Today is a beautiful fall morning. I am enjoying my breakfast in peace at the kitchen table. After a while, the sun begins to shine over the mountains, and the first rays of sunlight find their way into my apartment. After several seconds of sitting in awe over the beauty of the sunrise and the glowing fall colors, I discover that my windowpane is full of dust and stains. Up until that moment I never noticed how dirty the window panes were and decided to clean them again soon.

God has a similar impact on our lives when we allow him, like the sun, to shine into our hearts. At first it’s good; it warms our hearts, and we notice that we have missed his presence. But then, through God’s presence in our lives, our dark stains also become obvious.

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:5b

God would like for it to go well with us, that our window panes are clean. This is not because he wants to accuse us or force us into performing, but rather because he desires that nothing stand in the way between our heart and his love.

Will you allow God to shine into your heart?

Applicable Bible text: John 8:12-20