The Last Devotional in Fear is a Gateway to Self-Doubt Series
"The Bad, & The Ugly: Fears & Failures" Devotional Blog Series:
** Fear is a gateway to self-doubt **
- Light Conquers Darkness
Light Conquers Darkness
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Luke 1:79
Devotional
“Jesus came to bring light into a dark, sin-stained world and that’s why He is often referred to as the light of the world" (John 8:12). Those who were in darkness were sitting in darkness and the shadow of death was upon them but Jesus brought us light “to guide our feet into the way of peace” but it cost Him His life.”
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. - Ephesians 5:8 (6-14)
"In the Bible, light has always been a symbol of holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom, grace, hope, and God's revelation. By contrast, darkness has been associated with evil, sin, and despair."
Light vs. Darkness
When we are in darkness, we are not hidden from God, we are merely choosing not to walk with Him in the light. Kind of harsh, right? A bit, but true all the same. The Bible tells us to turn from darkness and walk with Him in the light for a reason. He tells us this so that we turn from darkness and evil doing and follow Him for the rest of our days. We are His children and He wants us to be safe from harm. In this case, that is the darkness. It can consume us and take away every bit of hope inside of us until we are empty inside. God wants to stop that from happening. He wants us to destroy the darkness with His help. He wants us to reach for Him and confide in Him. He wants us to go with Him. Will you follow Him? Or is He just something else for our flesh to ignore?
John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
What is in the darkness? Satan.
He sits and waits for us in the deepest darkest parts of our minds. He wants to destroy us from the inside out. He wants to wreak haven any chance he gets. Why? Because he is evil and only looking to cause misery for the rest of our days. He doesn't want us to fight him off and run to God, but we have to find the light and hope in our lives. God is light. Satan is darkness. Beat the darkness and find your inner light!
My Story Tie-In
I believe light conquering darkness comes in many forms. Mine came in the form of a relationship. At the beginning of this devotional blog series, I talked about my previous relationship and how I couldn't understand how God could still love me after I got out of it. I was dirty, in the way I lived my life terms. I had grown up a Christian, but if I am being honest, I didn't act like a Christian while I was dating my ex.
In January 2019, when my ex dumped me over the phone, accusing me of wanting to force him to go to church with me, that was the wake-up call I needed. I had let a relationship with an Earthly man get in the way of my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I let my fears of being alone forever, doubting that God was still writing my story, keep me from living my life with God. Fear destroys your mind, but you don’t have to let it. That’s why since that night, I have worked on myself and my relationship with God is slowly coming along as I grow in my walk.
Looking back now, two years later, I can see how miserable I was. Like I've said before, I was still going to church but I wasn't retaining anything my pastor said in his sermons. I was going through the motions. I was at a crossroads in my life and I didn't even know it. I needed to find myself and my relationship with God again, but I didn't know that in the midst of my struggle. All I wanted was a boyfriend and that guy destroyed me. Gave me internal scars I never imagined having by physically harming me. I was going down a path that I didn't know how to stop. I might even say I was on the highway to Hell with the damage I was doing to my faith and myself by staying with him. BUT, even though my ex can rot for what he did to me, he still saved me. Yes, I said that. Because had he not dumped me, I would probably have said 'I love you' a few short weeks or months later and stayed with him all these years. I wouldn't know the church family I know now. I wouldn't know my amazing boyfriend that I have now - a year and a half after my ex did what he did. That was hard to come back from but two years later I am happy, healthy, and healed.
How did I get here? I ran back home to God. He was waiting for me. Here's the catch, He was with me along. He is with you, too. He is just waiting for you to acknowledge His presence. Returning to the light was my best move I could make. Since then, I have been doing much better. Has it been easy? No. Has it been worth every struggle, every tear, and every misstep? YES!
The journey is worth it! God is waiting for you to run home to Him TODAY!
Activity
Grab a notebook, a pen, and find a quiet spot to write. Take an hour to write to God, everything that is going on in your life and the world around you. Dig deep. Pour it all out on the page. He wants you to tell Him.
Pray about everything on that page.
My Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank you for this devotional blog series even though it took me a lot longer than I planned for. But, I think you knew that it would. That I had to learn a lot before I could finish this series. I needed to grow more. I needed to meet new people and create new relationships. You've been with me through it all, God. You've been by my side through it all. Thank you for loving me through it all. I pray that I continue to grow in my walk with You and writing about Your Word. I love you.
Amen
Shine A Light - Elevation Worship
Nothing can stand against us
Our praise will break the darkness
We declare, Your kingdom's here
Because our God is for us
We're living in the promise
Listen to the Fears & Failures Playlist: Here.
Scriptures: John 8:12; Ephesians 5:8 (6-14); John 1:5, 8:12, 3:19; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 John 1:5; Acts 26:18
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