the one where i admit i'm scared...

i suppose i've always been afraid of the dark.

ask my mama.

i've heard stories of how i would wake up countless times at night, find myself alone in my dark room, and creep to her side of the bed, asking her to tuck me back in safe and sound.

as a teenager, i fell asleep to the sound light glowing from a muted television. in college, i left the light in my closet turned on and pulled the door almost closed so the light will gently spill out on the floor.  when i finally got a place of my own, i strategically put lamps and night lights in every room.  illuminating my path in the still of the night.  even tonight, i have a light on in each bathroom. and a night light in my daughter's room.  

i'm thinking a lot about darkness tonight.

darkness is merely the absence of light.

and it manifests in many different ways.

a little white lie.

an overreaction to something that threatens you.

a glance in the direction of temptation that lasts just bit longer than intended.

impatience that leads to intolerance.

a seemingly innocent prayer request that quickly turns to gossip.

pushing our own way without considering His will.

darkness lurks at every turn.  

desiring to drown out the light.

make no mistake.

there is spiritual battle happening all around us.

for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ~ephesians 6:12

darkness will always seek to rob us of our Light.

for darkness knows that it can not exist in the presence of Light.

sometimes i get so focused on the moment. the situation at hand.

the very thing that stands in the shadow of Light.

i lose sight. i stumble in the darkness. 

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."  ~john 8:12

this world is a dark, dreary place.  full of deceit and evil.  

but those who follow Jesus are children of Light.

i want desperately to shine brightly for Him.

sometimes my eyes are blind to the light and i stumble in the darkness.  but the brilliance of His radiant glory illuminates my path, leading me in His way.

the more my eyes stay focused on Him, the less the darkness frightens me.

perhaps, i'll even turn off the night light.