Thursday / Full of Light
Read Luke 11: 33-36(NLT)
“No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.
“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is unhealthy, your body is filled with darkness. Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.”
Think
In the winter, I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, or S.A.D. That means I miss the light. I’m sensitive to the angle of the sun, the length or the days, and the brightness of the sky above me. In the winter, when the days are shorter and the rays from the sun hit the world at a longer angle, I don’t always get enough light in my life.
This is the case in northwest New Jersey, and it’s true in any place that’s farther to the north. In fact, countries like Norway which are near the Arctic Circle have very high depression rates in the winter. Apparently, human beings need lots of sunlight to thrive.
One way I cope with this problem is I turn on lots of lights. Even artificial light can help. I use higher watt bulbs and lots of them to illuminate my world. I even take off lampshades to let as much light shine out from the lamp as possible. It raises the electric bill, but it makes my life happier.
It’s the same with my faith. When I am in the light, when the full light of Jesus shines on me, I am much happier. Walking in the sunlight brings me joy, just as walking in the Son’s light brings me peace.
Pray
Holy Lord, thank you for being my light. Keep my heart centered on you so that I won’t walk in darkness. Guide my steps and be a lamp for my feet. When I can’t see the path ahead, give me enough light for the next step and the next. When the days get dark, Lord, help me keep my eyes fixed on you. Bring safely out of the darkness back into your light. Amen.
Do
Do you have a habit that’s not healthy? Is there something you do that causes separation from God, friends, family? It could be something small like checking your cell phone while having a conversation or spending too much time on your computer.
Take a close look at how you’re spending your time and pick one small spot to make a change. Perhaps you could try to have one family dinner all together once a week. Or declare a screen-free hour with friends and do something face to face like play a board game or share your dreams.
Make a little more space in your life for the light of God. Then share it with someone else.
The View from Mt. Hope 