A Prayer for a Cold Morning

Warming our hearts in the presence of Love

There is nothing more quiet and still to me than freshly fallen snow.

Although I live in the southern United States where it rarely snows, we are in the middle of winter and the coldness still gets to my bones. Our farm sits atop a hill and in the winter it’s much easier to see the Appalachian mountain tops far in the distance. Most mornings when I wake up there’s a magical glaze of glittery frost that has been dusted across our pastures. As the sun rises over the hill, catching the glimmers of frost in gleaming sunlight—it feels angelic. Last week we did get a little bit of snow and ice on the farm and it felt like a little winter wonderland!

I remember growing up in upstate New York close to Lake Ontario and what I heard in the early morning hours would indicate to me how the weather was. If in my cozy, sleepy stupor I’d hear the snow plows going back and forth in the pre-dawn hours, then I knew a fresh snow had fallen during the night. As I’d rub my tired eyes and hear my dad’s car warming up and the ice being scraped off his windshield before he left for work, I knew I’d be outside soon with my brothers shoveling the pathways to get to our other car.

I remember when I’d go outside after a freshly fallen snow I’d stop for just a minute, even as a young child and just listen—the silence was encompassing. The quiet was so inviting.

May this prayer offered to you today, on this cold morning, be an invitation to experience the encompassing nearness of God’s quiet love.

Photo by Nellia Kurme on Unsplash

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A Prayer for a Cold Morning

Oh God of seasons that bring cold winds and shorter days, you are the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end to all.

In this season of winter, you hold close that which is not ready to bloom.

You keep warm in hiddenness that which you are forming and shaping into something beautiful.

You are holding me, in this season, for something that feels unknown,

yet has the potential to hold so much beauty.

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As I stir under the warmth of my covers, may I be reminded of your arms that wrap me in the warmth of your love.

As I pull back the covers to the harshness of the cold air, let the warmth of your knowing surround me today.

Let the cold floorboards below my feet be a reminder that you are walking with me in every step, in every classroom, in every meeting, in every newborn feeding, in every hospital room, in everything my feet touch today.

You are here.

You are in me.

You are surrounding me.

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As I let out a breath into the cold morning air, may the puff of vapor I see be a reminder of my life in you—God of the seasons.

I am intentionally chosen to be where I am on this earth.

You formed me and you continue to knit and weave your purpose in my life.

I am deeply cared for.

You see me for just as I am—not what I produce or do.

Thank you for your sustaining breath in my lungs,

even if the air feels cold and harsh at times,

may I remember and hold your sovereignty and knowing over my life.

I am known in you.

I am held in the palm of your hand,

warm,

safe,

and deeply loved.

Amen.

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Substack always offers their writers the option to open up for paid subscriptions. I know many writers on this platform offer this to their subscribers, but for me, I hope to always keep what I offer here in this space free of charge. My husband and I serve in support-based missions work in diaspora ministry, specifically in refugee care. If you want to support my writing—you could give a one-time or recurring donation to our ministry and that would be a huge blessing.