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Listen while you read: "O Holy Night"1 (Lyrics) |
"I do not like this time of year," I declare as I close the window shades at 5:30 p.m. "The days are too short and the nights too long." In Arizona, that means less than 10 hours of daylight, and for those of you further north, even fewer hours of sunshine. Compare that to June; timeanddate.com assures me that on June 20th in Arizona there will be 14 hours, 22 minutes, and 17 seconds of daylight!
I am always grateful when December 21st rolls around: first, because it's my daughter's birthday, but also because I know that the short days have ended for another year and the days will gradually begin to lengthen. I'm also glad that I live in the land of sunshine. I'm sure that I would suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) if I lived in Alaska, as that winter darkness always depresses me.
Luke 23:44-45a – It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. (NIV 2011)
The ultimate moment of darkness came when Jesus was crucified; the sun stopped shining over the whole land. In a time when the world was lit only by oil, candles, and fire, it must have been terrifying.
John 1:4-5 – In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (NIV 2011)
But the darkness didn't last — the Light rose from the dead and lives in the lives of those who believe in Him. He continues to shine in the midst of all the darkness of this world, available to all who call on His name.
Because of that life-giving Light, we have responsibilities:
1 Peter 2:9 – But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (NIV 2011)
1 John 1:5b-7 – God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (NIV 2011)
Seasonal darkness can be depressing, but how thankful I am that we have access to the Light that shines in the midst of all this world's darkness. Let us walk worthy of our royal priesthood and declare His praises forever!
Prayer: Father, thank You for sending Your Son to give His life for us, to become the eternal source of light. Help us to walk in that light, to have true fellowship with one another, and to declare Your praises every day in every way. Amen.
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Amen to your prayer.
Thanks for sharing, Sharon. Have a Merry Christmas.
Thanks, Sharon, for reminding us that Jesus is the Light of the world that will never fail those who seek and follow Him. Blessings.
What a useful devotional for this time of year! Helps me, Sharon, being born in Alaska as I was. Lots of hope and promise in your good words today.
As one who suffers from SAD, I appreciate your message today and I rejoice that the days are going to start getting longer! Today we are even going to get some sunshine. Blessings always,
Laughing. Because in AB, we have 7 hours of daylight today. And in June it’s about 18 hours of daylight. Love it here. I wouldn’t do well in Alaska at all. Need sunshine.
(AB)
Greetings Sharon,
A very inspiring devotional! Thank you for writing and expressing the great “light” we have in life when we have Jesus leading the way out of any darkness that may befall us. He truly is our great and faithful light.
May you enjoy a blessed Christmas.
(B.C.)
Me too, celebrating Dec 21st for the turning toward longer days! I have always said two things: the sun is always shining even if we can’t see it. And days we can’t see it, we have to make our own sun-shine. And turn to the God of light and praise Him. Round about February, my sun-shine maker gets tired though.
(Ontario, Canada)
I can totally relate to your message, Sharon.
I feel the same as you regarding daylight.
Here, we are down to nine hours of precious light. But, in a short while that will change. Hurray.
Enjoy this beautiful season.
Merry Christmas and keep writing your meaningful messages.
(Ontario Canada)
Good morning Sharon, we calculated the sunset last weekend when we took my Floridian daughter-in-law to the Grand Canyon for her first time. The light played pinks and oranges on the cliffs and mesas, as she has never seen before. “Golly gee, it’s so beautiful y’all”.
God’s light is indeed beautiful as it lights each one of us, as our character reflects Him.
Thanks for the morning devotionals.
What an inspiring (and inspired) devotional you have written!
Thanks for the wonderful reminder that He IS the Light of the world! As an anthem we used to share says, “In this world of darkness, we are given Light, Hope for all the dying, how will they know, how will they know, that Jesus loves them and He came to save them, Carry the Light!”… We are to shine His light while we are here!
Blessings to you as you did ‘carry the Light’ to all who read this devotional!
Thanks for a good word Sharon. I look forward to today more than l do Christmas. In our house it is the big countdown to December 21st as it is the turning point! We only get about seven hours here at this time of year. By four thirty pm it is dark enough…not pitch…but definitely enough to close the blinds and it is 9:30 a.m. before it is really light enough to do chores without a headlight. But as of today, each day will be just a little bit lighter, and come the summer we are light about twenty to twenty-one hours a day.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Beautiful Sharon. Christmas blessings.