ILLUMINATED HEARTS

Read Ephesians Chapter 1
Key Verse -- Ephesians 1:18
"I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he has called."
There are many distinctions made in God's word. Clear lines are drawn concerning many issues in the Christian life. I am reminded of Christ's words in Matthew 6 - "No man can serve two masters". This is a clear distinction. Also, Paul wrote in Galatians 5 that we should walk after the spirit so as not to satisfy the lust of the flesh. This instruction implies that you cannot successfully walk after the spirt and flesh simultaneously.
Perhaps, no greater distinction is made in scripture than that between darkness and light. It is true spiritually and scientifically; there cannot be light and dark at the same time. Sure, you may be able to say "it's kind of dark" or "it's dusk" but truthfully, even the smallest amount of light pierces darkness. Light enables us to see. Even the smallest beam of light will illuminate whatever it shines upon. There is a battle within our spirit man between darkness and light. Perhaps that is why the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians chapter 1 that our hearts should be flooded with light. It is that light that enables us to see the purpose and plan that God has for our lives.
Hearts that are influenced by darkness have little choice but to believe whatever voices are speaking to them the loudest. In darkness, we can't see for ourselves. In spiritual darkness, it is normally life's circumstances that are screaming the loudest. Financial, emotional, marital problems, to name a few, all can seem pretty loud, especially when we are allowing spiritual darkness to pour over our hearts. It is the light of God's love that illuminates our hearts, reveals God's truth, and stirs our faith.
The key here is that we control where the light shines. I heard a story one time about a woman that was going through a rough patch in life. Her marriage was in trouble, her family was falling apart, and she just didn't know how much longer she could take the stress. She woke up and poured her morning coffee. As she sat on the sofa, the morning light was beaming through the front windows into her living room. She was so down and depressed that she got up and closed to curtains tight. She just didn't want to see the light. As she sat back down, Proverbs 20 came to her mind, "The way of the wicked is like deep darkness". She jumped to her feet and flung over the curtains. She had to let the light shine through.
Isn't it true that in our lives, we control the curtains. When times get rough and things aren't going our way, don't close the curtains but open your heart to God's light. He will show himself in ways you cannot imagine. He will reveal the wonderful future he has promised you.
PRAYER -- Lord, shine your light in my heart, even in those moments that things seem the darkest. Give me the confidence to accept your light in my life