The UNITY Candle

The UNITY Candle 

Can you feel it?  The tension in our nation over marriage!  This is not a political blog, but lately the topic of marriage in the political arena is a good indication that we need to resume our posts, and pray for marriages - both the marriages in the future, and for the strengthening of existing marriages.   

Last week in Jakarta, Indonesia, the World Prayer Assembly convened.  There were 8000 attending the conference from every part of the globe, and on Thursday night they joined with 90,000+ Indonesians, in stadiums to pray for the nation and the world.  I tuned into the live webcast at 5am Denver time to participate, and it was truly an incredible event!  

The reason I am telling this to the 1 + 1 = One group is because the pinnacle of the event was the lighting of the "Torch of Unity!"  Unifying the global community of Christians.  Representatives from the nations made a commitment to each other - to be unified as one.  

The Torch of Unity from the live WPA webcast 5/17/12

It reminded me of the Unity Candle in wedding ceremonies, and curious, I did a little Google research this morning.  Wikipedia says that it is relatively new, but a website on Jewish traditions mentions the Unity Candle, so I think perhaps it may have been around longer than 50 - 100 years:  

Unity Candle Ceremony - Light is a symbol of God’s presence, the candlesticks symbolizing the beginning of a home that will be filled with the light of Sabbath and festival candles.  Three partners in the relationship: the bride, the groom, and God, are symbolized by the lighting of a Unity Candle. 

“From every human being there rises a light that reaches straight to heaven.  When two souls that are destined for each other find one another, their light flows together  and a single brighter light goes forth from their united being.” (the Baal Shem Tov)

(If you have more information about the tradition of the Unity Candle, please post a comment, or send me an email.)  

“The spirit of a man is the candle of the LORD, searching the inner depths of his heart.” (Proverbs 20:27 NKJV)

The prayer for us today:   

• May the footsteps of Jesus will be our pathway (Psalm 85:13), leading us towards the spirit & light of our future or existing marriage partner.  As we (and our candles of the Lord) move closer to that other person, the light will become brighter, and we will see more clearly.  

• Lord, give us and our future marriage partners eyes to see and ears to hear Your direction.  

• Awaken our spirits to be drawn towards You God, the Unity Candle that will unify our individual lives soon.  

1 + 1 = One!  

• I pray that you will be encouraged today, and in the days to come.  
• Open your hearts to be filled with the Joy of the LORD again - the contagious JOY of the Lord!!  It is your strength!  “...Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  (Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV)

And a prayer I pray for you, and one you can pray for your future spouse: 

"I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom, (the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation) and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.  I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those he called—His holy people who are His rich and glorious inheritance.”  (Ephesians 1:16-18 NLV)

AMEN!  [so be it!]”  

Expecting to be amazed ~

Barbara

© Barbara Nelson – 2012