Prayer for Others - Damascus light

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Confession based on Genesis 1, John 8:12 Acts 9,

John Howell

O God, creator of light,
We thank you for the light You brought in the beginning,
when you created the heavens and the earth,
and when You said, Let there be light, and there was light, and it was good.
We thank you for the light, which separated from the darkness.
And we thank you that the light is good.

O God, bringer of light, Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."
We thank you for the light that comes from Jesus;
for his light that allows us to be free from darkness,
and for his light that allows us to walk the light of life.

O God, Spirit of life and light,
We thank you for the Easter light that comes to us on the road to Damascus,
and turns our lives around and upside down.
We thank you for the Damascus light that brings apostles like Paul,and we thank you for the light that is given to those like Ananias,
whose healing hands give sight to the blind.
We thank you for the resurrection experience that brings light and sight. 

Forgive us if in our blindness, we persecute You.
Forgive those who kill others in the name of religion.
Forgive those who in their darkness, kill and persecute others.

Bring to us again today, the words of life and light.
Remind us of the importance of Ananias,
who took the risk to visit Paul and restore his sight.
Engage us in the mission to bring the name of Jesus,
to those in the world who seek the light.
Make us like a window that lets the light into the room,
so that darkness and ignorance, greed and selfishness, find no place.
May what we do and say, Bring light and life to our world,
To bring it the name of the Holy One who is light, Amen.