Heart Light, Jesus Our Sonshine - Encouragement Café - July 4, 2016

Heart Light, Jesus Our Sonshine
By Paris Renae
Monday, July 4, 2016

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:14 NIV

I’m not a runner – unless you count running away from signing up for 5Ks and marathons.  I have noticed, however, that these races are not done at night, always during the day.  Runners need to see the path, see obstacles along the way, and see the goal ahead.

It is the same with the race we signed up for when we accepted Jesus as Savior.  All our paths will take different turns, we will have different hurdles to overcome, but we all have the same goal.  And we run this race for others to see, not in secret.  Not to satisfy our pride, but to show others the way.

Jesus is called the ‘light of the world’.  We are called to ‘walk in the light as He is in the light’.  To ‘press on’.

There are times we’re just not feeling it.  Would rather retreat under the covers.  Close all the curtains.

In those times we need heart light.  Instead of retreating inward, retreat into waiting arms – the arms of the One who can light the way one more time.  It is like Paul said in Philippians 3:12b

…I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

We may not feel good enough for the task at hand – but it’s not our good enough.  And whose standards are we gauging good enough by anyway?  If it’s any other than God’s, then it’s the wrong one.  If it is God’s, then we are good enough because Jesus has seen to that.

The Light of the world, the light that can’t be contained, is the light we shine even when we don’t think we can.  The race is laid out before us and we are to sign up as many as we can along the way.

So press on, dear one.  Take hold of the prize for the race well run.  Jesus has taken hold of you for that very prize.  What is it?  Eternity with Him, where there is no darkness, just Sonshine.

It is so easy for me to retreat into the comfortable walls of home.  To not want to invite Jesus to permeate my darkness.  To not want to encourage others out of their darkness.  But the race we are called to is one on a well-lit path and it leads to the Light that warms our souls.  Join me today in pressing on even when it’s hard?

Heavenly Father, we are so inadequate, but You are so sufficient.  You have set us on a path through life that will sometimes be marked with hard things.  Let Your light shine through us not just on the level parts of our race but on the uphill parts as well.  Remind us to invite You to reveal any darkness in us, and then allow You to dispel it.  We want Your light to not only guide us, but cause others to join us.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

© 2016 by Paris Renae.  All rights reserved.

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