Walking in the Light

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17

I don’t know about anyone else, but for myself I’ve needed the reminder of that promising verse many times.

Because, frequently, Satan longs to infuse the negative over me—there are times when he holds me back mentally, taunting me with my past…times when he tries to drag me down and I allow him to. Moments where I focus more on the world’s ways rather than Christ’ truth. Days where I feel like all I see is a mess rather than a message—where I only hear the disappointment rather than encouragement.

It’s in those doubting episodes that I have to glean insight from God’s steadfast promises, holding onto the hope that I am absolutely not defined by my past; and as a believer I’m made new in Christ just like the above verse states.

When Satan deems the lie over me that I’m worthless, I want to turn to scripture and hold tight to the costly value of my worth to God. Isaiah 43:1b says, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

The times when Satan whispers that I’m a disgrace, I want to hold on to God’s tender claim in Psalm 34:5, “Those who look to Him are radiant and their faces shall never be ashamed.”

The devil is out with a mission to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) He is the father of lies (John 8:44) and he wants us weak and hopeless.

If we’re walking with Christ or not, those are ALL truths that don’t discriminate; however I want to live and thrive from the positive words of God, not dwindle in the negative ones of Satan.

This world is filled with sin, no doubt the undesirable will come, whether it’s through emotions or physical ailments — but keeping God’s promising words of reassurance over our thoughts or feelings will help us to endure those hardships.

So how do we stay on track without hesitation or distraction?

…In order to keep our focus fixed toward the favorable we have to ground ourselves in God’s word — daily!!…so that we’re continually being fed and led by Him, spiritually speaking.

That doesn’t mean we need to exhaust ourselves reading chapters or pages upon pages of scripture — at times that can begin to feel overwhelming. It simply means that if we can make time to study even just one verse a day that tugs and speaks to our heart, then that alone is enough to make a difference. When we do this, the impact is so powerful that it gives us a desire to keep moving closer to God. It leaves us wanting more and more of Him and His word…Yes the heated moments still come, but suddenly we find that we’re now equipped with God’s words of truth to counteract Satan’s attempt.

Living our lives out of His light truly means we’re out of the darkness of any of our past. It’s Satan that craves to cast the shadow of doubt upon us, but it’s Christ alone who boldly overpowers by His light.

Ephesians 4:22-24 says, “You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

May we hang on to every word of His truth, and allow Christ to work in and through us — allowing Him to give hope to our thoughts, and trusting that He desires to have us walk in the brilliance of our new lives, directed straight toward Him. Our lives in Christ have the power to pour light to others and unerringly God is right in the spotlight of glorification when that happens!

Applicable Scripture:

Ephesians 5:8-10 For you were once darkness, but now you are a light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consist in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.

Matthew 4:16 The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

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.”