1 John 1:5b-6 NLT

'God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.'

I get up early each morning and currently take a prayer walk to start my day. My favourite time for this is winter when during that walk the night slowly gives way to day. So I set out in darkness and return with the dawn breaking up that darkness. For me it is symbolic of the light of Christ removing the darkness of sin and my gaining my spiritual sight.

Darkness is also symbolic for those things we do that we would not want to come to public attention. My “secrets closet”, as I call it. I know we each have one, and our memories can recall incidents from many years ago for which we remain ashamed. Of course, we know God’s forgiveness, yet the memory of the past can cling even though in God’s eyes it holds no power over us. Yet, I can reignite that power if, feeling low and disgruntled, I reinvest in that memory. I can revisit, reactivate my darker nature as and when I choose.

Our walk of faith is a journey into greater degrees of light. We discover more about ourselves and of God. Our challenge always is what we do with this revelation. I understand that it gives me greater appreciation of what God offers me, but also that I alone can take up that offer. God never manhandles my decision-making. If I am not sufficiently engaged with that revelation I stagnate where I am and, like Israel in the wilderness, go round in perpetual circles making no significant advance in my appreciation of myself, God, or my discipleship journey.

Discipleship is about putting what I know into practice. None of my “spiritual muscles” can develop without exercise. In fact, without practical working, they shrink and die away. We are to live Christianity dynamically daily, for no other reason than this is the life I have freely chosen to make my own in this world.

QUESTION: What is your spiritual exercise plan?

PRAYER: Lord, help me to practise the truth, to know and grow into the gospel and live it out by faith.