Advent Prayer Week 2: The Peace Candle

Luke 1:78-79

Luke 1:78-79 closes the song Zechariah sang, filled with the Holy Spirit, when his son John was born: a promise that through God’s tender mercy the Dawn would come to shine on those in darkness and guide their feet into peace.

God of tender mercy, Your Dawn has visited us from on high. As I light the second candle, shine on every place where I sit in darkness and fear. Guide my feet into the path of peace: peace with You, peace in my home, and peace where there has been quarreling. Make me someone who carries Your peace to others. Amen.

The Scripture

“because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.””
— Luke 1:78-79

Prayer points from Luke 1:78-79

Thank God for His tender mercy in sending Jesus.
Ask Him to shine into a fear or worry you carry.
Pray for peace with God wherever you have drifted from Him.
Name a broken relationship and ask Him to guide you toward peace.
Pray for peace in a place of war or violence.
Ask Him to make you a peacemaker this week.

About this verse

Zechariah, a priest, had not been able to speak since an angel told him he would have a son. When he wrote, “His name is John,” his tongue was released, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit and sang. His song praises God for the salvation He is bringing through the house of David, tells his own baby that he will prepare the way for the Lord, and ends with this: “because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Christians hear the Dawn as Jesus, the light rising over a dark world. Peace here is more than calm; it is a path God guides us onto, beginning with peace with Him. Many churches light the second Advent candle as the peace candle (others call it the Bethlehem candle). This prayer is for the second Sunday of Advent and the week that follows.

When to pray this prayer

When you light the second Advent candle
On the second Sunday of Advent
When there is conflict in your family or at work
When worry keeps you up at night in December
Before a hard conversation or a holiday visit
When you pray for a troubled part of the world

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