He is Light

“I Am the light of the world.”

John 8:12

“The Lord is my light and my salvation

Whom shall I fear?”

Psalm 27:1

Recently, discouragement settled in around me like dark, damp fog. The projects I was working on weren’t going well and I felt as though I was stuck and not sure how to move forward.  It felt as though every direction I turned I was met with a roadblock.   Can you relate?  There are moments in all our lives when the darkness of discouragement closes in around us. It can feel paralyzing can’t it?  God’s Word teaches us that there are treasures hidden in the darkness. (Isaiah 45:3) I am convinced that the treasure hidden in the darkness is not a new set of circumstances but God Himself!  Jesus said that He is the light of the world. (John 8:12) In the darkest moments of life, when we choose by faith to worship the Lord as our light and salvation, He opens up our hearts to experience the light of His presence in new ways. In the darkest moments, when I have chosen to praise the One who is eternal light in spite of my feelings, my feelings change. Hope replaces, despair, joy replaces discouragement and peace replaces anxiety. The more I worship Jesus Christ as the light of my life, the more my capacity increases to experience His light and also to reflect His light to the world around me.

Here are some reasons to praise God for His light:

• His face radiates with light (Psalm 4:6)
• He is our light and salvation (Psalm 27:1)
• He wraps Himself in  a garment of light (Psalm 104:2)
• He shows us how to walk in His light (Isaiah 2:4)
• The darkness is no match for His light (John 1:4-5)
• His light shows us the way out of darkness  (Isaiah 9:2)
• His light reveals His glory. (Isaiah 60:1, 60:19)
• He turns our darkness into light (2 Samuel 22:29)
• He allows us to radiate His light (Matthew 5:16)
• He makes His light shine in our hearts (2 Corinthians 4:6)
• He calls us out of darkness and into His wonderful light (I Peter 2:9)

Praise Challenge

Today in your praise time, focus your praise on Jesus being the light of the world. Praise Him by faith that He is able to illumine your darkness. Throughout the day whenever discouragement threatens to close in, turn on your praise!  Memorize Psalm 27:1 and repeat it often throughout your day, “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid.”