Let the glory of the Lord rise upon you!

One of my absolute favorite moments is watching and waiting with anticipation for the sun to rise. I also love seeing the wildlife come alive. Listening to the birds singing that awakes the world to a new day. The morning mist that hovers over the water and fresh dew on the grass. Watching the night sky begin to lighten when the sun breaks over the horizon sending its shimmering light across the sky and water. Its breathtaking. 

This is the picture Isaiah is suggesting in Isaiah 60. With the sunrise comes hope and the excitement of a new day, full of possibilities, full of adventure and full of joy! 

Heavenly Father, would you awaken me with this call to arise and shine. May your glory rise on me and fill me with your light. May the brightness of my rising gather and draw people to experience your beauty, radiance, and goodness. 

Isaiah 60:1-5

Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,

and thick darkness the peoples;

but the Lord will arise upon you,

and his glory will be seen upon you.

And nations shall come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Lift up your eyes all around, and see;

they all gather together, they come to you;

your sons shall come from afar,

and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.

Then you shall see and be radiant;

your heart shall thrill and exult,

because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,

the wealth of the nations shall come to you.

We often hear that physical beauty is fleeting, and that after 50, it is all downhill as we age, and gravity gets the better of us (lol) however there is truth in the saying ‘we become what we behold.’ 

2 Corinthians 3:18 says “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 

Psalm 149:4 promises that God beautifies the humble with salvation for it says, “For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.” 

So, join me in lingering with God in His word today. Let it transform you all the way through, from the inside out. 

I want to encourage you to get up early and set your face towards a sunrise. Let the glory of the Lord rise upon you. Yield to His beauty, His joy, and His exaltation and let there be His light in your soul! 

Psalm 34:5 “Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”