Becoming Like Jesus: PrayerSample

Walk in the Light

Confession is the practice of bringing our whole selves into the light. This is a scary thing to do. It pushes against our natural human tendency to hide our sin and sit in our shame. In Genesis 3, when people rebelled against God and His definition of what is good, right, and true, the disease of sin was introduced. This disease of self-centeredness has a side effect called shame. It blinds us to the image of God in ourselves and drives us to cover up and hide.

Sin and shame grow best in the dark where they can quietly fester beneath the surface.

Jesus is inviting us to partner with Him in reversing the damage of sin by boldly choosing confession—refusing to hide and instead bringing it all into the light.

Pray…

Heavenly Father, I want to partner with you in what you are doing, through Jesus, to reverse the damage of sin. Start with me, God. Reveal the tendencies in me to hide and keep things in the dark. Jesus, help me walk in the light like you are in the light. Holy Spirit, fill me with boldness and courage to step out of hiding and into the forgiveness and freedom you offer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Read…

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7 NIV

Consider…

In this passage, John offers us encouragement and a challenge. He starts with some really good news. God is light…in Him there is no darkness at all.

What does that mean? It means, God isn’t hiding anything from us. There is nothing malicious or ill-intended in Him that He is just keeping under wraps. He is light—pure and undefiled. He doesn’t change. And because He is consistent and utterly pure, because He is light, we can confidently trust Him.

That’s the really good news—our God is light and there is no darkness in Him at all.

Here’s the challenge: If we claim to have fellowship with Him (to have a relationship with Him) and still walk in the darkness, we are lying to ourselves and everyone around us.

John is not pulling any punches in this passage. But the picture he’s painting makes sense. If God is light and we are close to Him, then we will also be in the light…because that’s where He is. If you’re in a room and the lights are on, it’s literally not possible for you to still be in the dark and be standing in that room.

In the same way, it is not possible for us to be united to a God and continue to live in the darkness. John is challenging us to be honest with ourselves and the people around us. He’s pushing us to see if what we claim is actually consistent with how we live. So, what happens when those things don’t line up? What do we do when we realize there is darkness in us?

We confess. We step into the light, where Jesus is ready and waiting to purify us from all sin.

Practice…

If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7 NIV

As you pray today, take John’s challenge. Are there places where what you are claiming and how you are living aren’t lining up? Invite God to reveal those things to you. Then, take a step out of the darkness and into the light.

Listen…

Create space to experience God’s presence by getting quiet, getting alone, and asking Him to speak. Start by setting a timer for five minutes.

Next, ask God to speak to you.

When you get distracted, because you will get distracted, bring your focus back to God by repeating the first words of the Lord’s prayer: “Our Father…”

When the timer ends, thank God for the time you got to spend with Him, then head into your day looking for opportunities to better serve Him and serve others.