Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (Isaiah 60:1-2)

It is easy to see all around you that darkness is covering the earth.  So much senseless violence, hatred and discord!  And it is easy for you to get discouraged and to wonder how I can allow this evil on the earth.  When I told My disciples that soon I would be taken from them, I knew that they would be heartbroken, defeated and discouraged.  So I said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

I want you to have that same peace in knowing that I have conquered death, I have overcome the Evil One, and you are Mine for all eternity! 

But remember what Isaiah said, it is your calling to arise and to shine for Me so that My glory will be seen on you. You are My lights in this dark world, so let your light shine.  Don’t put your light under a bushel, but proclaim the gospel, the Good News, that I have overcome the world!

The trying of your faith is more precious than gold, and when your faith is tried by the fires of testing, the fires of doubt, or the fires of discouragement – then I have promised that your faith will be refined into the finest gold and will be found unto praise and honor and glory at My appearing. (1 Peter 1:7)  What does that mean?  That means that this life is full of testing and purifying, and as you allow Me to continue to cleanse you of the impurities that so easily can clutter up your mind and heart, so you will continue to grow closer to Me and more full of My Spirit day by day.  So no matter how hot the fires of testing might be, I am always with you in the midst of them.  Like Daniel, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace, I was with them and kept them during that great test, and they came out without even the smell of smoke.  So remember that these battles are part of your life as My disciple.  I have called you to be a fighter for your faith, a warrior of the spirit who is willing to go into the furnace of testing knowing that I will bring you out as fine gold!