Prayer To Not Miss What Is Certain and Good In These Uncertain Times

 Advent 1 Monday

Yesterday we lit the first Advent candle and reminded ourselves that this is a time to prepare for what is coming.  Some of wonder what IS coming in the middle of these uncertain times of the pandemic and I would be naïve and possibly irresponsible to suggest that we don’t need to be concerned about what these next weeks and months hold.  This second wave of the pandemic is far more intense here than the first and shows no signs of  abating yet.  Celebrations with family and friends at Christmas seem a remote possibility.  We can just hope we are all well when Christmas comes.

While we face much uncertainty about what is coming in terms of COVID-19 we equally face much a settled hope in the fact that God’s promises and presence are 100% reliable.  During these 4 weeks we are asked to take a look at what’s going on in our inner life more than what is going on in our circumstances and to prepare a place of welcome for God. 

One of the saddest verses I know in the Bible says this:

The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.  John 1:9-11

How sad it would be this year in 2020 to be so caught up in what won’t happen in terms of parties and events that we fail to recognize the tender call of God to welcome Him and His loving care into our lives so we can have a meaningful and even joyful celebration of the birth of Christ, and a deeply satisfying experience of His presence and guidance carrying us through these days in a meaningful way as He works out His good plans in all this upheaval.

As we pray today, let’s hear and respond to the call of God to do the real preparations that the season asks of us.  The prophet Isaiah used these words:

Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good.  Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.

“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.

If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the Lord, have spoken!”  Isaiah 1:16-20

So we begin our prayer today with a shared prayer many are praying today:

Blessed are you, Sovereign God of all, to you be praise and glory forever:  In your tender compassion the dawn from on high is breaking upon us to dispel the lingering shadows of night.  As we look for your coming among us this day, open our eyes to behold your presence and strengthen our hands to do your will, that the world may rejoice an give you praise.  As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light or your presence, O god, set our hearts on fire with love for you, now and forever.

The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.  John 1:9-11

Jesus, we are so grateful that you have come.  You are the true light and You generously offer to give true light to anyone who will receive You. 

We too often are so preoccupied with our own obsessions and desires or our worries and fears, that we miss You – the great love, the great joy, the great peace – the One our hearts truly long for. 

During these weeks approaching Christmas we simply ask that You will help us to quiet our hearts and minds to remember that You are the Lord and that You have come to be with us and to make all things new. We can’t fix what’s going on in our own hearts let alone what’s going on in the world around us.  Only You can do that.  And so we ask today:

Lord God All-Powerful, make us strong again!  Smile on us and save us.  Psalm 80:19

Help us to respond to your directive to:

Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good.  Isaiah 1:16

And then in joy to experience what You are describing when You told us:

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:12-14