One of my favorite things about Christmas is looking at all the lights.  I truly enjoy driving down the road and seeing all the different colored lights shining brightly.  Every year, after putting up the Christmas tree, I look forward to turning off all the other lights and looking at the tiny lights sparkle on the tree. It's beautiful and I'm drawn to the light.

Whenever I'm outside on a clear night, I enjoy looking at all the stars sparkling in the sky and the moon shining brightly. Once again, I am drawn to the light.

What about you? If you are in a dark place, do you not look for a source of light? When you find it, are you drawn to it? Do you walk a little more quickly so you can be in the light? Without a doubt, God gave us that desire. After all, He did make us in His image and I John 1:5 tells us that "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." So, the light makes us feel secure. We are drawn to the light, because God is light.

If you think about it, light is one of the first things that God created. He also used the word "light" to describe Himself (as shown above), His Son (John 8:12), and Christians (Ephesians 5:8). We are told in Matthew 5 that we are the light of the world and that we should let our light shine so that the world can see God and praise Him. Also in Matthew 6 and Luke 11 it says that your "eye is the lamp" of the body. If your eyes are good then your body will be "full of light", but if they are bad, then your body will be full of darkness. We all have a light within us, but it's up to us whether we hide that light or let it shine so everyone can see.

We are all drawn to the light. We have a desire to be in the light.  As Christians, we are "sons of the light" (I Thessalonians 5:5). Since we do not belong to the darkness, we need to "shine like stars in the universe" (Philippians 2:15). How do we do this? If you read the following Scripture references you will find things such as, be filled with the Spirit, give thanks, sing to the Lord, be alert and self-controlled, love one another, encourage one another, praise God, do things without complaining or arguing, and rejoice. (Ephesians 5:15-20, I Thessalonians 5:4-11, I Peter 2:9-10, I John 2:7-11, Philippians 2:14-18) There are many more Scriptures that teach us how to let our lights shine. If we take the time every day to focus on the truth (God's Word), then we will see how to let our light shine instead of hiding it from the world.

Are you letting your light shine? Are you letting others be drawn to the light which shines in you? I want to leave you with this quote from the movie "Akeelah and the Bee" (Lionsgate, 2006). I pray that it, along with God's Word, will touch your heart and help you shine a little brighter!

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small doesn't serve the world. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."

This Christmas and throughout the year, let others be drawn to the light by letting God shine through you!