Come Learn Rest Ministries

Most High,
Most glorious God,
Enlighten the darkness of my heart.
Grant me a right and true faith,
A certain hope, and
A perfect charity, feeling, and understanding
Of You,
So that I may be able to accomplish
Your holy and just commands.
Amen.

This is a prayer that St. Francis of Assisi prayed for himself often. I wonder if he was drawn like I am to the words: a certain hope. Is it a coincidence that hope is asked for in the middle of the prayer. No doubt, hope is needed both in the beginning and end of our spiritual journey but perhaps even more in the middle when we long for our true and right faith to help us understand and accomplish what God commands of us.

Hope is pivotal in my life. There seems to be a point in each new day when I have a choice to make. Will I ask God to enlighten the darkness of my heart? Will I seek after God’s certain hope?

This prayer that St, Francis prayed reminds me of the benediction Paul wrote to the church in Rome:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit
you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13 ESV)

May you and I abound not just in hope but in a certain hope for the sake of God’s kingdom.