Advent Prayer: Keep Us Awake

Here’s a prayer of dedication and commitment based on Mark 13: 33, the gospel reading for the first Sunday of Advent, Year B.  It comes from the Christian Aid website.

Prayer of Commitment
(inspired by Matthew 13: 33)

'Keep alert, for you do not know when the time will come.' Mark 13:33

God our rock and our salvation
so much of faith is waiting
like a pregnant woman waiting in hope
like a people under siege, holding out till relief comes
like the soul lost in the darkness,
unable to see even a glimmer of light
yet stumbling through the night because somewhere out ahead,
day will surely break
God be with us in our waiting

Living God, keep us awake in faith,
faith that acts;
when our faith grows weary, strengthen us
when our faith grows fearful, give us courage
when our faith grows despairing, give us witnesses
and when the faith of others falters,
may we be a light in their darkness. 

— posted on the Christian Aid website.