I invite you to join me each day as we pray for our nation until the election crisis has resolved. I’ll be reading the daily Give Him 15, making comments, and then we will pray together. You can join me here as we Appeal to Heaven for America.

Jesus is the Light of the World

On this Christmas eve, we remember the gift given to us in a manger. Though He was a weak and needy baby, He was also the King of the whole earth, the Light and Life to all mankind. And today, He stands ready to shine the light of God’s love in every dark, death-filled place. His bright shining gives hope to the hopeless and reveals a bright, faith-filled future to all who bring their dark hearts to Him.

The first thing God gave the world was light, “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3 ESV)

Jesus was the Creator on that day of creation. John 1:1-5 (Amplified Version) tells us, “In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was [continually existing] in the beginning [co-eternally] with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being. In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it].” 

Of the condition of the world on the day of His birth, the Word tells us, “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great Light; they sat in the land of death, and the Light broke through upon them.” (Matthew 4:16 TLB)

Jesus said of Himself, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 ESV)

To those who don’t yet know Him, He says, “What makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said: ‘Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you.’” (Ephesians 5:14 HCSB)

To those of us who have received Him and comprehend His Word, He says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 NASB)

And, of course, this passage in Matthew has been quoted numerous times about America. John Winthrop, a leader of the puritans’ Massachusetts Bay Colony, used this verse in his 1630 speech on board the Arbella to describe what he believed God wanted to build in America: a city set on a hill.

Since then, at least 14 presidents have quoted Matthew 5:14 to describe America. Though modern day revisionists try to rewrite our history, well, as John Adams so eloquently stated, “Facts are stubborn things.” May we become that bright light once again, shining forth His glory to every nation on earth. It is our destiny, and our very great honor.

The Lord is saying that the days of light are upon us this Christmas. Let this be the season you choose to walk in light more purely than ever before. Many will be saved as His light penetrates the darkness. The darkness will not be able to resist it. Those who continue to try to cover up their evil deeds will be found out and we pray it will not be too late for them. For those of us who walk in His saving light, we will be those that extend His light throughout the whole world and the Great Awakening will quickly be upon us.

Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:

• Worship Jesus for He is the pure Light of God. He is the promise of the Father and He is the one and only Savior of the world.
• Pray for those who reject Christ’s saving light, because they love the darkness and think they can keep their evil deeds hidden. Indeed, it will all come into the light at some point.
• Declare that the light of Christ will shine in every dark place and uncover every evil thing in every dark heart. 
• Declare, “Let the salvation of our Christ through the expansion of His great light, penetrate the darkest corners of the earth. Let the Great Harvest of souls begin.”
• Ask God to fulfill His calling on our nation to be that bright shining light set upon a hill, drawing all men from across the earth to Jesus, America’s covenant Founder and our Savior.

A prayer you can pray:

Jesus, on this Christmas eve we worship You, Savior of the whole earth and Light of the world. We extol Your holy Name. There is no other name more beautiful and no other name by which men may be saved. Father, we are grateful that You sent Your son to be the Light of salvation to our dark world. We intercede for those that have not yet come to know You. We pray, Lord that You would help their blind eyes see. Continue to shine Your bright light into the darkest recesses of their hearts, so they will desire to come to You and find freedom from the darkness that holds their soul in bondage. 

Lord, the salvation of the souls of men can remove much darkness in every area of our society. When we give our lives to You, we live differently. We walk as those in the light and avoid dark places. Our nation is in great need of this level of salvation. Light, shine in the darkness and drive it all out. Save the souls of men and women and save our nation in return. Mindsets change when the light comes. Dark and twisted ways of thinking clear up and straighten up. We can see the path we are on and determine to walk Your way instead of our own. Come, Light of the world, shine on us and we shall be saved. Let our nation become that shining light set on a hill, drawing the lost to You, Lord Jesus. In Your name, Amen.

Today’s decree:

Arise, shine, for our light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us. Let our nation and the people of the nations of the earth be saved!