7 January, 2021
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Isaiah 60:1–3
Glorious and Mighty God of Light and of Truth, we are infinitely grateful for your dispensing of your grace upon us all and eternally thankful to belong to the elect, those who can declare that they are children of God. The whole earth had been enveloped in a deep, impenetrable blanket of the darkness of ignorance and unbelief. It was mankind’s transgressions that held them captive, their iniquities that chained them to the dark world of sin and death of Satan’s rule.
And then, after long years of waiting for the Messiah, foretold by the prophets, the presence of God appeared, in glory and majesty, in brilliance and splendor, when you put your plan of redemption into action and the whole world was lit up and blinded, by the pure radiance of your love, in the form of Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer. His light and glory dawned upon Jerusalem, like a blazing sun, revealing the full glory of the Lord and bathing the earth in his full light.
Father, you blessed all who believed in him whom you sent, with the light of your countenance, a face-to-face encounter with the glory of the Father, through the son, Jesus Christ. God of gods, author of our salvation, with you at the centre of our lives, with your Spirit dwelling in our hearts, we live and move and breathe in you and for you, holding strongly onto our faith as a means of remaining steady and staunch, following your light, your path and your will, all for the glory and exaltation of your name, Father, to gain eternal righteousness and salvation and reside in your presence, through Jesus our Lord. Amen