“I give thanks to You my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ Your dear Son that You have graciously protected me today, and I ask You to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously protect me tonight. For into Your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let Your Holy Angel be with me so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
As I was typing the above “Luther’s Evening Prayer” I didn’t notice that my key fingers were set off just one space. I kept my head down and copied the page, only to look up and see where I had gone wrong. The opening looked like this, U DUCW RGbja nt GWcwbkt /fRGW ERGEIYFG HWAYA /XGEUAR TIYE SWe /aibm… I always expect the Spell Check to cover my back, but this time I was asking too much.
Isn’t that how it is with life? If we are just one degree off in our trajectory, we can end up going in a direction we never intended. Each day sets up obstacles through which we must maneuver, but if we stumble just a bit, it throws off our whole path. Those obstacles are sin, and the path is the will of God that sees us through. How important, then, it becomes that we get guidance before moving forward. Petitioning God in prayer does just that.
Often we can carry our daily stumbles into the night of sleep. When we set ourselves off with prayer each morning, we ask that God direct our way. In doing so, we make for a more peaceful night, knowing that the God Who kept us safe this day, despite our failings, will also be with us throughout the night.
Sin is often referred to as “night” in the Bible, a period of not only of physical darkness, but most especially, spiritual darkness. Death is often referred to as an eternal sleep, a nightmare of which we do not awake. On the other hand, forgiveness is referred to as “light” and “day”, the time when we see clearly. When we call on the Lord of Light to guide our way during the day, we are assured that He will do so even through the night, and lead us to life!
Know that you are loved!
Peace and Joy,
OARIE JUKUb