"I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning." (Psalm 130:5-6).
Father, as the watchman waits for the morning to come, so too we look to the dawning of your mercy. Our sins make us feel like the lonely watchman, who is awake while others sleep, who is outside while others are safely indoors, who is cold while others are snuggled up in their warm beds, who is growing weary while others are resting, who lives in darkness while others live in the light. We pray: Lord, have mercy on us in our misery. Forgive us our sins and restore us. Restore us to the day, to the light, to the warmth, to fellowship with others, and most of all, Lord, to fellowship with you.
Jesus, as the watchman waits for the sun to return to the sky, so too we wait for you to return, coming from the sky and establishing your kingdom here on earth. We long for the day depicted in Revelation when the golden city shall descend from the clouds, resting here on earth, so that heaven and earth are made one and united forever (Revelation 21:1-5). We long for the day when your dwelling place, O God, will be with your people, and not in some other realm. Speed the day, Lord, when you shall return and make all things new.
Holy Spirit, as the watchman waits for the new day to bring relief of his duties, and the blessings of light and warmth, so too we look to you for your provision. We need your mercies, which are fresh and new and available for us every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). We need you to be at work within us, bearing the fruit of the Spirit within us (Galatians 5:22-23). We long for the day when our work will be over, and we enter your rest (Hebrews 4:9-10). We long for the day when our stony, sinful hearts will be removed, and we will be given soft, tender hearts of flesh, that will fully yield to the impulses of the Holy Spirit at work within us and will fully follow your laws of love (Ezekiel 36:26).
Lord, because of all your promises, we are filled with hope. In Jesus' name, amen.
