In the soft glow of early morning light when pastel prayers arise as sighs of sacred trust that we will not walk the day ahead alone, hope springs new and night recedes.  Between the horizons of yesterday and tomorrow, Christ keeps vigil with us through the darkness and the dawn, through the yawning weariness of trying to be strong, in the starkness of our need for light to shine upon the shadows of uncertainty obscuring faithful paths yet unseen.  Knowing that he intercedes for us with groans too deep for words, we rest in him and wait for coral peach where earth meets heaven to reach a brilliant noonday sun unfurling joy where deepest night so recently had been.

“I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me.  O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.  O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.  Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.  For his anger is but for a moment and his favor is for a lifetime.  Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning.’  Psalm 30: 1-5

Joy comes in the morning, at first a gentle coloured wisp where charcoal black had just prevailed, but soon a vibrant flash of orange to climb within our hearts until the glory of our hope in Christ outshines whatever fleeting trial we now face.  Lift up the closed blinds of your spirit to be alert and watchful for the certain dawn of grace coming in his perfect time.   Joy is on its way!

‘Abba Father, you are the one who never slumbers, never turns a blind eye.  You are a silent witness to the tears of servant leaders which have fallen unseen or been buried in the streams of inner cries for help to patiently endure until the morning comes.  You are with us through the watches of the longest hours when all the world’s asleep to that which weighs us down.  You lift our spirits to commune with yours in the sweetness of whispered prayer which speaks about the servant way, surrender and serenity in you.   

Lord, for each one who waits for rays of renewal to break through the pane of a disheartened soul seeking the announcement of a new day, give a glimpse in the greyness of grave concerns that even the dark is as light to you.  In the midst of ministries strewn with hurtful schemes and themes of ungodly agendas tucked away in shadows to trip us up, allow the morning light of your presence to creep above the nighttime of our fear declaring joy in your great name which shines above it all.     Amen.’      

Come, let him wash you in the light of his love.