It’s the beginning of a new year.
How did you start?
Making new Year’s resolutions… Habits to drop and those to pick up? Thinking and planning? Setting goals? Creating or updating vision boards? Working on a new project? Starting your bible reading plan?
And what more have you…
Good start.
But let’s talk about a Great start.
And we’ll be learning from God Himself. How He started. He’s the greatest inventor, professional… name it. Or has any invention beaten the creation of the universe?
No!
So He’s the best person to learn from, firsthand, how to have a start that sets you on the stage of success.
Genesis 1:1 tells us: In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. He set out to bring this heaven and earth to the visible realm.
And what did He do first?
Let There Be Light
“And God said, let there be light: and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3)
He didn’t head right into creating the plants and the fishes and the firmaments and man. He first called light into being. Because like verse 2 tells us, “the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.”
One can’t get into the serious business of creation in the midst of darkness.
You’ll make lots of mistakes and waste plenty of time.
And God knew this.
If God, who Himself is Light, needed to call forth light before heading into other creative business, how much more mortal men like you and I.
One reason we hit our feet against rocks, knock our heads on walls, and fall into ditches is because we jump into work amid the darkness.
And I know you desire to do something different this year.
You desire to create a lot of things – healthier relationships, prosperous businesses, successful career, better partnerships, fruitful ideas, deeper spiritual lives, etc.
This is what you need to act on first – in the beginning.
Let there be light.
Why We Need Light
Let’s see three major reasons you need light.
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Direct
The road of life splits into a thousand and one directions.
And many times, in various areas of your life, you’ll come to crossroads. Should I work with this idea or the other? Is this brother or sister “The One?” … And other areas of your life that look grey.
You need light, so you know the next step to take, and in which path you should walk in.
The world keeps bombarding us with 7 Steps To… and The Ultimate Guide To… You’ve tried some of those steps and guides and you still feel stuck along the way, right?
That’s why you need light. Actual light.
You remember the wise men from the east who came to see Jesus after His birth. They needed direction to where Jesus was. When they got to Jerusalem, they inquired to know where Jesus was, “He that is born King of the Jesus.” (Matthew 2:2) The people had a clue but weren’t certain where He was at the moment.
Even the king was confused.
The wise men walked out of the king’s palace to continue their search. And then they saw the star. A light!
They rejoiced with exceeding great joy. Because the start went over them, till it stood over where the young child was. Direction.
In this beginning, you need to cry out like the Psalmist, “O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.” (Psalm 43:3)
2. Divine wisdom
You’ve heard people talk about “the light bulb moment.”
Like a switch got turned on in your mind and that thing that made you bite your lower lip and slap your head now made sense! You need such wisdom – divine wisdom – this year. The wisdom that will help you move the needle through pieces of knowledge you’ve gained in life.
And through it, you sew an outstanding cloth – a top-notch idea – that the world awaits to have. You need divine wisdom.
3. Distinguish
Light separates. “And God said, let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night.” (Genesis 1:14)
When you carry light, it distinguishes you from everything that is not of light. And it makes you visible.
Like Matthew 5: 14-16 tells us:
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
How To Find LIGHT
There are lights, and there is a LIGHT.
The winds or shadows of this world can quench or dim these other lights. These temporary lights could be in form of money, fame, position, power, pleasure, and other things this world offers.
But there is a LIGHT that the darkness of this world can’t comprehend.
When your source of light is this LIGHT, you will be like that candle set on a hill… no matter the wind blowing, your light keeps blazing.
Because you have this light from inside-out. Yes, you’ll have the wealth, position, influence and other goodies on earth, but they don’t define you or your light.
You have the LIGHT. This LIGHT will help light up every and any other light you need to keep shinning in this dark world.
The LIGHT will lead you to the right people, books, courses, places, events, ideas, skills… that will make your life full of light.
“For thy will light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.” (Psalm 18:28)
God is light. If you’re in Him, you will dwell in the light. To be in Him and He in you, you have to first turn away from sin and make Him the Lord of your life.
And then, feed on His word – the Bible. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
Read it. Study it. And search out answers to your questions from it.
Pray without ceasing. Commit thy ways unto God’s hands. Commune with Him always.
To have a fruitful year ahead, In The beginning, LET THERE BE LIGHT.
