Tag Archives: prayers at night

Darkness, deepening and dazzling

May the darkness of night deepen and dazzle

Not exactly what I think of when I think of the darkness of night. Over the years, it’s been cursing the darkness as a fearful child or as an adult seeing darkness as only the absence of light (an annoyance as I think of all I didn’t get done today). What a different thought to go off to sleep with: that tonight I may be deepened and dazzled. Cotter’s poetic imaging creates for me a new response to the night. He takes the oft used verse from the psalmist, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24), and makes it into a night made by God. Let us be deepened and dazzled in it. Now I can praise God for the night as well as the day. That’s pretty great! The light of the world still shines through the darkness, deepening and dazzling.

This blessing lacks only one word: Amen.

Offered by Bill Albritton, teacher of the gospel.

Friend and Lover, bless us and keep us; Light of the world, shine on our faces; Transfigured Yeshua, lift us to glory. May the darkness of night deepen and dazzle.
Prayer at Night’s Approaching,

Jim Cotter (Morehouse Publishing, 1998)

Lift us to glory

Transfigured Yeshua, lift us to glory…

(Offered by Bill Albritton, pray-er and child of God)

A few weeks back the Church celebrated the Transfiguration. In the last writing, we pondered the Light of the world. I often think of Peter’s reaction to the event up on that high mountain (most scholars assume Mount Hermon here which reaches  a height of some 9,000 feet—rarefied air for a rarefied event). He so reminds me of me, always feeling that he has to do something or say something even though he has no concept of the appropriateness of his words or actions. Peter wants to memorialize the moment but Jesus must move on. No time to dilly dally—the cross awaits. The Voice in the cloud tells Peter, James and John in that mountain top experience to “listen to him!”— “Peter (me), stop talking about things you know nothing of and listen to Jesus.” If we do this we will catch a glimpse of glory, indeed. Tonight may I take a moment to listen to Transfigured Yeshua, experience the attendant glory of that moment, and fall asleep in his arms, blessed and kept.

Friend and Lover, bless us and keep us; Light of the world, shine on our faces; Transfigured Yeshua, lift us to glory. May the darkness of night deepen and dazzle.

Prayer at Night’s Approaching, Jim Cotter (Morehouse Publishing, 1998)

 

 

Light of the World

Light of the world, shine on our faces…

Just yesterday I was reading Psalm 80, which repeatedly cries out: “Restore us, O God, let your face shine, that we may be saved.” I participated in a week-long Outward Bound type team building event years ago. At the end of the week, I walked into the instructor’s lunchroom to talk with the instructor: there was a glow that surrounded him. His face was shining!I believe in haloes now.

We read in the prologue of John’s gospel that the Word came to life, and that “the life was the light of all people” (John 1:4), and that darkness does not win. How great is THAT?!

And so we pray to our Friend for blessings and safety and ask that we go to our sleep aglow with the Light that transforms and saves us.

Friend and Lover, bless us and keep us; Light of the world, shine on our faces; Transfigured Yeshua, lift us to glory. May the darkness of night deepen and dazzle.

(Prayer at Night’s Approaching, Jim Cotter, Morehouse Publishing, 1998)

Bless Us and Keep Us

Friend and Lover, bless us and keep us; Light of the world, shine on our faces; Transfigured Yeshua, lift us to glory. May the darkness of night deepen and dazzle.

Prayer at Night’s Approaching, Jim Cotter

An old friend gets annoyed if anyone says “bless you” when she sneezes, much less “God bless you.” Sure, it’s archaic, but I love it when someone blesses me. For God to bless and keep me – well, as they say, it doesn’t get any better than that. And when I can sing with the Psalmist, “Bless the Lord, O my soul!”; when I can lift up my voice and magnify the Lord; when I can praise God, I can only do so because God is blessing and keeping me. So here we are asking our Friend and Lover to bless us and keep us as we get ready to retire – what a privilege, what a Friend what a blessing, indeed!

Offered by Bill Albritton, child of God

Friend and Lover

Friend and Lover, bless us and keep us; Light of the world, shine on our faces; Transfigured Yeshua, lift us to glory. May the darkness of night deepen and dazzle.

(Prayer at Night’s Approaching, Jim Cotter, Morehouse, 1998)

Offered by Bill Albritton – teacher in faith, prayer leader, child of God.

Today when we are asked to “like” or “friend” someone or something, it implies a contact on some social networking website. We throw the word “friend” around rather loosely. Friend also can mean one who gives financial or other types of support to an organization – as in “Join the Friends of the Wareham Free Library.” (I had to put that in for Johnna’s sake!) But not here. No social network or money is required with this Friend.

I grew up (to the extent I ever have) singing “What a friend we have in Jesus,” as have many others. The lyrics still stir me deeply (sing along if you wish):

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer

O what peace we often forfeit, o what needless pain we bear

All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer

(Charles Crozat Converse, Music; Joseph Scriven, Lyrics)

As I think about these words, I am transformed – from it being all about me, to it being all about my Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. This Friend is also a Lover, both of which imply a mutual bond – although one definition of a true friend is “one who gives without expectation of receiving.” God’s friendship and love are without expectation. Yet when I truly believe this, how can I help but give back?

Love and Glory

(Awaken me in due time that I may glorify you)

for you alone are good and love all people

God’s ability to love all people? It’s not what comes to mind when I think about glory. It isn’t cosmic in scope, like the universe; it isn’t something I can hold in my hand, like a flower or butterfly. It has no color or shape; I won’t run into it when I come around a corner. It’s as real as anything and everything, but I don’t spend much time looking for it or thinking about it. I doubt I’ve ever glorified God because of it. What a sad commentary on the state of my soul.

I don’t love everyone, and I don’t love every particle of God’s creation. I am indifferent to multitudes of people I’ve never met (and never will meet), and there are individuals I really don’t like. My heart and soul are too small and I am too selfish to love everyone. Maybe that’s why I haven’t put glorifying God and loving all people together.

Goodness, divine and human, is about loving all people. It isn’t a moral achievement earned by giving up drinking or swearing, and it can’t be bought for any price. It isn’t an individual talent or solo activity. It’s in the space between me and every other person, every other thing, in this world. I may never be able to love all people, but I can certainly love more of them than I do right now. Every day, every minute, offers me the chance to glorify God by loving others. What a wonderful truth to sleep on.

In due time

Awaken me in due time that I may glorify you…

In the last few years, it’s made daytime television, lifestyle magazines, and Sunday paper science sections: Americans aren’t getting enough good sleep. Too many late nights and early mornings, too much screen time, inconsistent mealtimes, too few days off and not enough exercise. Sadly, it isn’t just adults who suffer from lack of sleep; many children don’t get enough sleep. Whether it’s too many extra-curricular activities, getting dropped off early to a pre-school day program, or just too much homework at night, too many of America’s children are losing precious sleep. For a variety of reasons, the daily patterns of many Americans disrupt their nightly ones.

When I don’t get enough sleep, I lose patience with myself and others. I have little tolerance for even the smallest of inconveniences. I complain more, internally and externally. I don’t appreciate the beauty of the moment, and for all the blessings I’ve been given I’m truly ungrateful. With too little sleep, I get through my day rather than live it. I don’t love my neighbor or myself when I’m exhausted, and I don’t spend much time thinking about God (much less glorifying..).

Awaken me in due time that I may glorify you…such a small phrase, such a wise petition. Sleeping and waking in due time makes of my life something that glorifies God. Losing sleep isn’t gaining anything if my soul gets lost along with it.

A Prayer for Children

Lord Jesus Christ, you received the children who came to you, receive also from the lips of your child this evening prayer. Shelter me under the protection of your wings that I may lie down in peace and sleep. Awaken me in due time that I may glorify you, for you alone are good and love all people.

 

From Daily Prayers for Orthodox Christians (N. Michael Vaporis, ed.; Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek School of Theology, trans; Brookline, Massachusetts: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1986, 2010 reprint), p. 19

Shelter, Peace, Sleep

Shelter me under the protection of your wings that I may lie down in peace and sleep.

May I lie down in peace, Lord Jesus. It’s time to give the day back to you. If I hold onto the day, I’ll keep its problems and joys, and they will keep me up. Tomorrow isn’t here yet and today is gone. It’s in this in-between place that I will find peace.

May I sleep, Lord Jesus. It isn’t just the day’s events that keep me up; sometimes it’s scary dreams or monsters hiding under the bed and in the closet. Let me close my eyes and sleep, giving you my unconscious fears. What I imagine in the dark can be so much worse than what is there.

Shelter me under the protection of your wings, Lord Jesus. The world is so big and I am so small. Keep me safe at your side. Keep me so close that all I see and feel is you. Amen

A Prayer for Children

Lord Jesus Christ, you received the children who came to you, receive also from the lips of your child this evening prayer. Shelter me under the protection of your wings that I may lie down in peace and sleep. Awaken me in due time that I may glorify you, for you alone are good and love all people.

Prayer from Daily Prayers for Orthodox Christians (N. Michael Vaporis, ed.; Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek School of Theology, trans; Brookline, Massachusetts: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1986, 2010 reprint), pp. 19, 23 See “Prayers At Night” for more in this series.

Accepting Children

Lord Jesus Christ, you received the children who came to you, receive also from the lips of your child this evening prayer.

She came skipping up to me in front of the musical staircase yesterday, an almost two year old girl in sparkly ruby slippers. Brown hair, big smile, holding a neon green cup.

“I can count! See the six over there?” Numbers and letters were flashing on the Museum of Science’s electronic events board. This little girl was certain I’d love to be part of her world, sixes and all. And she was right. It’s a miracle to be included in a child’s life, even in such a glancing way. A few words, a little dance, an offer to share her water was what she brought; through these things she gave herself.

A few minutes after she came, the little girl skipped away. She headed off to the Discovery Center with her mother while I climbed the stairs with my husband and a couple of teenagers.

How did that little girl know I’d listen, accepting her words, her world, her? One of the gifts of toddlerhood is the sure ability to know the difference between those who welcome them and those who pretend to.

Prayer is the same. Children come to Jesus because they know Jesus welcomes them. Their words are acceptable to him because they are acceptable to him. It’s too bad such an obvious and holy truth is often lost with the baby teeth.

Lord Jesus Christ

A few years back, a dear friend’s son almost died in car wreck. Teenage inexperience, late night darkness, and a bad intersection came together to mangle the car and injure a brain. The late night call from police, an ambulance driver’s choice to take the boy to a bigger hospital rather than the small one around the corner, his parents joined by church youth and adults to keep vigil in the waiting room came together to throw a lifeline to a boy who should have died but didn’t.

When we next saw our friend, he talked about the prayers that were said for his son. The adults prayed for strength, comfort, and – if it be thy will, O God – healing. There was a lot of hedging, not wanting to ask what was most desperately wanted: life instead of an early death.

The teens took a different approach. Gathered in the waiting room and around his bed, they asked for what they wanted: life for their friend. There was no hedging, just explicit requests. With a life on the line, they gave Jesus no wiggle room and no escape route. Either the prayers were answered with a yes, or they were answered with a no. It’s what was on the hearts of everyone, and the youth owned up to it directly.

There are many reasons why those of us with more than a few years of life pray without specifics; God’s presence and love cannot be reduced to one particular outcome, a larger perspective can let go of particulars, a willingness to cling to God no matter the outcome. But it may just be a lack of courage – hiding true wants in the hope that we won’t lose a child and faith all at once. And so we pray God, Lord Our God, Maker of the Universe, titles and impersonal addresses that in our distress allow us to keep our distance from the God who created us.

Children at prayer talk to the God they know – Jesus who welcomes children and feeds the hungry: the baby who was born in a barn, the boy who got left behind on a family trip, and the man who touched people when they needed help. They pray Lord Jesus Christ.

After five decades of life, I pray to Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit. No longer limited to one or the other (or the third), and fast losing a preference for one over the other two. I’m also trying to pray what’s on my heart rather than what I think I should pray. Letting Go and Holding Fast at the same time…

A Prayer for Children

Lord Jesus Christ, you received the children who came to you, receive also from the lips of your child this evening prayer. Shelter me under the protection of your wings that I may lie down in peace and sleep. Awaken me in due time that I may glorify you, for you alone are good and love all people.

A Prayer for Adults

Lord our God, whatever sins I have committed this day, in word, deed or thought, forgive me, for you are good and love all people. Grant me a peaceful and undisturbed sleep. Protect me from every abuse and plot of the evil one. Raise me up in due time that I may glorify you, for you are blessed, together with your only begotten Son, and your all holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

when ready for sleep, say:

Under the protection of your wings I shall be covered and fall asleep, for in you only, Lord, does my hope lie.

All Prayers are from Daily Prayers for Orthodox Christians (N. Michael Vaporis, ed.; Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek School of Theology, trans; Brookline, Massachusetts: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1986, 2010 reprint), pp. 19, 23