Let there be light

"The LORD my God lightens my darkness." - Ps. 18:28

What's your forecast look like this week? What's the seven day outlook? Are you having spiritually sunny days or spiritually dark days, these days?

Something very simple but quite profound hit me in prayer recently: there are two types of darkness, God-made and manmade. Let me explain:

In the morning, my bedroom is dark, first because it is prior to sunrise but also because I have chosen to draw the shades and eliminate any trace of light from my room. God brings light to the darkness in His time, but whether or not I allow that light in, and the amount of light I allow into my life is my decision. Sometimes we go through "dark times" in our lives, moments in which we can't see or hear or feel God's light. Sometimes those dark times are because in that moment God's allowing the darkness, in time He will reveal His presence again. Those are the times of darkness that God permits - they are God made. We might grow cold or feel out of control, but God is very much in control, we just need to be patient to feel the warmth of His light, once again. Sometimes, though, we go through "dark times" in our lives, dark times that are manmade. These are a result of our decisions, actions or pride. Times such as these, of difficulty or pain, suffering or anxiety are not a result of God's plan but a result of our sin. We wind up in these kind of situations because we seek to be in control, to control "how much light we let into the room". We draw the shades to our soul, diffusing and eventually expelling God's light completely, until we are left out of control and sitting in the darkness: cold, lost and alone. Sometimes we draw the shades to our soul quickly. Other times we draw them slowly, one blind at a time until we are left spiritually blind. We reject the light because it hurts our eyes. We gravitate to the darkness over time and slowly lose all perspective of what it's like to live in the light. Again, for some people it's gradual, for others it's drastic. and for others, it's a constant spiritual struggle, to live and to stay in the light.

So, how about you? Have you drawn the shades to your soul? Are you choosing to eliminate or control the amount of sunlight that enters your inner room, the Son's light? Ponder what God has to say about this tension between light and darkness, pray with me:

"God is light and in him is no darkness at all." - 1 John 1:5

"For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness."
- 1 Thes. 5:5

"He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness still. But he who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes." - 1 John 2:9-11

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." - John 1:5

"I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness." - John 12:46

Scripture, in a sense, dilates the pupils of our souls. It opens our eyes wider in times of darkness and allows in more light, helping us to see more clearly as darkness encircles us. Prayer does the same thing. One of the tools of the devil is to make you believe that your darkness is God made (the lie) instead of manmade (the truth), that way, we're left wanting to blame God for the darkness rather than ourselves. Thus, we refuse to act and we are left, stuck and trapped in the darkness.

Ask yourself this day - how bright is your life? If there is darkness, where is it coming from? If it's from God, don't worry the sun will rise soon. If it's from you, stop what you're doing, fall on your knees and rip open the shades to your soul. God is waiting to shower you with light.

Remember this "The LORD my God lightens my darkness." - Ps. 18:28