*Gray and cloudy days.

*The end of another year.

*Feelings of sadness from reflecting on the prayers that have not been answered or the circumstances that haven't changed.

*Facing a new year with the same old challenges.

I hesitated to submit this and didn't even pick up my pen to write until now. After hearing a testimony/exhortation about loving God more than _____ (you fill in the blank) and reading Jordan's excellent, honest words, I thought, just do it!

Waking up a couple of weeks ago with those *thoughts above swirling around in my head, the Lord pierced through.

"You know Janis, if you could see inside yourself, you'd see a bright light shining."

Looking out the windows at the gray sky, I hear, "You know Janis, above those clouds where I am seated, it is brightly shining."

"I have those prayers you prayed right here with Me where they have been made beautiful. I know when to release the answers at just the right time, in just the right circumstances for My glory."

"Years, years, years. (Heard the sound of someone making raspberries;) Remember how I work? One day is like one thousand years and one thousand years is like one day. Every day is a new day in My Kingdom. Those old challenges have passed away. Look My way, I have made it new.

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Last week at church I heard the word 'penetration.' So, I looked it up. 

Penetration: The act of making a way through - or - into something. [From the Latin word penetare, place within or enter] The ability to discern deeply and acutely. ["The plant grows in clear, still waters where there is strong sunlight penetration."] Both actions happen because of the deposit of the light inside and in His presence.

Psalm 139:7-12

Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Thy hand will lead me, and Thy right hand will lay hold of me [This is with the idea of holding in possession of.] If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night," Even the darkness is not dark to Thee, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to Thee.

Let us once again align ourselves (because it's an ongoing practice as we walk through this life) and properly discern (from sitting with Him in heavenly places) each new day. Where have we just heard those two words!! The light inside is just waiting for the next opportunity to burst forth and bring about new life, renewed hope, and strength for the journey.

"Turn the Light on!"