There is a gospel song that some of you may know entitled, “The Lighthouse”. The words seem particularly meaningful for what we are currently facing. We need consistent direction to light our way and Jesus is for us the dependable Lighthouse. In the inspiration of this song we hear, “There’s a Lighthouse on the hillside that overlooks life’s sea. And when I’m tossed, it sends out a light that I might see. And the light that shines in darkness now will safely lead us o’er. If it wasn’t for the Lighthouse, my ship would be no more. Chorus: And I thank God for the Lighthouse. I owe my life to Him. For Jesus is the Lighthouse and from the rocks of sin. He has shone a light around me that I could clearly see. If it wasn’t for the Lighthouse (tell me) Where would this ship be?” In keeping with this image of Jesus shining the light for us to find our way in perilous times, we can also consider this promise of Jesus, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 Clear and reliable direction is so needed and that is what we will focus our prayers on this week. Whether it is the challenge of chaotic circumstances on the world stage or the personal circumstances we ourselves are dealing with, we can pray for God to shine His light and to illumine our journey. Lighthouses are a reminder that when we lose direction in the storms of life, we can see a marker and a light that will guide us to safety. Imagine a crew on a boat trying to navigate on a raging sea. There is great relief when a lighthouse is sighted and the way to find safe passage to shore is revealed. We will continue to pray that in these storms we are encountering, we will look to Jesus, the Lighthouse to bring us to safety. Thank you for your commitment to WEDNESDAY PRAYER TOGETHER. Tomorrow, Wednesday, January 13th at 1 pm, we can set aside time to pray the prayer provided and to come freely to God with our own heartfelt prayers.
Our Dependable God, we look to You for the certainty of Who You are. Thank You that we can trust You completely. Thank you that Your plans for us are good plans. You lead us away from temptation and deliver us from evil. You do not follow the patterns of some human leaders who act out of their own dangerous self interest. We are praying that we will learn wisdom from what we have recently witnessed. We ask You to guard us against the threat of following what is not true. Thank You God that You do provide light in the darkness. Thank You that Jesus is the Light of the world. Help us to keep our focus on Jesus as the Lighthouse to protect us from the rocks of sin. We pray for people in the States now trying to learn from what has occurred and to repair the damage that has been inflicted on the cause of what is right and just and true. Remind us that we too have responsibility in the decisions we make and in the way we live our lives each day. We pray that rather than look at people with disdain and criticism that we will regard them with compassion. We also make mistakes and need to be forgiven. We ask that there would be the humility necessary for those who have shown poor judgment and who have acted irrationally to choose a different course, a positive course. Sometimes our God, we take safety and well being for granted. We have been kept safe because of the light You have shone to guide our way. Thank You that You keep on demonstrating Your love and care for us. We are placing people who have tested positive for COVID in Your loving hands. Our prayers continue for all health care workers and support staff. We also place in Your care residents and staff of Long Term Care and Retirement Homes. In particular, we again lift up to You Maple, Manor in Tillsonburg. We ask for renewed hope in the fight to bring COVID to an end. We pray about the impact COVID is having in our communities. We implore comfort for those who have lost loved ones to this virus. Thank You for those who have recovered from COVID. Thank You for the availability of the vaccine and the promise this holds to work steadily towards widespread immunity. Our God, thank You for the technology that makes online learning possible with schools presently closed. Our prayers are extended for parents trying to support this format while also working from home. We pray for students who are missing their friends. We all have people we are missing being with and we pray that You will preserve and deepen our relationships with those from whom we are isolated. We pray that there will be strong resolve to follow this stay at home order that is being put in place. Please provide courage for all of us in the action needed to terminate this virus. Continue to show us how to serve you and to be your church for these days. As we are listening for You God and being led by Your Light, we want to know what it is to be shown Your way to places of safety and blessing. We do not know how we would manage without You to be our Lighthouse. Lord, please keep on shining the Light for us see and know Jesus and what He has in mind for us. This sincere prayer we bring to You. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.