Morning Prayer

"The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the deep.... And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light" (Gen. 1:2-3).

Chaos, without form, void... darkness... deep. And light. And you, O Lord, were there. You spoke light from your very essence and being. And light was. 

"The LORD is my light and my salvation...." (Psalm 27:1). 

"I [the LORD] will make you as a light for the nations, 

that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth" (Isa. 49:6)

"The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world... I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 1:9, 8:12). 

O, Light of Life--You are the sustaining force of life, that gives growth even in the hard times and times that feel dark. May we be orient ourselves to you, find our joy and nourishment and life from you alone. May you touch the areas of our lives that are dead and dark, and bring in your life. Life! Lord! 

"For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light" (Ps. 36:9).

"In him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4).

The Illuminating Guide--Even in confusion. In times of questioning, "What is going on? Why am I here?," you, O Lord, are our Light and our Guide. You are with us, orienting us toward you like the northern star. May we know and trust that each moment is designed and held in your sovereign Creator hands. 

The Morning Star-- You are the Light of newness. The dawn. The point of light where the midnight meets the morning (1). May we feel your grace and blessing bursting over us in new seasons of grace and new seasons of joy, deeper and more fruitful. For you are the God who makes all things new, who rises to show us compassion, radiating newness and second chances. 

"I am the morning star" (Rev. 22:16).

The Light of Hope--The Jews counted the days as beginning in the evening and moving toward the light of the morning, just as there was first evening and then morning in the creation account. May we rest in you, our God of Light, always working in the darkness and moving history, moving our days and our moments, toward Light and Life. Toward yourself--O Lord, you call us! You bid us come! And our sorrows will culminate in and our pleasures foreshadow in our being with you, where you yourself are our Light!  May we orient ourselves toward your light and see your hope dawning and breaking. May we live in light of the hope of glory! 

"And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, 

for the Lord God will be their light" (Rev. 22:5).

The Light of Glory --You are our hope of glory! Glory, brilliant holiness, radiant light, shining splendor, holy hope. May we know you as our Glory and our Life in a deeper and more profounder way today (Col. 1:27, 3:4). May we see and rejoice in light of your glory, O Father, in the face of Christ, exalted and shining in splendor (2 Cor. 4:6). 

The Light of Blessing--May you shine the light of your face on us, pouring out all we need and more according to your glorious grace.

"...nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them" (Ps. 44:3).

"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace" (Num. 6:24-26).

NOTES
(1) A line from a song by Keith and Kristyn Getty which I love.