Day 62: Jesus, You Are My Light

Do you feel as though you are living in the shadow of a trial just now? Perhaps you are waiting for test results from a doctor. And you are battling fear and worry at the possible outcomes. Or maybe your job or home life is in a season of difficulty or you are working through a relationship with a difficult person. Whatever your adversity, you may feel a cloud of darkness hanging over you. I want to encourage you to follow the admonition from Helen Lemmel in her great hymn, and turn your eyes upon Jesus. The words of her song were inspired by a little gospel tract entitled Focus, written by Lilias Trotter, one of my very favorite women of God. In that tract, Lilias Trotter says, “So then, turn your eyes upon Him, look full into His face and you will find that the things of earth will acquire a strange new dimness.”

When we turn our eyes upon Jesus, we step into His light. David said, “O LORD, You are my lamp. The LORD lights up my darkness” (2 Samuel 22:29). Jesus is our light. And when we turn our eyes to Him, somehow our trial takes on a new appearance. The darkness of it takes on new shades, for the Lord’s brightness overpowers every shadow. How can you step into the light of Jesus and turn your eyes to Him? Grab His Book, the Bible, and open to the Gospels. Live in every word, paragraph, and chapter. Write out what you learn about who Jesus is, what He does, and what He says. Then personalize the words, realizing He means them for you. He wants YOU to follow Him and He will show YOU how to fish for people (Matthew 4:19). He is asking YOU to abide in Him (John 15). He calls YOU His friend (John 15:15-17). He doesn’t want YOUR heart to be troubled and wants YOU to trust in Him (John 14:1).

Run your race well, dear friend, in the light of Jesus. You have a great cloud of witnesses surrounding you, as the writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 12:1. Keep your eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects your faith. He will help you stay on the path in this present darkness and bring you to the other side of your adversity. Always remember—EOJ—Eyes on Jesus!

My Response: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your light. You are my lamp and illumine every darkness. My eyes are on You as You lead me in my life today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.