One Saturday, my husband and I picked up Thai takeout for dinner. I looked around the waiting area while we waited for our food and felt like an alien. Everyone wore facemasks and avoided eye contact. What happened to the friendly South? Riding home, I caught myself grumbling.

We rounded the bend, and the bright moon interrupted my complaining. “Look how bright that small sliver of moon is!”

The moon’s brightness stood in beautiful contrast to a day that had been gray, windy, and even briefly snowy. Seeing it helped me understand an admonition from Scripture I needed to ponder.

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:8-16 NIV).

God wants His children to live as children of light. He warns us to be very careful in how we walk, because the days are evil. Evil and darkness are synonymous in Scripture. As the lines between good and evil blur, we need the light of true goodness to guide our steps.

How Do We Shine?

How do we shine light in darkness? The same way the moon does.

When Astronauts Neil Armstrong and “Buzz” Aldrin walked on the moon they didn’t discover a glowing orb. Photos of the moon look like pocked concrete. Yet, who hasn’t felt the enchantment of a full moon? Even that small sliver of bright moon made me smile.

Craters and dark areas mar the moon’s surface. It’s beauty and light don’t come from the moon itself. The moon is beautiful when it reflects the sun.

Whether we deal with the darkness of an inner attitude, a bad habit, or what is going on around us, we find our way through darkness, not by staring into it, but by following the Son.

[bctt tweet=”Whether we deal with the darkness of an inner attitude, a bad habit, or what is going on around us, we find our way through darkness, not by staring into it, but by following the Son. #RechargeWednesday @DebbieWWilson #hope” username=”PatHolbrook”]

Focusing on a bad habit is more likely to make it worse. Fretting over the evil and deception around us won’t heal our nation. But focusing on Jesus—the way, the truth, and the life—illuminates our paths and shines on those around us.

Have you felt overwhelmed by the darkness? I have. We become light when, like the moon, we allow a purer light to illuminate us. Here are some tips to help you soak up the Son.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate any area where you’ve been shaped by the world instead of the Word (Romans 12:1-2).
• Write it down.
• Write out 1 John 1:9 over your list. Then tear up the sheet and throw it away.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with His light and help you live wisely (Ephesians 5:17-21).

The darker our circumstances the more we need to focus on Jesus, the true light. Then we will shine as light, walk wisely, and help others find their way.

“Everything that is illuminated becomes a light” (Ephesians 5:13 NIV).

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[bctt tweet=”LINKUP is open. Join my friend @DebbieWWilson as we look at the importance of Son-bathing for spiritual sight and health. Share your blog!” username=”PatHolbrook”]