Light in the Darkness

 

Darkness can be terrifying, dangerous and even deadly. However, God shines His light out of darkness in order to reveal to the whole world the knowledge of His glory in the presence of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12). He gave Himself to us, so we can bear witness of God to others. He freely gives Himself to us and makes us the light of the world through His presence within us (Matthew 5:15).

Without Christ in us, the world would be doomed to eternal darkness. However, those souls currently cursed with the darkness are illuminated by God's love and hope in us (Luke 1:67-79). Some of them are intimidated or convicted by this light and reject us because of it.

Others are immune to the variation of light, because they love their darkness so much. They are proud of their dark deeds, applaud others who choose the same path they chose, and make it a habit to rebel against what they consider God's restraints on their life.

We simply need to take the opportunity to share Christ with as many people as will listen to what we have to say. We shine brightly in their dark world; and like a moth, many are attracted by the light of Christ in us.

They want what we have as we exhibit peace in our circumstances, joy in our trials and His rest in this world of unrest. We are not affected by the government or issues in this life, because we are actually citizens of Heaven instead.

We live above the chaos and darkness all around us, with glowing faces and confident lives - reflecting Jesus from within us. He is our strength and our true source of lasting joy.

Prayer:

Father God, through Christ in us, we do not rely on our human achievements, wisdom or strength. Jesus alone is our salvation. He reigns supreme in our life as we follow Your Spirit's direction. Heaven is Your throne and the earth is Your footstool (Isaiah 66:1); yet, You know our thoughts, words and deeds.

You are high and lifted up and Your robe fills the temple (Isaiah 6:1) You are our Exalted One and You hold all the issues of life in Your control (Philippians 4:6-7). You live within each Born Again Believer by Your Spirit and direct every step we take as we commit them to You (Galatians 2:20). 

Thought for the Day:

Jesus is the light of the world, and there is no darkness in Him. - 1 John 1:5

Behind the Masks

Who are you behind the mask you wear? Do you wear your feelings on your shoulder for other people to see who you really are? Do you try to act one way when you really feel another?

Or have you learned that it does not matter what other people think about you? Are you free from the tyranny of their opinions? Do you let your insides out?

Our fears and insecurities often define who we really are inside. We may have a strong spirit, but a very wounded soul. We appear strong, yet are feeble within.

When people reject us for our weaknesses, we feel like worthless damaged goods, which increases our fears and insecurities and compounds our problems.

Some people will actually disdain our inner self, many simply tolerate us and others dwell with us with understanding. The good news is that Jesus died for our inner self too.

His Spirit is transforming our inner self into a new creation through one stage of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18). He slowly peals away the bandages we apply to our wounds.

He exposes the raw emotion and anxiety and puts the salve of God's unconditional love on each one of them. The only opinion of us, which really matters is God's.

This revelation frees us from having to hide behind masks. Jesus encourages us to let our insides out and to receive His healing for our past and His strength for our future.

Prayer:

Father God, teach us not to value anyone else's opinion of us, but to gain our identity through Christ in us. We do not need to rely on any person, place, thing or accomplishment to feel good about our self. It is our personal relationship with You that makes us a child of the King.

Help us to make room for Jesus on the throne of our life where He belongs. He is our best friend and He actually sticks closer to us than any human being ever will (Proverbs 18:24). Your love is ours both now and throughout eternity and flows over us like a waterfall.

Thought for the Day:

Tolerance is not acceptance; only Jesus fully accepts us just the way we are, and then perfects us by His Spirit as He fills us with His joy and peace.

Fear Not

God's plan for mankind is to live in us, to fill us with His Truth and Life, and to live in unity with our soul and spirit so that His Life is manifested through us.

He always hears our prayers and stores our tears in a bottle. He will avenge each transgression against His Beloved Saints (Psalm 4:3, 56:8). He gives us His compassionate heart, and we are His People and He is our God (Ezekiel 36:26-28).

We call out to God on His throne in heaven; and He hears and answers us (Psalm 3:4). He sustains us in every way, gives us sweet rest and never leaves or forsakes us, walking in us through every circumstance (Psalm 3:5; Hebrews 13:5).

Our God gives us relief from our distress and has mercy on us (Psalm 4:1). He delivers and blesses us, because He works out every circumstance for our good, even in death we go to live with Him (Psalm 3:8; Romans 2:28).

If we feel overcome by life's problems, we focus on and cling to Christ in us (Colossians 1:27). Our labors for the Lord are not in vain; so we can live this life unmoved by its threats, unafraid in its trials and abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:57-58).

Once we surrender our life to Christ, we realize that we are not on this earth to amass worldly goods, but to bring as many people to Heaven with us as will come humbly to God's love.

If we are in Christ, we have no reason to fear the curse of sin or the god of this world, the devil (Mark 5:36). We live in His perfect love, which will diminish all of our fears (1 John 4:18).

As we follow the Lord in our thoughts, words and actions, we live in victory, because He lives within us (Luke 8:50). He works out everything for our ultimate good (Romans 8:29).

Prayer:

Father God, life wounds us and Satan keeps us in bondage to those wounds. Remind us that You will reveal Satan's lies, speak to us Your truth and set us free from the fear of the unknown future, free from regrets or hurts from our past, and free to walk in the new life, which Christ earned for us through His passion and death.

Teach us the fullness of our life in Christ's resurrection. Fill us through our entire being with all of Your fullness (Ephesians 3:16-19, Amplified Bible). Empower us to be a light set on a hill and use us to draw everyone to You (Matthew 5:14-16; John 12:32). Help us to live in the purpose You have for our life instead of our own plans (Ephesians 2:10).

Thought for the Day:

The Lord who walked on water and calmed the raging sea lives within every authentic Believer; He heals, empowers, guides, helps our unbelief and fulfills every one of us; then He sets apart His true Believers as a special and holy priesthood.

- Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 6:17; John 10:30, 1 John 3:1-3, 4:17; Colossians 2:10; Luke 8:30; Mark 9:23-25