We are living in days where darkness is loud, heavy, and often overwhelming. Yet Scripture is clear: as children of God, we are not called to blend into the shadows — we are called to shine. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14).
This calling is not something to take lightly. The Bible tells us that one day, every single one of us will stand before Jesus and give an account of our lives. What we do now — how we spend our time, how we love people, and how we pursue Him — matters for eternity.
The Call to Be Ready
In Matthew 25:1–13, Jesus gives the parable of the ten virgins waiting for the Bridegroom. Five were wise and brought extra oil for their lamps; five were foolish and did not. When the Bridegroom came at midnight, only those who were ready could enter the wedding feast. The foolish virgins begged for oil, but they could not borrow from the wise.
This parable is sobering because it reminds us that no one else can prepare for us. We cannot borrow someone else’s prayer life, someone else’s intimacy with God, or someone else’s obedience. We each must cultivate our own oil — the daily walk, the hidden time with the Lord, the faithfulness when no one is watching.
To live in light is to live ready. It means refusing to coast spiritually, refusing to get lulled into distraction, and refusing to delay obedience. It means tending to the lamp of our hearts daily so that when Jesus returns, we are found awake, burning brightly, and ready.
🌿 How to Begin Living in Light
Here are practical, Spirit-filled ways to start cultivating your oil and living fully in the light of Christ:
1. Begin Your Day in His Presence
How we start sets the tone for how we walk. Choose to begin your mornings with God before anything else. Set your phone aside for the first 30 minutes and create space for Him. Use this time to:
-
Pray honestly about what’s on your heart.
-
Thank Him for waking you up.
-
Ask Him to lead and order your steps.
This doesn’t have to be long or elaborate — it just has to be real. That first act of surrender invites His light to guide the rest of your day. - Plan your days with Him
2. Stay Rooted in Scripture
God’s Word is our lamp. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). Commit to reading at least a passage daily — not just skimming, but asking:
-
What does this reveal about God’s character?
-
What does this mean for me today?
-
How can I live this out?
You may start with a gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) or Psalms for prayer language. The goal is to let His truth fill your heart more than the world’s noise.
3. Make Prayer a Lifestyle
Prayer is not an appointment; it’s a relationship. Talk to God throughout the day — in the car, while folding laundry, on a walk, between meetings. Invite Him into the ordinary. The more natural prayer becomes, the more aware you are of His presence in every moment. We have guided prayers in the back of our Christian planners to help you stay rooted.
4. Walk in Obedience and Integrity
Light will always expose the darkness. Living in light means aligning your actions with God’s truth. Obedience isn’t always convenient, but it keeps our lamps burning. Ask yourself:
-
Am I honoring God with this decision?
-
Would I do this if no one ever knew?
Integrity in the unseen is where oil is produced.
5. Steward What You’ve Been Given
Every resource, every gift, every moment is entrusted to you. Living in light means being faithful with your finances, your time, your talents, and your relationships. Jesus said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” (Luke 16:10). Stewardship is worship. We have Tithes, Giving, and Offering tracking in the back of our planners!
6. Practice Gratitude Daily
Darkness thrives on discontentment. Gratitude shifts our focus back to God’s faithfulness. Write down 3 things each day that you’re thankful for. This isn’t just positive thinking — it’s training your heart to see His hand in all things. You can find this section on every calendar page in our Living in Light Planners.
7. Serve Others Intentionally
Your light is not just for you — it’s for others. Look for ways to serve someone daily, whether it’s encouragement, generosity, prayer, or a simple act of kindness. You may be the only reminder of Jesus someone encounters all day.
🌟 Why It Matters Now
We cannot wait until tomorrow to get ready. We cannot assume there will always be more time. The oil must be cultivated today.
Culture may try to cancel, silence, or pressure you, but when we stand before the Lord, none of that will matter. What will matter is hearing the voice of the Bridegroom say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).
Living in light means preparing now, refusing complacency, and choosing faithfulness day by day. It is both urgent and beautiful — a daily surrender that fills your lamp and keeps you burning brightly for Christ.
✨ Final Encouragement
Friend, you cannot borrow oil. You must seek Him for yourself. But here is the promise: as you draw near to God, He draws near to you (James 4:8). If you feel far away, start small. Wake up and pray. Open your Bible. Write down a verse. Whisper His name. Every small act is oil poured into your lamp.
Let us be a people who are ready — hearts awake, lamps full, light shining. May we live in such a way that when the Bridegroom comes, we are found prepared, burning bright for Him.
