Light
December 2023
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14, 16
Light has come! Like a candle in the window used to tell the weary traveler “You are welcome here.” When our lives shine bright light into the darkness, it dispels the darkness. Light is the absence of darkness. John Carter’s New Year’s message focused on light, “Instructions for Times of Darkness.” A clear takeaway – “This is my time to shine.” This is your time to shine. We dispel the darkness when we are the “light.”
Darkness is the absence of light. Another word for darkness is chaos. How do I respond amid darkness and chaos?
One way to respond is to “not fret” and older term that means “I don’t get all worked up” by focusing on the darkness (Psalm 37:1). Do you have something that’s getting you all worked up? Maybe politics, social issues, family, social media, news media…? What is the darkness around you? What is diminishing or dimming your light? What steals your peace? Here’s a few that I’ve wrestled with.
Distractions keep me chained in darkness and dim my light.
Busyness has me pulled in many directions and dims my light.
Getting worked up, anxious, stressed, and worried dims my light.
Focusing on the darkness and talking about how dark the times are dims my light.
Trying to control what is beyond my control dims my light.
Speaking gossip and criticism dims my light.
Complaining dims my light.
"Hope is able to to see that there is light despite all the darkness." Desmond Tutu
Light is the absence of darkness. What is dimming your light? It’s time to radically amputate those things that are robbing us of peace and stealing our joy. Ultimately those things that are drowning our light.
Now is my time to shine. Say it with me (no, really, say this out loud with me), “Now is my time to shine. My light shines bright. The darker it gets the brighter my light shines. My light pushes back the darkness around me.”
5 Ways to Shine Light
My light shines brightly when I offer love and compassion instead of contempt and unforgiveness.
Light shines brightly when I express gratitude or radical appreciation. Not only do I notice the things for which I am extremely thankful, and I also give voice to them and express it in words to others. Give Affirmations. Wayne Dyer says, “See the light in others, and treat them as if that is all you see.” What a different world it would be!
Light shines brightly when I practice kindness to others instead of judging them or focusing on myself. Light also shines brightly when I have grace and kindness for myself. I can be so harsh with myself (taming that cruel inner critic!).
Light shines brightly when I tune out distractions, social media, news media, negativity, criticism and focus on truth and life.
By focusing on truth and life. I speak truth and life. For out of the heart, the mouth speaks.
Francis Bacon once said, “In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.” Darkness is everywhere and we find what we are looking for. Are you looking for the light or are you overcome by the darkness? It only takes a little light to drive out great darkness. Shakespeare shares,
~ Shakespeare
It only takes a spark to get a fire going. Will you be a spark with me? Seeking to be the light in a dark and lonely world. Making a positive difference in the lives of the people around us and impacting others for eternity. Our light will lead the weary traveler all the way home. Will you let your little light shine?
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:5
If you want to read more about the light check out these passages.
Verses on Light
· “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” Genesis 1:3
· “In Him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:5 NLT
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14, 16
“The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:12
“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,” Ephesians 5:8-9, 13
“Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,” Colossians 1:12-13
“For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.” 1 Thessalonians 5:5
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 ESV
Happy New Year and may 2024 be exceedingly, abundantly, more than you think, ask, or imagine!
Kindly,
Lisa Marie
