This morning, I\u2019ve been contemplating my love of sunshine. As I write these words near a cafe window, the light pools through the glass onto my table and nearby books. I can feel the warmth on my skin, awakening my drowsy eyes. This past year, while road-tripping through Yellowstone National Park, I also learned the term thermophile, which is an organism that thrives in warm temperatures. I jokingly began referring to myself as a thermophile because of a shared love for environments like sunny beaches, saunas, and any place where I can feel the sun or heat directly on my skin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Something happens when you\u2019re in the light. There\u2019s a transformation that takes place; under the sun\u2019s rays, warmth and flexibility replace cold, stiff muscles. Similarly, understanding replaces fear, as there\u2019s no monster in the closet when the lights are on. Light and gentle warmth are therapeutic techniques to put our nervous systems at ease. I imagine this is why it\u2019s often easier to nap while lying in a hammock than in a bedroom at night!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, there are always exceptions\u2014I also have a friend who gets depressed in summer and would rather spend her days in the gray, drizzly climate of Oregon. My landlord is a 72-year-old woman with a rare skin sensitivity to light and laundry products. While not everyone loves the sun with equal measure, every follower of Jesus needs His light because it is a light that exposes sin, setting us free. It is our hope in the darkness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a spiritual perspective, Christ transfers love and salvation through the light of His presence. Scripture tells us God\u2019s light is our life, splendor, and righteousness. His light is the new morning dawning, enduring and withstanding all that sets itself against it (Isaiah 60:19\u201322, Matthew 4:16). Like a pothos plant on the windowsill, we want to turn toward this light. We crave what the light transfers to our souls through the steady warmth and revelation it brings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before Jesus came to earth, this powerful, saving light was a prophetic promise that was given to God\u2019s people through stories like the ones in our reading plan today. It was spoken of as a brightness to come. \u201cThe true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world,\u201d says John 1:9. But now Christ, the true Light, illuminates a hope available to all. Its \u201cshining brightness\u201d permeates our daily life and is here to stay (Isaiah 60:3). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take a moment to ponder this the next time you light a candle or cozy up near the fireplace this Advent season, remembering that we are no longer bound to darkness and old thoughts or habits but, instead, become exposed to the beauty and saving grace of Christ, the light of the world. \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This morning, I\u2019ve been contemplating my love of sunshine. As I write these words near a cafe window, the light pools through the glass onto my table and nearby books. I can feel the warmth on my skin, awakening my drowsy eyes. This past year, while road-tripping through Yellowstone National Park, I also learned the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":71560,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[292],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71853","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advent2024"],"acf":{"hero_background_image":false,"related_plans":[71574],"weekly_truth":false,"grace_day":false,"share_text":"#SheReadsTruth","devotional_text":"HOPE IN THE DARKNESS<\/b>
\r\nby Bailey Gillespie<\/i>
\r\n
This morning, I\u2019ve been contemplating my love of sunshine. As I write these words near a cafe window, the light pools through the glass onto my table and nearby books. I can feel the warmth on my skin, awakening my drowsy eyes. This past year, while road-tripping through Yellowstone National Park, I also learned the term thermophile, which is an organism that thrives in warm temperatures. I jokingly began referring to myself as a thermophile because of a shared love for environments like sunny beaches, saunas, and any place where I can feel the sun or heat directly on my skin.<\/p>
\r\n
Something happens when you\u2019re in the light. There\u2019s a transformation that takes place; under the sun\u2019s rays, warmth and flexibility replace cold, stiff muscles. Similarly, understanding replaces fear, as there\u2019s no monster in the closet when the lights are on. Light and gentle warmth are therapeutic techniques to put our nervous systems at ease. I imagine this is why it\u2019s often easier to nap while lying in a hammock than in a bedroom at night!<\/p>
\r\n
Of course, there are always exceptions\u2014I also have a friend who gets depressed in summer and would rather spend her days in the gray, drizzly climate of Oregon. My landlord is a 72-year-old woman with a rare skin sensitivity to light and laundry products. While not everyone loves the sun with equal measure, every follower of Jesus needs His light because it is a light that exposes sin, setting us free. It is our hope in the darkness.<\/p>
\r\n
From a spiritual perspective, Christ transfers love and salvation through the light of His presence. Scripture tells us God\u2019s light is our life, splendor, and righteousness. His light is the new morning dawning, enduring and withstanding all that sets itself against it (Isaiah 60:19\u201322, Matthew 4:16). Like a pothos plant on the windowsill, we want to turn toward this light. We crave what the light transfers to our souls through the steady warmth and revelation it brings.<\/p>
\r\n
Before Jesus came to earth, this powerful, saving light was a prophetic promise that was given to God\u2019s people through stories like the ones in our reading plan today. It was spoken of as a brightness to come. \u201cThe true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world,\u201d says John 1:9. But now Christ, the true Light, illuminates a hope available to all. Its \u201cshining brightness\u201d permeates our daily life and is here to stay (Isaiah 60:3).<\/p>
\r\n
Take a moment to ponder this the next time you light a candle or cozy up near the fireplace this Advent season, remembering that we are no longer bound to darkness and old thoughts or habits but, instead, become exposed to the beauty and saving grace of Christ, the light of the world.<\/p>","share_image_height":"640","day_number":"2","scripture":"Isaiah 60:1-3, Isaiah 60:19-22, John 1:1-9, Matthew 4:12-16, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Revelation 21:23-27","available":true,"ad_banner_name":"","ad_banner_image":false,"ad_banner_url":"","songs":"","key_verse":"","key_verse_reference":"","background_image":false,"background_color":"#FBF7F3","scripture_references":false,"share_image":false,"author_name":"","author_bio":"","guest_social_media":false,"show_ad":true,"ad_override":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71853","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/75"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71853"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71853\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71560"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71853"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71853"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71853"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}