 by McGraw-Hill Book Company, In; original title The Prayers of Peter Marshall; ISBN 00070405980 (ISBN13: 9780070405981)]

“Dear God, thanks for sending Your Son to earth as a baby so many years ago. Thank You that He paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross and that He rose again proving that death was defeated. Thanks for family and friends during the time we celebrate His birth and for our freedom to worship.” – Robert York of SGN Scoops

“My prayer is that we would always remember the true reason for the Christmas season. It’s so easy to be consumed with all of the commercialism, the store sales, the gift giving.

Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy all that goes with the season but may we not forget JESUS!” – Mike LeFevre, The LeFevre Quartet

“My Christmas prayers, and Christmas wishes, have changed many times over the years. As a child, of course my wishes and prayers were for something

special under the tree. Then, in later years, as a young father, my Christmas wishes and prayers all became about my children; their well being, their aspirations, their dreams and hopes. Now many years later, they are all grown and gone. I sit here on Thanksgiving evening 2015, looking ahead to the Christmas season. At this time in life, my Christmas wishes and Christmas prayers are solely about the hurting people around me. The older I get, the more people around me, including my loved ones and family, are dealing with spiritual struggles, physical health issues, emotional problems, financial struggles, and even death. My prayers and wishes this Christmas are for those who need help that only the Lord can give.” – Ricky Atkinson of Ricky Atkinson and Compassion.

“My Christmas prayer for the season would be for a time of peace around our world and nation. I am a bit of a news junkie and sometimes I just sigh in disbelief at the things going on in our country. I would pray for peace among the different beliefs and races. I would pray for peace and love in broken families. I would ask God to give us a glimpse of His love for us, so that we would remember His love for us is not contingent on how we feel about ourselves. He loves us anyway! Merry Christmas everyone!” – Mark Bishop, artist, Forget The Sea

“My Christmas wish this year is that I will be able to put a smile on at least one person’s face. I have really caught the holiday bug and the Christmas spirit this year, doing more decorating of my small residence than usual and going all-out on gifts. I even bought a random ladies purchase at the dollar store. I really can’t say why or how I caught it, but this season has already been fun and if somebody gets a smile out of something I do this year, that’ll be worth it for me!” – Justin McLeod, blogger, writer for SGN Scoops

“This holiday season I think of the song I just released on my new Christmas CD: ‘Let There Be Peace on Earth.’ While I realize that complete peace is not possible as we enter the last days, I pray that people would find true peace in Jesus Christ, the One who came to bring peace, not as the world gives, but rather a peace that surpasses our own understanding and brings comfort to a lost, hurting world. (John 14:27)” – Sherry Anne, soloist, writer for SGN Scoops

“It may sound cliche but I wish what the multitude of angels proclaimed that first Christmas night: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward man.’” – Arthur Rice, Kingdom Heirs

“My wish for this Christmas is that the Church will put off its despondency and

reflect Christ to an increasingly desperate world. It’s time for Christians to unite. All Christians, not just the Baptists or the Methodists, the Lutherans or Presbyterians, but everyone who is called by the name Christian. We have allowed worldly attitudes and ideas to separate and segregate the Church and it has taken a toll. There’s no better time for the Church to arise and boldly proclaim ‘I Am A Christian’ than right here at Christmas!” – John Rulapaugh, Freedom Quartet

“The truth of the Christmas story is that on that long ago night, a Savior was born to save the world from their sins! This message of salvation and forgiveness, no matter who we are or how far in sin we’ve gone, is timeless in its beauty! But my Christmas Prayer for you this year, is that you will fully realize in the midst of your daily struggle, in your time of grief, when feeling hurt or betrayed, while experiencing sheer terror because you don’t know what tomorrow holds and you simply don’t know what to do….you have a Hope! That beautiful, starry, Christmas night, in the form of a tiny baby Boy named Jesus…Hope was born! I don’t know where you are in your life right now, you may have run out of answers, but I pray that you’ll realize that when you’re right in the middle of hopelessness…that’s when real Hope is the closest to you. What a wonderful gift to us all, I pray you will unwrap yours this Christmas! Merry Christmas!” — Sylvia M. Green, The Bradys

“Our Christmas Prayer is that we be a light in a dark world and help those in need this season, whether it be by helping the poor, comforting the widows, or sharing the greatest Gift of all: Jesus!” — Amber Eppinette, 11^th Hour

“My Christmas Prayer would be that people would begin to see themselves as Christ sees them; to know that Jesus IS the Hope of the world. ‘Christ in us – the Hope of Glory.’ (Col. 1:27)” – Selena Day, motivational speaker, writer at SGN Scoops

“Our prayer is that for the next year it wouldn’t take a holiday to remind us that no day is guaranteed, life is short and loved ones are to be cherished.” — Bryan and Y Hutson, Rescue Me Ministries