A Hallowed Night

By Cathy Irvin
Staff Writer

CBN.com - Can Halloween night be a hallowed night?

Sure! We can make it holy and turn it into a harvest time celebration. We need to let God’s love and light shine in the midst of the darkness. More and more, Christians are opening their churches and hosting “Harvest” parties or some other name than "Halloween." In doing so, they provide an alternative to Halloween -- no devils, witches, monsters, or ghosts are allowed. Some dress children up as Bible characters or angels. Others come as ballerinas, cheerleaders, princes or princesses, animals - any of the "good guys" or those in God’s animal kingdom.

But what about our grandchildren or great grandchildren who aren’t in church or who participate in Halloween with their parents? Personally, I have let my family know that I don’t celebrate Halloween and only ask that the parents dress the children in better costumes, not as those " bad guys," as Destiny, my great granddaughter, calls them. This year, she plans to dress up as a cheerleader -- not sure about her younger brother yet; his Dad has the final say about him. Her mother has been good about doing that for me with her for several years.

My granddaughter and her mother will go to a familiar neighborhood -- and me, well I will stay home so others' great grandchildren can come by. I will open my door, praying silently for God to protect, bless and save all these children that I give out candy to this year. I will tell them to be careful and that Jesus loves them.

In the past, I have gone to the church and helped out there, but this time the lights will be on at my house. I thought about how I have prayer walked in neighborhoods and asked God to save people, expose the enemy behind those closed doors for whatever situation they were facing, adults as well as the children.

Why not just open the door and use this night for intercession and pray on your front porch before they arrive and then silently as you drop candy into a bag or pumpkin?

I remember the best Halloween I ever participated in. I was a new Christian, but I went to the children’s hospital and gave candy to the children. I had so much fun. Children smiling back at me made it all worthwhile.

If all Christians stayed home and opened the door with a prayer in their heart, think of it as God’s blanket of protection that would be over so many little children on Halloween night. Perhaps you can pray a simple prayer like the one below:

Lord, may this year on Halloween night be one that is hallowed, a holy night to lift up your name and bless your little children all over the world.

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