Advent Prayer Week 1: The Hope Candle

Isaiah 9:2

Isaiah 9:2 is the prophet Isaiah’s promise of a great light for the people of Galilee who walked in darkness, a promise Matthew’s Gospel says was fulfilled when Jesus made His home in Capernaum and began to preach.

Lord God, Your people walked in darkness, and they saw a great light. As I light the first candle of Advent, I bring You the dark places in my life and in this world. Let Your light dawn there. Give me hope that rests on You, not on how things look tonight. Come, Lord Jesus, light of the world. Amen.

The Scripture

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”
— Isaiah 9:2

Prayer points from Isaiah 9:2

Thank God that His light has already dawned in Jesus.
Name a dark place in your life and ask His light to reach it.
Pray for a place in the world that feels hopeless.
Ask God to ground your hope in His promises, not in your circumstances.
Pray for someone you know who is losing hope.
End with a simple request: Come, Lord Jesus.

About this verse

Isaiah spoke into a dark time. The northern lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, in Galilee, had been humbled, and Isaiah promised they would see the reverse: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.” Matthew’s Gospel quotes these very words when Jesus leaves Nazareth and settles in Capernaum, by the sea, to begin His ministry. The light Isaiah saw coming was Jesus. That is why many churches pair this verse with the first candle of the Advent wreath, often called the hope candle (some call it the prophecy candle). Hope in the Bible is not wishful thinking; it is waiting for something God has promised and has already begun. This prayer is for the first Sunday of Advent and the week that follows, when the first candle is lit at home or at church.

When to pray this prayer

When you light the first Advent candle
On the first Sunday of Advent, at home or at church
Each evening of the first week of Advent
When the news is dark and hope feels thin
With children, letting one of them light the candle
When you are waiting on God for something

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