Fill us with the light of day
‘The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple.” Luke 2:26
As for Anna ‘she never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.’ Luke 2:37
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105
Dark or light, day or night, we have the hope of Christ’s lead.
O God of Light, Father of Life, Giver of Wisdom, Benefactor of our souls, who givest to the fainthearted who put their trust in Thee those things into which the angels desire to look; O Sovereign Lord, who hast brought us up from the depths of darkness to light, who hast given us life from death, who hast graciously bestowed upon us freedom from slavery, and who hast scattered the darkness of sin within us, do Thou now also enlighten the eyes of our understanding, and sanctify us wholly in soul, body, and spirit. Amen. —Liturgy of St. Mark, the third Century
Last year a heavy snow closed the passes and I was unable to travel to my Gram’s bedside that day. I had prayed for guidence she had fallen and broken her hip. I was at a conference staying in a bed and breakfast in the middle of a university district. Snow was falling heavy for days. It occured to me to take action on my faith that God would pour out his Spirit and send revival. So in faith I packed my stuff up and although I had reserved and paid for another night at the bed and breakfast I told God if he wanted me to labor, pray, worship all night I would. The meeting was powerful and went near midnight however just as we all gathered to pray the Spokane Convention Center asked us not to occupy the building overnight. So just past midnight I returned to the bed and breakfast. I carried my suitcase back in. I surrendered to God’s will. When I walked in two guests orignally from China were eating a late night meal in the dinning room. Wind was her name and his Jordan. Yes those were their names. I made a comment hey like Air Jordans. They asked me what I was doing and who I was. I told them I work for the Lord and I was beginning a ministry circut of traveling to pray for the sick from home to home. Our conversation illuminated with the light of God. The room seemed holy. And I was able to share the gospel, how Jesus went about doing good and healing while it occured to me, to ask them if they need prayer. They did. After prayer Jordan said, “I have heard about God, but until now he has never approached me.”
What a glory filled night we shared. Later as I tried to sleep, I heard banging on the main door downstairs and what sounded like drunk homeless yelling. I prayed for our safety. The Lord kept us safe and in the morning I headed west on I-90 to cross the mountians. Over the hills and through the wood, to have my last few weeks with Gram.
Guidence is our request, pray for God to lead you, fearlessly towards his will, through the dark, and the delays. The Lord will illuminate the days ahead and each decision. Father send the Holy Spirit to lead us as you did Simeon and Anna.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” Ps. 27:1 NIV
If I were to say, “Certainly the darkness will cover me, and the light will turn to night all around me,” even the darkness is not too dark for you to see, and the night is as bright as day; darkness and light are the same to you. Ps. 139:11-12 NET
Shine into our hearts, O loving Master, by the pure light of the knowledge of Thyself, and open the eyes of our mind to the contemplation of Thy teaching, and put into us the fear of Thy blessed commandments; that trampling down all that is worldly, we may follow a spiritual life, thinking and doing all things according to Thy good pleasure. For Thou art our sanctification, and our illumination, and to Thee we render glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.—Eastern Church Liturgy.
A good article on Simeon.
