Daily Affirmations - Day 4 - In the Darkness Shining - The Bright and Morning Star

Day 4: The Bright and Morning Star

The Lord will be our everlasting light

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6 - KJV).

God of light that illumes all space,

God of glory and boundless grace,

From Thy wondrous abiding place

Shine, oh, shine in me.

Shine, shine in my heart, I pray,

Shine out through my life each day;

Sun of righteousness, Light of truth,

Shine in Thy glory in me.

Let the light that from heaven gleams

Fill my heart with its glowing beams,

Till reflected it outward streams—

Shine, oh, shine in me.

Let Thine image in me appear,

Light of holiness bright and clear,

Light of faithfulness, free from fear,

Shine, oh, shine in me.

Holy character all may view,

Mercy, kindness, and patience, too,

Grace and goodness each day renew—

Shine, oh, shine in me.

~ Charles Naylor ~ pub. 1936

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"I am…the Bright and Morning Star" (Revelation 22:16)...

A star shines out in the dark sky, and the darkness cannot put it out, but only makes it all the brighter. So if we look up to Jesus as our Star, even if there seems nothing else to make us happy, and nothing to be seen but some dark troubles all  around, He will shine in our hearts (2 Corinthians 4:6 - KJV) and we shall have light and gladness in them (Psalm 4: 6-7 - KJV).

A star is always true. If we were going in a wrong direction across a  wide moor, directly we caught sight of a star that we knew, we  should be shown our mistake. So when we think of Jesus we shall see whether we are going right or wrong, whether we are following Him or going away from Him...

Jesus called Himself the Bright Star, for He is the brightness of the Father's glory (Hebrews 1:3 - KJV). Nothing makes anyone look so bright as looking at His brightness and beauty. You could not possibly have a dismal face while you are really "looking unto Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2 - KJV), any more than a little mirror would look dark if you held it up to catch the rays of a bright light.

He calls Himself the Morning Star too, because when we see that shining clear and still we know that the darkness is passing, and very soon the day will break and the shadows flee away (Song of Solomon 4:6 - KJV).

The sight of the morning star is the promise of the day. And so if you get a little glimpse by faith of the brightness of the Lord Jesus Christ now, it is only a beginning of clearer sight, and a pledge of the glorious day that has no night, in the land where you shall see the King in His beauty (Isa. 33:17).

~ Frances Ridley Havergal

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