Turn Up the Light

In my first blogs I shared some God-moments that I’ve witnessed in people’s faces. As soon as faith entered their hearts, a light turned on somewhere inside them. I could see it shining in their eyes.

Light and darkness are two powerful spiritual forces operating right within us and in the world around us—however, we are ignorant of them. Our spiritual growth involves first learning to recognize the difference between them, and then choosing to turn to the light and walk in it.

Here are definitions that might help you:

1. Darkness refers to shade or a shadow; gloom; shrouding like a cloud; blackness.
2. Light means to shine; luminous, illumination; transparent, to shed rays.

In my early steps in my spiritual life, I made a simple discovery about the light and darkness. I’d go to a Christian gathering where people prayed for me, laid their hands on me, and suddenly I’d feel all different on the inside. It felt like something lifted off me or something more powerful had arisen within me. My steps felt lighter, my face brighter. However, what’s interesting is that I hadn’t realized my condition—until after the prayers.

Light is a form of energy. All created things are made of energy. In The Healing Light, Agnes Sanford says: “When we establish a closer connection with God in prayer, we should receive more abundant life—an increased flow of energy. The creative force that sustains us  is increased within our bodies.” Interestingly, I read somewhere that to be healthy means to be full of light.

Last year when my husband was going through chemo he often needed prayers. Once he felt like something was covering his head. He just couldn’t break out of it. We prayed together, and shortly his face brightened. He said, “It’s gone!”  A simple prayer of faith can turn up the light when its burning low.

Some people describe the feeling of darkness like this: I feel like I’m in a fog, have a blanket over my head, looking at life through a window, living in a dream world. Do you know any of these feelings? God has made it possible for you to walk in the light and not the darkness.

Jesus spoke, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Here are ways to turn up the light

• Forget about yourself, and think about God in the way that makes him most real to you.
• Go to Jesus Christ and ask in his name that the life of God may be increased in you.
• Ask God to send you someone who knows how to pray the simple prayer of faith.

I invite you to download my handout “Scriptures On Light & Darkness” to learn more about what the Bible says concerning these two opposing spiritual realities.

Question: How do you turn up the light of God within you?