February 2014 Prayer Column - A street light

Bradford North Prayer Column:  February 2014

A Streetlight

A streetlight has failed outside our house.  I’ve told the council, and no doubt they’ll get round to fixing it.  Meanwhile nights retreat a few minutes each day, promising the welcome return of spring and summer.  How important light is in our lives, both physically and in other ways: when things come together suddenly, it’s like a flash of light as we grasp what we couldn’t see; when difficulties look like being resolved, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.  When Jesus came to earth, his life was the light that shines for all (Jn 1:4,9), heralding an end to dismal nights of moral blindness and bringing hope.  And hope remains, besides love (which also came down at Christmas – H&P 105), and faith in Jesus as the light of the world.

·      Hope in what he did: defeating death and disarming dark powers

·      Hope because of Easter, when he rose to new life that never ends

·      Hope based on his words, the safe rock we can build on securely

·      Hope in the teeth of contrary winds and undimmed by dark clouds

·      Hope shining like a beacon, or a candle, or a streetlight

And prayer is part of all that.  Thanks to Christmas and Easter we have access into the very presence of God, where we can present our requests for the fulfilment of all the Lord’s promises, and the extension of his kingdom of light, illuminating our own lives and reaching further afield – to others as yet without the clear light of Jesus.

Roy Lorrain-Smith 

A prayer for each week

Lamplighter Lord, kindling a spark of hope in all who trust themselves to you, through Jesus, please make your word a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, that we may step safely as we follow wherever you lead.  Amen.

Lord of the true light, providing each of us with a hands-free head-torch in the Holy Spirit, please prompt us to switch it on in the dusk, and heed the Spirit’s shining into every dark corner we come to on our journey.  Amen.

Lord of the path, the track, the road and the motorway (not to mention shipping lanes and airways), please guide us safely at every turn and junction, responding wisely to your flashing indicators and warning lights.  Amen.

Everlasting Lord of the unputoutable light, which casts no shadow and leaves no crevice unsearched, please light up our lives with your hope, fan into flame our embers of love, and refine our faith into glowing gold.  Amen.

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