There is great comfort in Jesus being the Light of the world and am encouraged through reading what God says about Light, Jesus as the Light of the world, and calling us to be light in the world. The very presence of light gets rid of darkness. Light doesn’t fight darkness. It dispels it by entering into darkness with its presence. Light warms and welcomes color, expression, hope, and the flourishing of life itself. Light is the opposite of darkness, and darkness is always subject to the presence of light.I have had the same verse come across my path many times over the past month. When a message keeps appearing, I know to pay attention. Each time the verse came, it was stated that it is not just for the individual, but us as people, a collective. It comes as an invitation full of hope:

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you.

Isaiah 60:1-2 NIV

The video directly below is a visual devotional reading the Scripture of Light accompanied by illuminated artwork I’ve made and photos I’ve taken. I hope you will be blessed with more light, comfort, and courage, as you are called deeper into God’s marvelous light!

 The next video below is a tutorial showing how to paint light on a journal page, from one of the journal pages in the new A Word Well Lived™ e-course. This video shows the sped-up process from start to finish. I start with a coloring page from my Colorful Blessings coloring book, and piece of Fabriano hot press 140 lb watercolor paper, which is the base of pages for one of the journals.

The Scripture read in the Light of the World Video is from The Passion Translation except for the last Scripture from The Message. Scripture references: Matthew 4:16, John 1:4-5, John 1:10a, John 8:12, Matthew 5:14-16; Matthew 5:16 (The Message) 

Then Jesus said, “I AM Light to the world
and those who embrace Me
will experience life-giving Light,
and they will never walk in darkness.

~ John 8:12 TPT

“Your lives light up the world. Let others see your light from a distance,

for how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop?

And who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place?

Instead, It’s placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light.

So don’t hide your light? Let it shine brightly before others,

so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them,

and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.”

~ Matthew 5:14-16 TPT

Shine!

Supply list: Colorful Blessings Coloring Book, Fabriano 140 lb watercolor paperMatte medium – either Deco Art or GoldenFluid Acrylic Paints: Golden or DecoArt Green Gold, Golden Phthalo Turquoise, Golden Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold, Golden Quinacridone Magenta, Golden Diarylide Yellow, Carbon Black, Golden Paynes Gray, Titanium WhiteTravel size spray bottleScissors