Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. – Isaiah 60:1

Have you ever tried to fall asleep in a bright room? The light makes it hard, if not impossible, to fall asleep. Or maybe you’ve experienced the opposite – where you were trying to stay awake while in a dimly lit room. Society typically associates light with staying awake and darkness with being asleep, and the Bible illustrates this as well.

The nation of Israel strayed from God repeatedly and faced difficult consequences as a result. The prophet Isaiah spoke to the people during one of these times. In Isaiah 59, he described the darkness that Israel was facing as a result of their wrong choices. Mercifully, the story did not end there. Isaiah immediately followed the story of pain with hope: “Your light has come” (Isaiah 60:1). Their rescue from darkness had come. It was time to get up and respond to the deliverance that God provided, and no longer sit and wallow in their sad state.

Regardless of the gloomy outlook that may appear in this world, you can proclaim that the light of Christ has come and God’s glory is here. The light signals a time for action, to engage in God’s work. As you pray today, ask the Lord to show you areas where you need to wake up. Praise Him for the light He has brought to the earth. Pray for U.S. officials in the government to walk in God’s light as they do their work.