1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 2: Thank you for listening to your daily prayer, a podcast 3 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:19,639 Speaker 2: dedicanda to helping you find the words you need to 4 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:20,479 Speaker 2: connect with your. 5 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: Father in Heaven. 6 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:23,759 Speaker 2: No matter what is going on in your life today, 7 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 2: you can trust that God wants to hear from you. 8 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: Read after this short word from. 9 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 2: Our sponsor, people pray through today's prayer for dark winter 10 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 2: mornings together. A Prayer for dark winter Mornings written Belinette Kittel, 11 00:00:57,320 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 2: read by Kerrie Ikeberger. 12 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: When Jesus spoke. 13 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,960 Speaker 2: Again to the people, he said, I am the light 14 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:09,400 Speaker 2: of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, 15 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:11,959 Speaker 2: but will have the light of life. 16 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: John eight, verse twelve. 17 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 2: Dark winter mornings can feel especially cold, quiet, and slow 18 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 2: to wake. The darkness seems to hang on as long 19 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 2: as it can, and without warm nearby a fire, a 20 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 2: cozy chair, or a thick blanket, it can feel unsettling. 21 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 2: In moments like that, it's easy to remember how deeply 22 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 2: we need light. But darkness doesn't last one day. It 23 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 2: won't exist at all. God's plan is to remove it forever, 24 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 2: which is why, as His children, we naturally resist the dark. 25 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:56,919 Speaker 2: It isn't part of our future revelation twenty two five 26 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 2: promises this hope there will be no more night, for 27 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 2: the Lord God will give them light and they will 28 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 2: rain forever and ever. 29 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:08,919 Speaker 1: Unlike the classic Simon. 30 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 2: And garth uncle lyric, Hello Darkness, my old friend, Darkness 31 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 2: is not our friend. 32 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 1: It never has been. 33 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:21,919 Speaker 2: For everyone, but especially for Christians, darkness isn't something to welcome. 34 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 2: That's one reason dark winter mornings can feel extra challenging for. 35 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: Those of us who love the light. 36 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 2: If we aren't paying attention, those dim mornings can start 37 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:38,080 Speaker 2: to weigh on us. Winter darkness has a quiet way 38 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 2: of trying to pull us down, draining our joy, dulling 39 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 2: our hope, and condensing us to settle into the shadows. 40 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 2: But darkness has no real power over us because we 41 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 2: belong to the light. Ephesian spy verse eight through ten 42 00:02:55,600 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 2: reminds us, for you were once darkness, but now you 43 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 2: are light in the Lord. 44 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 1: Live as children of light. 45 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 2: We are called to live in goodness, righteousness, and truth, 46 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 2: and to seek what pleases God first. The Salonians five 47 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 2: verse five reassures us that you were all children of 48 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 2: the light and children of the day. We do not 49 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 2: belong to the night or to the darkness. Darkness always 50 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 2: tries to spread and hide, holding back the light that 51 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 2: exposes what's been married. That's why Phesians five eleven urges 52 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 2: us have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, 53 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 2: but rather expose them. Even though darkness can feel overwhelming, 54 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 2: it's actually weak. 55 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 1: When light shows up. 56 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 2: Darkness has no choice but to flee and retreat when 57 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 2: the light comes. Think about bringing a single candle into 58 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 2: a dark room. The darkness can't put out that flame. 59 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 2: It can only shrink back as the light spreads. John one, 60 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 2: verse five puts it perfectly. The light shines and the darkness, 61 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 2: and the darkness has not overcome it. The apostle Paul 62 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 2: also reminds us in Romans thirteen twelve that light doesn't 63 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 2: just guide us, but also protects us. The night is 64 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 2: nearly over, the day is almost here, So let us 65 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 2: put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the 66 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 2: armor of light. So when it comes to dark winter mornings, 67 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 2: the light we carry within us, along with the lights 68 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 2: we turn on, chases away the darkness, so we can 69 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:40,479 Speaker 2: ask in the light of the Lord. As first John 70 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 2: one five says, God is light in him, there is 71 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:48,720 Speaker 2: no darkness at all, and so one thirty nine twelve. 72 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:50,359 Speaker 1: Gives us even more comfort. 73 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 2: Even the darkness will not be dark to you, for 74 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:56,839 Speaker 2: darkness is as light to you. 75 00:04:57,800 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 1: Let's pray. 76 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 2: We praise you as you are light, and there is 77 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 2: no darkness in you. Our hearts are filled with gratitude 78 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 2: for your light that shines brightly within and through us, 79 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 2: dispelling the darkness in the world that tries to draw 80 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 2: us in and overtake us. But we have Jesus, the 81 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 2: Light of the world, who has called us to be 82 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 2: your children of light, filling us and covering us with 83 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 2: the armor of your light. Light our ways each day, 84 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 2: and help us to bask in your light through the 85 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 2: dark winter mornings. Fill our hearts and lips with joyful 86 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 2: praises of the truth that darkness cannot overcome us or 87 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 2: the world because of your light. 88 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, Amen. 89 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:00,160 Speaker 2: Your Daily Prayer is a production of Life Audio and 90 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 2: Sale Media. If you haven't already, be sure to follow 91 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 2: the show on your favorite podcast app so you never 92 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 2: missed an episode. For more faithful inspirational podcasts, visit us 93 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 2: at lifeaudio dot com.