SCRIPTURE FOCUS
Isaiah 60:1-3 - Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
PRAYER FOCUS
Isaiah prophesied that darkness will cover the earth and gross darkness the people. We certainly can see the truth of that in our nation and world today. Jesus is the light that Isaiah described, and Jesus, in turn, tells us about ourselves, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven”(Matthew 5:14-16).
So, yes, there is darkness, thick darkness, in the world today. However, this darkness will be overcome by light. In a completely dark room, the tiny light of one small match will dispel the darkness. Also, instinctively, all eyes would be drawn to that one point of light. The answer to the darkness in the world is the One who is the Light of the world –Jesus.
RESPONSE
Let’s concentrate our prayer today in three areas. First, let’s pray that we would not be discouraged or overwhelmed by the darkness in the world. Also, let’s pray that we would not hide our lights under a basket but be lights in this world by allowing the light that Jesus is to be in us. Finally, let’s pray for others around us that they would allow the light of Jesus to invade them and shine in the places where they are.