How to Pray When Daylight Flees

A Prayer for the Advancing Darkness of this Season

In all the pumpkin-spice-fueled hype about fall, there’s one detail the ad gurus carefully omit. And although autumn is my favorite season, that one detail is hard to overlook. I’m referring to the shorter days, the waning daylight.

Here on the outer reaches of the Eastern Time Zone, it happens fast, and, hardy souls that we are, we make the best of it with cozy suppers and candle-lit evenings.
Afghans and shawls.
Window candles and bowls of soup.
Steaming mugs of tea, music from Handel’s Messiah, a nice long book, and warm slippers.

However, there’s no finessing the fact that it’s just dark out there, and taking a walk either before or after work gets to be increasingly unlikely. Like moles, we come out of our homes in the dark, return to them in the dark, and take to our basement treadmill and exercise bike for daily cardio.

It helps me to remember that God is present even in the dark.

If you are a person whose eyes are open and watching in the wee hours, if sleep sometimes eludes you because you aren’t sure who’s actually in charge when you aren’t, you may need words to remind you of the large truth that God’s sovereignty, goodness, and love are in effect, even in the hours of darkness, even in the midst of chaos and pain.

For praying in the dark

I memorized a night-time prayer that’s been attributed to Augustine because I can pull it out when the day is over and the light is gone.

“Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work or watch or weep this night,
and give your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend the sick, Lord Christ,
Give rest to the weary,
Bless the dying,
Soothe the suffering,
Pity the afflicted,
Shield the joyous—
And all for your love’s sake.
Amen.”

Notice the categories? I typed it in this manner to draw your attention to the different needs of the people who need our nighttime prayers. People working, watching, or weeping. People afflicted with trouble and the perversity of this fallen world. People suffering from grief or illness. People experiencing the fragile joys of new love or new life. Each category takes us from the general need to the specific souls experiencing that need.

This nighttime prayer is a peaceful way to end the day, a peaceful way to fall asleep as the faces of those you love populate each petition.

Doesn’t it make sense to push back against the darkness by spending some of those extra minutes in prayer?

Let’s talk about nighttime prayer in the comments!

Thank you for your prayers!

In the September newsletter, I asked for prayer as I put the finishing touches on a retreat series for the women of Lisbon Falls Baptist Church. Their response far exceeded my hopes, and the Lord truly met with us over his Word. I’m grateful for his faithfulness and for the receptive hearts of the women who attended.

What’s Next?

For November, I’m planning a series on gratitude, and hoping to produce a new printable to encourage you in your practice of thankfulness.

For the Advent season, I’m collecting a stack of inspiring Christmas-themed books to recommend for celebration and devotion. I’ll be sharing a roundup post at Living Our Days in December… and stay tuned for information about a giveaway!

Be watching in the New Year for an article on the Desiring God website. They’ve asked me to write about Proverbs 1:8: “…forsake not your mother’s teaching.” It’s due on November 1, and I always appreciate the opportunity to share my work with that group of readers and thinkers.

If this sounds like fun to you, and you know someone who would like to be included in this monthly communication, please forward it to two or three friends and encourage them to subscribe.

I always enjoy hearing from you and appreciate your questions and suggestions for future newsletter topics!

Holding You in the Light,

P.S. If you’re looking for a speaker for your 2024 Christian Women’s event, let’s talk about it! CLICK HERE for a list of topics I’ve taught in the past.

And if you’ve enjoyed this newsletter and we’re connecting only once a month, you may enjoy reading my twice-weekly articles at Living Our Days, the blog.