All is Bright
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. —John 1:5
It’s early. The first rays of sunrise light are flooding the window. It’s on my face. The room is glowing with a soft golden hue. It’s beautiful.
Darkness cannot overpower light. Light will always win.
Sometimes our light gets dim. It gets hidden under a cover; the glass gets dirty and foggy, our arms get tired from holding the faint light, our eyes straining to see in the dimness. It’s easy to feel discouraged.
We need to remember—we do not produce the light; we are not its source. We don’t have to work ourselves to exhaustion manufacturing light in a world overwhelmed by darkness. It’s not up to us.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
We are not the source of the light. Jesus is. He is the light. We just get to reflect Him, hold Him high and watch Him shine. Never forget, we have the light, and light always wins. When the world around us feels dark, find your light, polish it up and hold it high.
But sometimes, we don’t feel very shiny, and the darkness creeps into our souls. Here are some ideas to help keep our light shining bright.
Focus on Jesus
We can let our circumstances cloud our vision. We need to stay focused on Jesus and allow His glory to put our struggles into perspective. God is faithful. He is a miracle worker. He loves us and wants to be involved in our lives. We need to look to Him.
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
—Hebrews 12:2
Clean out our Heart
Guilt and unforgiveness can dim our light. When we have unconfessed sin in our lives, or when we refuse to forgive those who have hurt us, darkness creeps in.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
—1 John 1:9Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
—Colossians 3:13
Renew our Strength
We get tired from trying to light up the world in our own strength. I know the truth of this personally. It’s hard to be shiny when we are exhausted.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, or I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
—Matthew 11:28–29
Read our Bible
Spend time in God’s word regularly. Be reminded of who God is, His power, His faithfulness, and His love for you.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
—Psalm 119:105
Guard our Heart
Guard against the dark influences you allow in your life. Be careful of what you read, watch and listen to. Be discerning about who you invite into your life. You may need to turn it off, unfollow, unsubscribe, change the channel or say no to an invite. Your light is worth protecting.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
—Proverbs 4:23
This Christmas, fill your home and heart with light. Let all the tinsel, fairy lights and glittery stars remind you of the light that overcomes the darkness. Fill your home with music and decorations that remind you of the hope of the Saviour’s birth we celebrate. Follow a Christmas devotional that brings the Christmas story to life in a relevant and meaningful way. If you don’t have one already, you can grab a copy of All is Calm.
This Christmas, let your light shine! Our dark world needs the Light.
