Lord,
It is you who said, “Let light shine out of darkness.” You spoke into being something which previously did not exist. You did this in the beginning with your physical creation, creating the sun and other stars. And you have done this in our hearts, by giving us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. You have given us this treasure to show that the surpassing power belongs to you and not to us.
Our earthly bodies are wasting away; along with the rest of creation we groan in pain. But because of your character and your gospel, we do not lose heart. Your Spirit is at work within us, sustaining and sanctifying us. You renew our inner being day by day, bringing us new mercies every morning. Thank you.
Your Word tells us that the afflictions we experience are preparing us for an eternal weight of glory that is beyond all comparison; that this pain is actually equipping us to handle the glories to come, glories that we would not be able to handle otherwise.
We see and experience pain and afflictions here and now; it’s easy to look at what’s right in front of us. But we know that what we can see now is not the whole picture. So please enable us to look to and consider the unseen and eternal things in which we hope: you, your character, your gospel, and your promises. May we be well-acquainted with your promises in your Word, and may we hold fast to them.
We ask that you come quickly, Lord Jesus. But until then, please enable us to rest in your promise of being with us here and now. For you have said, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Thank you for your abiding presence and promises. Thank you for who you are and what you’ve done. Thank you that we can approach you in prayer, and publicly pray together, saying:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil:
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever.Amen.