Hope That Interrupts Our Darkness - Your Nightly Prayer - December 16th

Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

Your Nightly Prayer

Hope That Interrupts Our Darkness
Your Nightly Prayer
By Sophia Bricker 

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE 

"Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace." - Luke 1:78-79, NLT

SOMETHING TO PONDER 

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is not what most people would classify as a typical Christmas song. The dirge-like sound of the music and chanting lyrics seems oddly somber compared to the twinkly bell music of other carols and the imagery of reindeer and Santa Claus. Yet, this beautifully haunting hymn drawn from the ancient “O Antiphons” encapsulates the good news of Christmas.  

Scripture contains a similar song, one that Zechariah sang about his son, John, and the prophetic role he would play in preparing the way for the coming of the Lord. The Messiah is the rising sun (NIV) or morning light (NLT) mentioned by Zechariah, who would bring light to those in darkness. For He is the Light of the World, the one who brings people out of the kingdom of darkness into a better and everlasting kingdom (see John 8:12 and Colossians 1:13). As reflected in a line of the traditional Christmas hymn that references Jesus’ fulfillment of Isaiah 9:2: “O come, O Bright and Morning Star, / and bring us comfort from afar! / Dispel the shadows of the night / and turn our darkness into light.” 

Jesus came into the world, and the darkness could not overcome Him (John 1:5). To those who are sitting in darkness today––whether from circumstances, illness, or loss––the hope found in Christ brings light. We are not alone. Death will not win. And the Lord is working in our lives to bring about His good purposes, even when we do not understand or perceive His work in times of hardship. This is cause for rejoicing, as the refrain of the old Christmas hymn reminds us. Our Savior, who is God with us, came and is coming again.     

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER 

Thank you, Jesus, for coming into the world to bring us salvation. You are the Light that the darkness cannot overcome, and I trust that You can dispel the shadows in my life. Please shine into the areas of hurt, bringing healing from Your love and reviving my hope. For You are also my living hope, the one who defeated the grave. May I remember that You, Immanuel, are with me no matter what I face. Amen.    

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON 

1. Lighting a candle or switching on a light in a dark room. What does this action make you think of, and how does it make you feel?  

2. A Bible verse that contains a promise that you cherish. This could be a reference to the Lord’s presence (Matthew 28:20), the hope of the coming renewal of all things (Revelation 21:1-4), or the promise of Jesus’ return (Revelation 22:20). How might meditating on this passage provide you with an anchor to hold onto during times of pain or sorrow? 

3. One of the titles for Jesus from the Christmas hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (Immanuel, Wisdom, Lord of might, Branch of Jesse, Key of David, Bright and Morning Star, King of nations). Which title sparks hope in you? In what way could you incorporate it into your prayers this week?    

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/RomoloTavani


Sophia BrickerSophia Bricker is a writer. Her mission is to help others grow in their relationship with Jesus through thoughtful articles, devotionals, and stories. She completed a BA and MA in Christian ministry which included extensive study of the Bible and theology, as well as an MFA in creative writing. You can read her thoughts about literature and faith at The Cross, a Pen, and a Page Substack, or visit the discipleship-based site  Cultivate, where she writes with her sister.


Now that you've prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below!

prayer submit button

 

Salem News Channel Today

Sponsored Links


September 26 - Phoenix, AZ
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts


November 2 - Detroit, MI
Zion Christian Church in Troy


October 6 - Los Angeles, CA
Pasadena Convention Center


November 5 - San Antonio, TX
Norris Centers – The Grand Red Oak Ballroom


October 8 - Sacramento, CA
William Jessup University


November 7 - Tampa, FL
The Palladium at St. Pete College


October 22 - Minneapolis, MN
Crowne Plaza AiRE


November 15 - San Francisco, CA
Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley


October 23 - Philadelphia, PA
Green Valley Country Club


November 16 - Denver, CO
CU South Denver - Formerly Wildlife Experience


November 2 - Chicago, IL
Chicago Westin Northwest in Itasca


November 21 - Cleveland, OH
Holiday Inn Rockside in Independence



Salem Radio Network Speakers

Larry Elder is an American lawyer, writer, and radio and television personality who calls himself the "Sage of South Central" a district of Los Angeles, Larry says his philosophy is to entertain, inform, provoke and to hopefully uplift. His calling card is "we have a country to save" and to him this means returning to the bedrock Constitutional principles of limited government and maximum personal responsibility. Elder's iconoclastic wit and intellectual agility makes him a particularly attractive voice in a nation that seems weary of traditional racial dialogue.” – Los Angeles Times.

Mike Gallagher Mike Gallagher began his broadcasting career in 1978 in Dayton, Ohio. Today, he is one of the most listened-to talk radio show hosts in America, recently having been ranked in the Talkers Magazine “Heavy Hundred” list – the 100 most important talk radio hosts in America. Prior to being launched into national syndication in 1998, Mike hosted the morning show on WABC-AM in New York City. Today, Talkers Magazine reports that his show is heard by over 3.75 million weekly listeners. Besides his radio work, Mike is seen on Fox News Channel as an on-air contributor, frequently appearing on the cable news giant.

Hugh Hewitt is one of the nation’s leading bloggers and a genuine media revolutionary. He brings that expertise, his wit and what The New Yorker magazine calls his “amiable but relentless manner” to his nationally syndicated show each day.

When Dr. Sebastian Gorka was growing up, he listened to talk radio under his pillow with a transistor radio, dreaming that one day he would be behind the microphone. Beginning New Year’s Day 2019, he got his wish. Gorka now hosts America First every weekday afternoon 3 to 6pm ET. Gorka’s unique story works well on the radio. He is national security analyst for the Fox News Channel and author of two books: "Why We Fight" and "Defeating Jihad." His latest book releasing this fall is “War For America’s Soul.” He is uniquely qualified to fight the culture war and stand up for what is great about America, his adopted home country.

Broadcasting from his home station of KRLA in Los Angeles, the Dennis Prager Show is heard across the country. Everything in life – from politics to religion to relationships – is grist for Dennis’ mill. If it’s interesting, if it affects your life, then Dennis will be talking about it – with passion, humor, insight and wisdom.

Sean Hannity is a conservative radio and television host, and one of the original primetime hosts on the Fox News Channel, where he has appeared since 1996. Sean Hannity began his radio career at a college station in California, before moving on to markets in the Southeast and New York. Today, he’s one of the most listened to on-air voices. Hannity’s radio program went into national syndication on September 10, 2001, and airs on more than 500 stations. Talkers Magazine estimates Hannity’s weekly radio audience at 13.5 million. In 1996 he was hired as one of the original hosts on Fox News Channel. As host of several popular Fox programs, Hannity has become the highest-paid news anchor on television.

Michelle Malkin is a mother, wife, blogger, conservative syndicated columnist, longtime cable TV news commentator, and best-selling author of six books. She started her newspaper journalism career at the Los Angeles Daily News in 1992, moved to the Seattle Times in 1995, and has been penning nationally syndicated newspaper columns for Creators Syndicate since 1999. She is founder of conservative Internet start-ups Hot Air and Twitchy.com. Malkin has received numerous awards for her investigative journalism, including the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL) national award for outstanding service for the cause of governmental ethics and leadership (1998), the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award for Investigative Journalism (2006), the Heritage Foundation and Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity's Breitbart Award for Excellence in Journalism (2013), the Center for Immigration Studies' Eugene Katz Award for Excellence in the Coverage of Immigration Award (2016), and the Manhattan Film Festival's Film Heals Award (2018). Married for 26 years and the mother of two teenage children, she lives with her family in Colorado. Follow her at michellemalkin.com. (Photo reprinted with kind permission from Peter Duke Photography.)

Sponsored by:

Hope That Interrupts Our Darkness - Your Nightly Prayer - December 16th

Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

Your Nightly Prayer

Hope That Interrupts Our Darkness
Your Nightly Prayer
By Sophia Bricker 

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE 

"Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace." - Luke 1:78-79, NLT

SOMETHING TO PONDER 

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is not what most people would classify as a typical Christmas song. The dirge-like sound of the music and chanting lyrics seems oddly somber compared to the twinkly bell music of other carols and the imagery of reindeer and Santa Claus. Yet, this beautifully haunting hymn drawn from the ancient “O Antiphons” encapsulates the good news of Christmas.  

Scripture contains a similar song, one that Zechariah sang about his son, John, and the prophetic role he would play in preparing the way for the coming of the Lord. The Messiah is the rising sun (NIV) or morning light (NLT) mentioned by Zechariah, who would bring light to those in darkness. For He is the Light of the World, the one who brings people out of the kingdom of darkness into a better and everlasting kingdom (see John 8:12 and Colossians 1:13). As reflected in a line of the traditional Christmas hymn that references Jesus’ fulfillment of Isaiah 9:2: “O come, O Bright and Morning Star, / and bring us comfort from afar! / Dispel the shadows of the night / and turn our darkness into light.” 

Jesus came into the world, and the darkness could not overcome Him (John 1:5). To those who are sitting in darkness today––whether from circumstances, illness, or loss––the hope found in Christ brings light. We are not alone. Death will not win. And the Lord is working in our lives to bring about His good purposes, even when we do not understand or perceive His work in times of hardship. This is cause for rejoicing, as the refrain of the old Christmas hymn reminds us. Our Savior, who is God with us, came and is coming again.     

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER 

Thank you, Jesus, for coming into the world to bring us salvation. You are the Light that the darkness cannot overcome, and I trust that You can dispel the shadows in my life. Please shine into the areas of hurt, bringing healing from Your love and reviving my hope. For You are also my living hope, the one who defeated the grave. May I remember that You, Immanuel, are with me no matter what I face. Amen.    

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON 

1. Lighting a candle or switching on a light in a dark room. What does this action make you think of, and how does it make you feel?  

2. A Bible verse that contains a promise that you cherish. This could be a reference to the Lord’s presence (Matthew 28:20), the hope of the coming renewal of all things (Revelation 21:1-4), or the promise of Jesus’ return (Revelation 22:20). How might meditating on this passage provide you with an anchor to hold onto during times of pain or sorrow? 

3. One of the titles for Jesus from the Christmas hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (Immanuel, Wisdom, Lord of might, Branch of Jesse, Key of David, Bright and Morning Star, King of nations). Which title sparks hope in you? In what way could you incorporate it into your prayers this week?    

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/RomoloTavani


Sophia BrickerSophia Bricker is a writer. Her mission is to help others grow in their relationship with Jesus through thoughtful articles, devotionals, and stories. She completed a BA and MA in Christian ministry which included extensive study of the Bible and theology, as well as an MFA in creative writing. You can read her thoughts about literature and faith at The Cross, a Pen, and a Page Substack, or visit the discipleship-based site  Cultivate, where she writes with her sister.


Now that you've prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below!

prayer submit button

 

Salem News Channel Today

Sponsored Links

On Air & Up Next

See the Full Program Guide