Feb. 8, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis
During these difficult days, members of the New England Conference Board of Ordained Ministry are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions.
Today’s prayer
Scripture Reading Whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord — who is the Spirit — makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. God said that light should shine out of the darkness. He is the same one who shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:16-18, 4:6 CEB) Glorious God, Bright Morning Star, Light of the World, We ask you to shine your glorious light in all our darkness. Why, O Lord, do we so often try to hide from your healing light? We hide behind the veil of fear. We peak around the veil of doubt only to quickly move back out of sight. We put up curtains of protection to prevent anyone, even you, O Lord, from seeing us, really seeing us. We add thick linings to the veil of our sin to hide our shame, lest you see our pride or self-hatered, our addictions which are idolatry, our prejudices and hypocrisy, our judgment and unforgivness or any other aspect of our brokenness. But God of Glory, you promise, “Whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” We turn to you now, whether for the first time or the thousandth time. We bask in the glory of your Face transfigured before us. We will not turn away, we will no longer hide behind curtains. We will cast those veils aside, we will rip them to shreds. We will no longer cower in fear, but fall into your arms, trusting in you alone. Together, we will gaze into the glory of your love. For through Christ, your “new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold.” Shine in our hearts, Lord, that we might know your glory seen in the face of our Lord, Jesus Christ. May we reflect your light to encourage one another as your church. And let us be mirrors to the world, shining your glorious love into the dark world, so that through us you might lead many others to know your hope, freedom and transformed life as we do. Shine, Jesus Shine. Amen. Sing "Shine, Jesus, Shine" Read the entire Scripture here 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:6
By Rev. Gwyneth Arrison, Bath United Methodist Church, Bath, ME
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