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New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

"A Liturgy for Morning Prayer," Upper Room Worshipbook

Used by permission from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved. This prayer appears in “A Liturgy for Morning Prayer” in Upper Room Worshipbook.

Today’s Reflection

DARKNESS resides around and within us. We experience different kinds of darkness: the darkness of intense pain and suffering, the darkness of loneliness and grief, the darkness of evil and sin, and most especially the darkness of death itself. Being overwhelmed by darkness can cause difficulty, confusion, and pain.
Christ enters the darkness of our world as the light. His life both echoes and fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (9:2). Right up to the present moment, the radiant light of Christ continues to shine among us.
When we follow Christ, his light penetrates our darkness. It illuminates our lives with his direction, delivers us from dark powers, and empowers us to live fuller and freer lives. Indeed, we become children of light in a darkened world!

—Trevor Hudson
Pauses for Lent: 40 Words for 40 Days

From page 19 of Pauses for Lent: 40 Words for 40 Days by Trevor Hudson. Copyright © 2015 by The Upper Room. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

What are the dark areas of your life? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “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, NRSV

Prayer for the Week

Create in me a clean heart, O God.

Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.

Did You Know?

On March 1, 2019, the World Day of Prayer, join staff of The Upper Room in responding to prayer requests submitted on The Upper Room Prayer Wall. Click here to learn more about the event.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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10 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted February 21, 2019 6:54 am

    Not quite back to my normal routine, but I’m here earlier than I have been.
    The computer problem is not quite resolved, getting the keyboard connected to the computer without a wire is the issue.

    Yes, there are dark spots in all of our lives. Thankfully God sees and knows them and when we acknowledge them, we can be and are forgiven. Thank You, Lord.

  • Andrea Posted February 21, 2019 7:58 am

    I am thankful that Jesus penetrates all the darkness in our lives, in so many ways, and a big one is right here in the UR circle of prayer warriors. I think back to difficult challenges in my life, and how my faith in Jesus brought me through each one. Getting older is a big challenge, and I am thankful for all the previous challenges, because I know Jesus will get Lowell and me through this one too. Have trust and faith in Jesus, and in our God, to be with us every step in the way.

    Blessings today, and prayers for my dear UR friends and those for whom you pray.

    We got 12 inches of snow yesterday and broke the all-time snow accumulation record for February here in Minnesota. It is a beautiful white paradise outside but, for many, dangerous. May all be safe on the roads and sidewalks, may all have the provisions they need for staying safe.

  • Julie Posted February 21, 2019 8:07 am

    My darkness swirls around my pain and my home situation. I have both the physical pain of the Reynaud’s and emotional pain from so many different aspects of my life. Have thought of counselling to address this.
    Prayers for Robert and may his computer issues be soon resolved. Prayers for Erich and his continued emplyment. Prayers for Anneliese, may the MRI lead to better treatments.
    Prayers for Connie. The sun is trying to shine through the clouds here. May you also be seeing the sun shine through the clouds in the sky and may they shine through the clouds in your heart to warm and brighten your soul today.
    Prayers for Edy and Bill, may he soon receive the surgery and may it be completely successful.
    Prayers for Andrea and Lowell and their continued recovery.
    Prayers for Mary and her family, may she shine brightly to all of them as she shines for us.
    Prayers for Betsy and her family as they continue to revel in the light of a new grandchild.
    Pryaers for lou and her family, may light dispel her lingering loneliness.
    Prayers for Jill and her family. I pray some light shines through these dark days bringing peace and love.
    Prayers for Marcy, may she and Lucy shine bright for one another.
    Prayers and blessings and warm hugs for all the UR family. Thank you for your prayers and warm missives for Megan. I am blessed.

    • Connie Posted February 21, 2019 8:34 am

      Thank you, Julie. God bless your kind heart.

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted February 21, 2019 8:31 am

    Thank you Julie for all your prayers!

    It is a joy to hear that you are so blessed by your daughter. I’m so happy for you.

    Thank you God for Christ’s light that penetrates our darkness.

    May God bless Bill with a successful surgery and a speedy recovery!

    Blessings to all!

  • Jill Posted February 21, 2019 8:39 am

    Good morning. Yes, there is darkness – I feel enveloped by it today. I did not go to school yesterday and spent the day at my folks’. Physically, mom is resting better and longer – but when she is awake, she is impatient, terse, difficult. Dad takes it much better than I. She isn’t really this way with me – but with him. I sit in the other room and here her impatience and abruptness, and quite frankly, it eats me up at times. Today I am struggling with all I took in yesterday. But – I do know it doesn’t impact dad as much as it impacts me. His spirit is so strong and he is so positive. I think he takes her feistiness as there still being life inside her, kicking.
    I talk to God about this a lot and trust He will work in me that I will be able to take in the environment and still be able to love mom. I am physically weary, but trusting Him to sustain me each day.
    I thank you for your prayers and carry your pleas to the throne as well.

    • Jim Ligon Posted February 25, 2019 10:43 pm

      Jill, I have continued to pray for you and your family. Cherish the time that remains with your mother and father. Spend time discussing family history and traditions. Life is a continuous journey. God never promises that the Journey will be easy. God only promises that He will accompany us on the journey. My prayer for you specifically is that you will experience His presence on the journey. I have walked the path you are on with both my parents. While there were some difficult days, I would not change a thing about our time together. May God bless you and Larry during the days ahead and provide strength in sufficient measure for each moment.

  • Connie Posted February 21, 2019 8:41 am

    The dark spot in my life is that I don’t/am not able to socialize like I used to be able to do. I think that will resolve itself in the future….I am hopeful.
    Thankful for:
    The sunshine and perhaps a break in the weather soon.
    The ice that was cleared is baaaaack! But thankful that it is not so thick!
    All the support that I get from the UR programs.
    “Pass me not oh gentle Savior”

    • April Posted February 21, 2019 10:31 am

      “Hear my humble cry” singing (socializing?) with you and the choir as I watch the snow coming down. It is so white and bright. Prayers for all this day that the light of Christ will shine upon us.

  • Rev Custis Posted February 21, 2019 9:06 am

    The darkness of depression and loneliness can be debilitating at times. But I Thank God I know that He is with me, He promised never to leave me and reminds me to hold on to His inner light within me. I am not afraid of the dark it’s in the darkness I find HOPE!!!!

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