Light of the World

Research suggests that music benefits your health and well-being. Music is healthy for the heart. While listening to music, blood flows more freely, dopamine production is increased, stress decreases, memory is stimulated, and symptoms of depression are relived. Music impacts the way the listener views the world around them. Christian music has additional benefits as it cultivates spirituality and assists in helping individuals to feel more devout as well as closer to God. We are reminded in Proverbs 4:23 to “guard our hearts above all else, for it determines the course of our lives”. What we listen to enters our hearts and impacts our thinking, feeling and innermost thoughts.  I contend that what we listen to matters.

I am an avid listener of worship music: Gospel and CCM. Those of you who know me know that I am not a singer but, I love to sing praises to The Lord. Each morning, I have a personal praise and worship service. As one who loves words, I confess that I am squeamish about lyrics. I am particularly squeamish about the lyrics of Christian music. Sadly, not everything with a good beat, chorus or tune, line up with God’s Word. I cringe at some of the biblical illiteracy in modern Christian music. I believe some lyrics perpetuate spiritual blindness and the spiritual darkness of this sin sick world.

Here I Am To Worship, So Will I, Open The Eyes Of My Heart, and In Christ Alone are a few of my favorite worship songs. The lyrics focus on the baby born in a Bethlehem manger, who grew up as a carpenter in Nazareth, and sacrificially shed His blood on Calvary’s cross. He, The Word, Who existed before time called for light when darkness covered the expanse of the earth (Genesis 1:2-5). From the very beginning of time, Jesus has been shining light in dark places. In John 8:12, Jesus said, “I AM the light of the world”. This light illumines our paths and disrupts the enemy’s plan.

You and I can rely on Jesus, the Light of the world, in the same way sailors rely on the light from lighthouses. As ships are safely guided by lighthouses, Jesus, the Light of the world, safely guides us to The Father and His good plan for our lives. Spiritual warfare and temptation to sin try to take us off course each day. We must focus on Jesus, the Light of the world, because  He fortifies us, fills our hearts, minds and spirits with the things of God and will guide us safely. We need the light of Christ in our lives if we are going to become the women God designed us to be at the beginning of time. 

Saul’s blinding experience found in the ninth chapter of Acts, clarifies this truth. He lived in spiritual darkness, behind a veil that separated him from embracing and understanding Who Jesus was. Saul persecuted Christians, thinking he was doing good but he was mistaken. He lived separated from the Truth, his heart, mind and spirit were in utter confusion and darkness. Saul’s spiritual blindness, rendered him ignorant and his ignorance led to wrong thinking as well as wrong acting. On that road, a bright light was shined upon Saul’s ignorance. Jesus, the Light of the world changed Saul and showed him what was true.

On the Damascus road, Saul’s eyes were opened and his name was changed. You and I need Jesus to shine His light on us each day to open our eyes, change our thought lives and transform our actions.  Jesus, the Light of the World, will transform our lives, if we let Him. He will illuminate His plan and make His purpose clear (Psalm 119:105). If we will allow the Light of the World to permeate every crack and crevice of our lives, we will grow into the beautiful image of The Father. Are you allowing the Light of the World to illuminate your path? Are you ready to have the Light of the World change your name, your direction and transform your actions?  Are you open to following the Light of the World with reckless abandon?

I invite you to purposefully walk in the light this month. Spend more time with God, dive into His Word and listen closely for what He has to say to you. I want to encourage you to listen to biblically sound worship music each morning as you prepare for your day. Spend intentional time in prayerful silence with God at the start of each day (Matthew 6:6). View everything through the bright and glorious perspective of Jesus. View each day as a new beginning (Psalm119:18). Remember, Jesus loves you, He sees you as capable, precious and worthy. View yourself and others the way Jesus does. Let Jesus, the Light of the World, shine His light on your life and remind you that you are His and He has made you brand new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Live each day striving to become a beacon of light, pointing all you encounter to Jesus, the Light of the World.  


Join me Under The Church Hat for this month’s devotion:
Describe the way what you listen to affect your daily life in less than 250 words.
Identify and list any (past) areas of spiritual blindness in your life.
Describe the ways Jesus, the Light of The world has opened your eyes and changed your thought life.
Describe how you are willing to live differently for Jesus, The Light of The World, as a result of reading this month’s devotion.
Chose a passage of scripture from this devotion to meditate on throughout the month.