Photoshop Devotional - a Five-Day Devotional Inspired by "Photoshop" From Leanna CrawfordSample

Day 3 - Brightness 

“Brightness” - Bringing light into the photo.

I love waking up early to watch the sunrise. I don’t do it as often as I would like to, but there is nothing else in this world like seeing the morning sun light up the skyline beneath it. If you’ve never been able to experience a sunrise like the one I’m describing, let me take you on a little journey. You roll out of bed, eyes are barely open, you peek out the window, but all you can make out is the stark black sky. You grab your sweatshirt, some sneakers, and head out the back door. As you slip your hands into your pockets, you breathe in the fresh morning air and walk along the gravel road. It’s quiet, not even the sparrows are awake yet. The cold, dark sky feels distant and empty. But right then, piercing through the darkness, a light begins to stretch across the sky and show off the tree line below it. The sun crawls over the hills and fills the spaces where shadows made a home the night before. One by one, the birds start singing their favorite morning songs. This is the best feeling and sweetest sight, especially on a clear day. The sun brought light to the darkness. 

I hate admitting that there is darkness inside of me; I’m not always proud of the ways I’ve dealt with things, and I’m definitely wrong a lot of the time. As a human trying to navigate life, I’m messy, and I make a lot of mistakes. I wish I didn’t just tell you that, but I'm trying to be real here. I think these are the things that make Jesus stand out in my life. Some people would say the opposite; they say that Christians are hypocritical, which can be true, but I think that points towards more reasons why we need Jesus. 

The Bible is full of people who made mistakes, yet God still used them for His glory and to further His kingdom. It was the contrast of their imperfections that highlighted God’s perfect love. It was their darkness that brought out the light. I think the same goes for you and me. When we are able to admit the areas where we are struggling, God can help us get through those. When we are weak, He is strong. 

Just like the morning sun and how it lights up a whole new day, you can ask God to brighten up the light inside of you. Shine with God’s love, be kind to someone, be courageous, and your light will shine brighter than you could have ever imagined. 

Talk it Over: 

1. Ask God to bring light to the dark places in your heart.
2. Write down a couple areas where you could be a light to someone.