Hope When the World Feels Dark - Your Nightly Prayer - December 17th
Hope When the World Feels Dark
Your Nightly Prayer
by Britt Mooney
TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5
SOMETHING TO PONDER
My daughter is part of the color guard at the high school. They flip flags and wooden rifles around during the band’s performances.
A couple of weeks ago, the band and color guard had an 8 am to 8 pm practice on a Saturday. We got a text in the afternoon, they were doing a free show for family and friends.
We showed up to the football field around 7. The sun had begun to set. They didn’t start. The field lights were dark, and the sky also continued to darken. Would the lights come on? Would there be a show? We didn’t know.
Those kids taught me something, though. While it got darker and the lights didn’t turn on, the band and color guard played songs. They danced. With the benefit of being young, they somehow had the energy to dance around and play various songs they knew. Not knowing when the lights would come on. Or if. But they exhibited joy.
The lights did eventually come on. And we enjoyed their show.
God convicted me, however. Do I praise him in the darkness? He has promised the dawn will come, the lights will come on, as it were. I might have to wait, but he’s called me to praise him in the meantime.
We praise him because he’s with us now. And he fulfills his promises.
And as my daughter and the band and color guard showed me, we also have a community of faith around us to praise with. It’s easier to catch praise and worship in a group. God designed it that way.
Even in the darker times, we have reason to praise. Christ, who is Light, is always with us. And we have the encouragement of his Body, joining together in worship. For what he’s already done and is doing, God is worthy of praise.
As we worship him, we count him faithful to fulfill his promises in the future as he has in the past. The darkness will not endure. The light will come.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
Teach me to praise you in the darkness. Even when the lights haven’t come on yet, help me to lift my voice with joy, trusting your promises. Remind me you are present now and faithful to fulfill your word in the future. Surround me with the encouragement of your people, so we can together worship you for who you are and what you’ve done. Strengthen my heart to wait with hope until the dawn comes.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. What is a time you went through a hard time and found relief when it ended? How did God help you through that?
2. How has God fulfilled his promises to you in the past? What does that mean in the future?
3. How have God’s people encouraged you during dark times before? How have you encouraged others?
Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Ben White
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