Darkness and Light

As we move through these winter months, one of the things that encourages me is the lengthening hours of sunlight.  I’m so glad to see light come a little earlier in the morning and still be there closer to suppertime.  On those days here in the Vancouver area, when the sun shines through the clouds, it’s like bonus time at the end of the day.

I’m so glad that whether it is the long nights of the winter season or the long bright days of summer, we can walk with God in the light.  Listen to these familiar and comforting words:

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 

1 John 1:5-7

So Lord, we are so glad that You are light and as we live with You we too can walk in the light rather than stumble around in the darkness.  We need that so much as we try to navigate all the messages and challenges in our days.  It’s so easy to be confused by information overload and emotional upheavals.  Thank You God, that as we keep our eyes focused on You, we will see a good way forward. Amen

God promises us better relationships with Him and with others when walk each day with Him and, even though we know we’ll not always get it right, He promises us that we will receive cleansing from our sins and mistakes.  Here’s how John describes it in the next verses:

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. 

I John 1:8-10

So Lord, we want to walk with You in the light.  We want to do what is right, but thank You for helping us to prepare for the times we will inevitably get it wrong. 

Give us humility to not excuse ourselves or blame others, but to take responsibility, to confess our shortcomings, and to ask for You to cleanse us.  There’s great freedom in the truth of admitting something has gone wrong and we need You to help us turn around and go the right way.  Thank You for Your promise to forgive us and cleanse us from ALL that goes wrong as soon as we do that. Amen

So today let’s not only appreciate the daylight around us but also take a few moments to be conscious of and appreciate the presence of God in our lives - God who is the light of the world.

Further Encouraging Thoughts For Today

Resources For 12 Steps