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Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness. (Luke 11:35 NASB)

To start the year, we spent two weeks in Germany. It was a lovely trip with beautiful green scenery, but we only had 45 minutes of sunlight, total! When we returned home to west Texas, we experienced another two plus weeks of rain, drizzle, dark clouds, and very little sunlight. I was ready to jump out of my skin!

Now if you live in a place that experiences long periods of darkness or has long stretches of rain and overcast skies, you're probably rolling your eyes and thinking, "Get over it Phil, we face that all the time!" However, I'm one of those folks who needs — and I mean needs, not just wants — regular doses of sunlight. I get grumpy, depressed, lethargic, and unfriendly without some real rays from good ol' sol.

Don't settle for mere shadows!

So when the sun popped out several days ago and gave us two straight days of complete sunlight, my body applauded, my spirits rose, and the grumpy side of my personality went into temporary remission. What a great blessing to have light ... real light ... sun light ... natural light all day long for two straight days!

Just as some of us must have regular doses of sunlight, all of us need regular doses of God's light. God's presence, his illuminating Spirit, his Word, his sweet-spirited people, and passion for his holy character are crucial for us to truly live spiritual lives. Unfortunately, so much of what we seek, choose, and accept as light is nothing but Satan's illusory shadows. When life crashes in, when we face the ongoing storms of the day-to-day grind, and when the normal wear and tear of our years weary us, these illusory shadows will not sustain us. We are left depleted and disappointed, desperately needing a ray or two of genuine light to go on.

So what is your source of light? What do you seek with your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Where do you direct your passion? What gives you the reason to get up in the morning and press on when the days are long? What is your source of light? Don't settle for mere shadows. Don't build an idol out of your own expectations, plans, pursuits, goals, or sense of identity. Don't let the light in you be darkness. Seek God ... just God. Only God can bear the weight of all our hopes and dreams. Seek God and find life's true light!

For thus says the LORD ... "Seek Me that you may live." (Amos 5:4 NASB)

Not Even a Hint: Guarding Your Heart Against Lust by Joshua Harris Straightforward without being graphic, Harris's handbook offers practical advice for combating unholy urges, preparing young people for a lifetime of resisting temptation, and embracing godly desire.

Phil Ware is minister of the Word at Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. For the past 10+ years, he has also been co-editor of HEARTLIGHT Magazine. For more details, click here.

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