“Heavenly Father, what do You want to talk to me about this day?Open my ears. Open my heart. Let me really hear You speak to me. Amen.”

Ephesians 5:8-14 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

The Message You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So, no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true – these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it. Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. Wake up from your sleep, climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light.

“So, Father, this is a lot to ponder. I could easily contemplate on other people, people who do “evil” things, how people get into trouble in the night-time hours. But, instead, I hear You prompting me to self-reflect. I hear You calling me to stop applying this to “others” and apply it to me. I think you want to do some surgery (sometimes painful) in order to shine Your light into my own life, my heart, my mind, my secret “things” and let Your light reveal the areas I need to expose. Help me now. ”

“Lord, what areas of my “old” self do I keep hidden away, in the dark corners of my heart? What sinful darkness do I think is “hidden” where no one can see? YOU can “see” everything I do, everything I think, every dark motive, every dark habit. Just because no one else is around, YOU are around. Who am I kidding? Instead of “exposing” other people, help me to allow Your Holy Spirit to “expose” my own ways of darkness – the “old me” that needs to change.”

“Show me the parts of my “old” self that may be “subtle” deeds of darkness." You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. "I don't want to stay groping around in that murk - help me to realize, when You expose the areas of darkness in my life that You want to change - then I will be Bright with Your Light, and I won't be sinking in the muck and mire that this particular way of darkness holds me in."

“Jesus, You died for my “old” ugly self. You gave me new life. Yet, until I dwell with You in Heaven, I am a work in progress here on earth. Eternal Life starts now! I need YOUR LIGHT to shine on my darkness. I don’t want to stay the same. I don’t want to prohibit You from re-creating me into the daughter of Light You want me to become. Wake me up, today! Help me! Shine on me!”

“Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

-dawn