Darkness is Temporary

"Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, 

but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you." Isaiah 60:2

Today is "Shine a Light on Slavery" day.  

It's a day devoted to telling those around us the shocking news that slavery still exists. 
In fact, there are more slaves on earth today than ever before in history. 
Over 27 million in fact. (Source: A21 Campaign )

That is some dark news, my friends. 
Sometimes, it seems like the darkness is overtaking us, doesn't it? 

But, you know what? 

Darkness is temporary. 
It can't stand the light and runs away from a single flame.  

It cowers at bright beams of hope and shrinks back at rays of grace.

FEAR is it's weapon of mass destruction.  

But don't be misled by this impostor of darkness.
It's all a lie. A ruse to try to distract you from the truth. 

And this is the undeniable truth: 
The Light always wins. (Isaiah 58:8)

The Light lasts forever and ever. (Isaiah 60:20) 
Eventually the things done in the dark are exposed by the Light. (Eph. 5:11-14)

And the Light's weapon is far stronger than that of the dark:   LOVE.

This is NOT the time to shrink back or give up or stay quiet. 
Fear can't exist in the presence of love. 

So, we have to keep fighting. 
We have to keep loving.
We have to keep shining. 

More needs to be said. 
More needs to be done.
So. Much. More.

And the love-light of Christ is a beacon to the hopeless, desperate, and forsaken. 
He's inside of us! 

Jesus is the Light of the world. 

He is the bright morning Star.
He is the Dawn at break of day.  

How can we keep quiet?!!

Jesus is the only way to fight the Darkness. 

Do you live with a knowledge that you carry His Light inside of you? 

This truth brings us courage to keep pushing back the dark. 

It's not just a cliche to say that we are here on earth to be the Light.

No, it's a calling to see things differently, a mandate to bravely act. 
It's a revolutionary way of living, a mission to live for the cause of Christ. 
Are you shining?

We have no reason to shy away from burning bright 

because His Love is our guiding Light. 

Greater is He that is in ME

Last night I couldn't sleep. 

I kept feeling like a shadow was over my bed watching me.

I kept thinking of worst case scenario's in my mind.

FEAR kept me awake.

It literally stole something from me....a good night's sleep!

And isn't that what the devil always does?

He steals, kills and destroys... John 10:10

BUT the second part of that verse is the key to victory.

Cause though the devil takes....

Jesus gives us life...ABUNDANT LIFE!!! 

So, I made a choice last night as I lay there wide awake at 1:00 a.m.

I decided to fight back against that fear. 

I decided to live the abundant life Jesus died to give me.

I prayed and asked God to fill me with His love. 

"Perfect love casts out fear."-  1 John 4:18

I spoke out verses about God's mighty power in me.

"Greater is He that is in me than he that is in this world."- 1 John 4:4

I chose to focus on spiritual things.

"Set your mind on things above and not on things of this earth."- Colossians 3:2

And do you know what happened?

His peace, joy, and love immediately flowed over me. 

Why?

Because I acknowledged God's power at work within me!

Once I felt His power at work, a song rose up in my spirit right there in that bed.

A song from when I was a child in children's church.

It goes like this:

I’ve got peace like a river,

I’ve got peace like a river,

I’ve got peace like a river in my soul, (2x)

I’ve got love like an ocean,

I’ve got love like an ocean,

I’ve got love like an ocean in my soul,(2x)

I’ve got joy like a fountain,

I’ve got joy like a fountain,

I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul. (2x)

This song may not mean much to you but it was a lullaby for me last night.

I hummed it and sang that song in my mind until I finally dozed off.

It's like God was holding me and rocking me back to sleep.

 I could hear him singing along and whispering peace to my soul.

That, my friends, is the power of God.

FEAR debilitates, handicaps and destroys faith.

But when we tap into His resurrection power within us, fear has to leave us alone!

Jesus' power is so great and He cares so much that no need is too small.

My late night example of sleeplessness might seem small to you

but, to me, it was huge.

And God knew just how to show up and in what way to release 

His power so I could have victory.

He can do the same for you, ya know.

Jesus loves me (and you!), this I know....