Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC
Sunday, December 4, Second Sunday of Advent
By Rev. Catherine Nance, Senior Pastor
Seeing God at Night
Read: Psalm 92:2 KJV
“To shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night …”
It is good to give thanks to the Lord … to declare your steadfast love in the morning and your faithfulness by night!
There are startling moments for us when we stretch, yawn, look out the window and say, “Whew! I’m ready for bed! What time is it?” The dark sky and the cooler temperature coax us into thinking it is time to get under the covers.
Yawn. Look at the clock. Oh my goodness! It’s just … too-early-for-bed o’clock!
We want to sleep; we thought we were tired. But we have two or three more hours until our regular bedtime! What to do with all this extra time?
Instead of cursing the darkness, we can see it as a gift. Instead of scrolling through social media or flipping through channels, put on a coat and go outside. Turn off the outside lights. Look up at the sky. Remember what you learned in school about the stars always being ‘out,’ just not always visible. Think about the phases of the moon, say the names of the planets aloud. Perhaps breathe in a little deeper and do your stretching outside. As you wait for bedtime, be thankful for the darkness. Creation began in darkness for the first words of Creation were, “Let there be light.” What was Mother God imagining and thinking before birthing creation? What was Father God hoping and dreaming before speaking light? Give thanks for the darkness and take the extra time to draw near to the One who is Drawing Near to us!
Come, Lord Jesus!
Prayer
O God of the Darkness, may our imaginations and hearts think of your presence even when we cannot see. Thank you for nighttime rest and for nighttime meditations. Amen.
