Christian Writers Circle

Illuminating Grace

by Brenda D. Flowers

Once your life was full of sin’s darkness, but now you have the very light of our Lord shining through you because of your union with him.

Whatever the revelation-light exposes, it will also correct, and everything that reveals truth is light to the soul.(Ephesians 5:8&13, TPT)

It is interesting to me how artists and cartoonists innately use symbols of light, such as a light bulb or a light shining on a person, to illustrate a person having a creative idea or a person coming into understanding.

God’s light illuminates the mind and heart. He initiates this light, a gift of grace.

The Bible says, God first loved us.

When we fully understand the magnitude of what God did for all of lost humanity, we acquire this understanding by way of His illuminating grace.

Jesus, God’s Son, willingly obeyed His Father. He came to earth to rescue us. He willingly died on the cross to save us so we may be forever with Him. He conquered death so we may have resurrection life with Him, and He gives a guarantee of everlasting life with Him by sending us His Spirit.

Have you received God’s gift?

I remember when I experienced God’s saving grace and understanding of what God had done for me, I truly felt like a light bulb was turned on inside of me. The Gospel message was no longer a mystery to me. I believed in the truth of the words I read and heard from the Bible and I was willing to trust God.

Throughout my journey as a Christian, God has continued to illuminate His Word to me. One of my favorite psalms is Psalm 119. The writer of this acrostic poem, beautifully expresses His longing to have greater revelation of God’s ways and he deeply expresses his love and trust of God’s Word.

As I read this psalm, I often do so prayerfully, speaking the words as though they are my words.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119: 105, KJV)

Break open your word within me until revelation-light shines out! (Psalm 119: 130 a, TPT)

The process of sanctification is God’s doing. God empowers and equips us to be more and more like Jesus by awakening us to Truth and helping us to change by His Spirit. He also matures us to deepen our understanding of Him so we may transmit His light into the world.

We are enlightened the more we remain in His Word and in His presence, allowing God’s light to transform us.

We can trust this amazing truth and promise spoken by Jesus:

“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, NKJV)

James, Jesus’s half-brother under the inspiration of Holy Spirit, exhorts his brethren in the faith not to err from truth, but to trust God’s truth:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.(James 1: 17,NKJV)

On March 31, 2024, Christians all over the world will celebrate Resurrection Sunday, Easter. In this time of preparation, may we truly seek the Lord for His illuminating grace to reveal how we may trust Him more and grow in maturity. May we grow in understanding His mysteries so we  may live brightly for Him.

I pray His Light may touch many lives for His glory in this coming season of rejoicing.

Father of lights, thank You for sending Your Son to be the Light and The Way to restored relationship with You. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who enlightens Truth within us so we may grow and be transformed. May Your revelation-light expose any areas in us where change is needed and may we trust Your resurrection power to work within us so we may be Your lights in this dark world every day. We long to grow to be Your mature sons and daughters shining for You. In Jesus’s name we pray.