I have a habit of romanticizing the morning.
In my mind, the perfect morning looks like this: Rising before the sun and the dogs and the kids. Drinking a fresh cup of French-pressed coffee by lamplight while the house is still and dark. Enjoying uninterrupted quiet while the sun inches over the horizon, my Bible open and my knees bent in prayer. Feeling filled up and ready by the time the light streams bright through the windows and four sets of little feet tromp down the stairs.
In reality, I’m so immune to my alarm that I have to change the tune weekly just so I won’t ignore it. Quiet time rarely happens in the quiet, and my coffee almost always grows cold during the mildly organized chaos of our current morning routine. That early light that streams into the dining room is my favorite of the day in theory, but actually sitting down at the table first thing in the morning can nearly blind a girl.
In my imagination, mornings are smooth and peaceful. In reality, they are a battle. I think this is, in part, what John wants his readers to see: the Christian life is beautiful, but it is also a battle. Light and darkness are always at odds, and we can expect to be involved in the clash.
But John’s message is not one of despair. On the contrary, it is one of confidence and bold encouragement. The light of Christ is already shining, and the darkness has no choice but to retreat in its wake. The presence of darkness in our world, and even in our hearts, is not something we have to muster up the strength to fix. It isn’t fodder for resolutions or self-help, like my lackluster morning routine. The darkness is both already conquered (2Timothy 1:10), and constantly being conquered by our light-bearing Savior (1John 2:8). Our battle is ultimately a matter of faith in Jesus, the conquering one. And so John reminds the Church of what they already know of their salvation.
To the “little children” of the faith, he reminds them: “Your sins have been forgiven” and “you have come to know the Father” (1John 2:12,14). Their salvation is secure, their reconciliation to the Father is complete (v.5).
To the “fathers,” the elders in the faith, he says (twice): “You have come to know the one who is from the beginning” (vv.13,14). God is the same God they’ve known, and known to be faithful, from the first day they believed.
To the “young men,” or those growing in the faith, he assures: “You are strong, God’s word remains in you, and you have conquered the evil one” (v.14). This is not “you can be” or “maybe one day you will be.” This is “you have” and “you are.”
Notice a pattern here?
This battle is not a matter of mustering. This is a matter of trusting. The true light does not need me to flip the switch. He is already shining. My part is to stay close to Him, to walk with Him, to heed John’s warning not to sin or flirt with the darkness—not for lack of grace but out of a longing for the light of Christ to shine through (1John 2:1). With Christ in us, we are already equipped to battle the darkness. He has given us His strength and His armor (Ephesians 6:10–11). He has even conquered the foe. The darkness is not going down without a fight (1Peter 5:8), but the battle has already been won.
Always nice to be reminded that all we need is Christ himself. We need his truth and his word and that is what will get used through the day. Staying in His light to overcome the darkness.
Amen! The light is already shining! This spoke to me as I struggle with good intentions to wake up early and have quiet time with God, but it does not always happen. I am constantly praying through out the day, when know one else knows! These last few weeks have been a struggle with currently being unemployed as a hairstylist and now being a teacher to 3 kids, Jesus is with me through this! I am leaning into Him! I never feel alone, and I know He knows my needs and will provide! In Jesus name, Amen!
Praying God provides for you in every way!
It’s easy for me to fall into the trap of thinking it is the quiet morning time that allows me to feel peace throughout the day rather than the presence of God Himself. I cherish the early morning time, and I will continue to prioritize it and make the effort to get up early, but I so easily make the morning time an idol, placing my hope for comfort and peace on the circumstances of the time rather than on the God I’m supposedly meeting there. The reading and devotional this morning have been a timely reminder that what I need is Christ, and He is enough, even on the days when my morning doesn’t go as planned. He promises to give me rest—the exact opposite of my self-imposed burden to “try harder” to live up to my concept of an ideal morning quiet time.
I love this perspective! I have never thought about how we can even idolize a time of day for our devotional, instead of God himself. I know that being a new mom I have had to be flexible about what my quiet time looks like.
“Our battle is ultimately a matter of faith in Jesus” Wow this hit me hard this morning. I’m remembering to have faith in Him. All of his promises are yes and Amen.
❤️
Faith salvation and the word of God… all three are necessary to resist the evil one.. you can’t just have faith you have to be saved and study the word… may your word always be there to draw me each day to strengthen my faith in my salvation so that I may be able to handle the evil forces around me
I am and always been an early riser. Unfortunately with all the changes going on in our world has changed that. BUT, that’s my fault! I’m the one that stays up with my night owl kids causing me to get up later then what I’m used to. I miss my early mornings before the sun is up, the quiet house, just me and Jesus. While it’s still just me and Jesus I miss those early-morning days. I need to discipline myself and go back. Especially now that my daughter likes to do the devotions with me. This way I do it twice. First early in the morning just me and Jesus then later morning with Jesus, my daughter, and I. Sigh!
Kelsea, keep in mind you’re still having your time with Jesus! And that’s what matters! I try to keep that in mind myself. Our schedules have shifted to accommodate our “new” normal. For me it’s meant my daughter and I are getting into the WORD “together.” I just need to discipline myself again and go to bed early so that I have my “alone” time with Jesus.
Amanda reminded me of how Christ won my battle against sin by dieing on the cross for me. I need to remember He is my light in my darkness, especially now in my life. He is the one I can turn to and He will not abandon me no matter what I do or how far I stray. I need to let my light for God, Christ and the Holy Spirit shine through even in my dark days. I am turning to You Lord to shine in me.
Diana, I understand exactly what you are saying! My adult son frequently reminds me of my mistakes. He has turned away from God and he has some strange ideas and beliefs. He complains about the time I spend in Bible study and going to church. My late husband and I did our best to train him in the Lord. I needed this reminder that I cannot change him. I pray fervently for him, but it is in the Lord’s hands. Please pray for us and I am praying for you and your daughter.