Light In The Darkness

"Whatever has come to be, found life in Him, life which for humans was also light. Light that shines in the dark: light that darkness could not overcome." - John 1:4-5

Unfortunately, we all know sadness and depression first had. We know how sin can creep in and poison us. The moment we allow one sin to enter our lives, others lurk around the corner waiting for their turn to go in. What was once bright and clear went getting murkier and darker. Do you ever feel like this about yourself? Do you ever feel that your soul has become poisoned due to all of the things you shouldn't have done, things you shouldn't have let in? That is the darkness in our souls, the darkness Christ was born to overcome.

Jesus Christ is life, is light. He is cleansing and pure. In your darkness, do you feel you need this purity? Only Jesus can offer it to you. What I love about this verse is that it said that Jesus is light that the darkness could not overcome, meaning that no matter how dirty, dusty, or filthy your soul is right now, the victory already belongs to Christ because He already overcame the evil. Jesus is power that the evil in this world could not overcome and He wants to offer you that light as well. Like when you clean a house and open the curtains to see clearly, let the light expose you and all the sin, sadness and despair you hold within you. Let the bad come to the light so that you can receive healing and the darkness will go away. Fix your eyes on Jesus and you will live with the light of the Lord within you.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, shine Your light within me and cast away all evil, all hurt, anything that does not come from You Darkness can not overcome and in Your Name I refuse to let it overcome me. Be with me Lord as I seek to find life in You. In Your Name we pray, amen.

The Dark, Unknown Path

"The priest answered them, 'Go in peace, the journey you make is under the eye of Yahweh.'" - Judges 18:6

Life is just so difficult sometimes. There are no road maps, we only get advice that we probably won't follow. Sometimes I feel like I know what I want and what to do with my life and other times I feel so lost, so confused. It feels like I have to make such permanent decisions so fast. When we're in our late teens and 20's, the choices we make have a profound effect on the rest of our lives. Do I take this job, or even this career? Do I marry this person? Should I move to another city? Will I want this 10 years from now, or 5 years or even 1? There are so many paths to take and some are easy but a lot are painful and we might not even have the reassurance that we are doing the right thing. Are we on the right path right now? Is this where we're supposed to be?

This is why it's so important to be in constant contact with God. This journey of life is hard enough by ourselves, we need His guidance. We need Him to tell us that we're on the right path, to be in peace because He is watching us as we walk through it. There so much fear in uncertainty and in facing an unknown, daunting future, but by knowing that the Lord is with me as I go, I am comforted that I am in His hands. How scary it must be for those that don't know God…those who who let their own whims guide them; its a shot in the dark. Without guidance from God they face the next 40 or 50 years taking an unknown, shaky path. One mistake for them could cost them dearly, but putting ourselves in the Lord's presence each day is like being given a flash light to make it through this dark, unknown journey…He illuminates the path as we go.

Today's Prayer:
Lord, I know You have plans for me and my future, but help me see today how I can follow You in getting there. Sometimes I am so afraid and don't know what to do and need Your guidance in making decisions. As scary as it is, just be with me as I go so that I know I am where I need to be. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

In The Beginning

"In the beginning, when God began to create the heavens and the earth, the earth had no form and was void; darkness was over the deep and the Spirit of God hovered over the water." - Genesis 1:1-2

In the beginning stages of our relationship with God, we have no shape and the life we think we have is actually empty and dark. Things like friends, money, parties, clothes, drinks, fill us up temporarily but what do you have when the party is over and you're alone again? The thing about us all, whether we care to acknowledge it or not, is that we all need God in order to be fulfilled. Our souls were created by Him and only with Him can we ever feel completion and rest. When we go about without Him, the Spirit of God hovers around us. As far from God as we get, He will always put something or someone in our path to remind us that He is there. The passage says He hovers over the water. He hovers like an eagle who flies over her young; she doesn't get too close, she doesn't interfere, but she watches closely by and the second her baby is in danger, she's there to scoop it up as God is always there for you.

Let Him begin His work in you, form you and chase out the darkness with His light. Let Him fill you with life so that you will no longer be void, dark, and empty.

Today's Prayer:
My God, thank You for looking out for me, especially in those moments when I'm too busy to even remember who You are. I know You respect my will but right now I want to give You permission to always, always remind me, even in a harsh way, that You are all I need. In Your Name we pray, Amen.