Stepping into the Light God Has for Me - Your Nightly Scripture - July 16th

Stepping Into the Light God Has for Me

Evening Scripture

Isaiah 60 
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

“Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip.
Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come.
Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah.
And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.
All Kedar’s flocks will be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth will serve you; they will be accepted as offerings on my altar, and I will adorn my glorious temple.

“Who are these that fly along like clouds, like doves to their nests?
Surely the islands look to me; in the lead are the ships of Tarshish, bringing your children from afar, with their silver and gold, to the honor of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.

“Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you.
Though in anger I struck you, in favor I will show you compassion.
Your gates will always stand open, they will never be shut, day or night, so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations— their kings led in triumphal procession.
For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly ruined.

“The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the juniper, the fir and the cypress together, to adorn my sanctuary; and I will glorify the place for my feet.
The children of your oppressors will come bowing before you; all who despise you will bow down at your feet and will call you the City of the Lord, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

“Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through,
I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations.
You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts.
Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron.
Instead of wood I will bring you bronze, and iron in place of stones.
I will make peace your governor and well-being your ruler.
No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.
The sun will no more be your light by day nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.
Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.
Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever.
They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor.
The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation.
I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.”

Evening Reflection

Do you know that you are living within the divine nature of God? I hope you do. You are living within the light and finished work of our glorious Savior, Jesus. From generation to generation in the Bible, we read about the light of the Lord and the light of Christ being around and within the hearts of those who love Him. A gift we receive and a gift we are called to freely share with others.

We see this light when the Israelites were held in captivity in Egypt. God gave literal light to only the people of God for three days (which foreshadowed what Christ would endure on the cross). During that time, God kept everyone else in complete darkness while He provided light to His people. We see this same concept carried out through the life of Jesus. From His coming to the moment of His ascension. Jesus was the light, carried the light, and then imparted the light to His people.

As we read Isaiah 60, we are given the most remarkable picture of what is to come and the power of the light found within our Creator. This light isn’t just bright, it’s a life-altering light. It cuts through the darkness of the enemy and sets those consumed by things of this world free. The light of Jesus is powerful, and you’ve been given the incomprehensible gift of carrying it into the world where God has you.

Be the light, shine bright in the places you go, and share the faith, the light of hope, that set you free.

Evening Prayer

Father,
Thank you for imparting your life-altering light. What a gift it is to be an image bearer of yours. I pray that my life is marked by your attributes. May I be filled with an abundance of humility and grace, compassion and joy. In moments when it feels difficult to choose your ways, remind me of all I have because of you: salvation and freedom, peace and new life. Pour your light out over my community and me. Give me opportunities to share the work you have done.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

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Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.
Photo Credit: ©Pexels/Tom Swinnen

Chelsey is the voice behind the Living with Less Podcast and author of the 52-week devotional More of Him, Less of Me: Living a Christ-centered Life in a Me-centered World. She writes devotions for Lifeway Women's Journey Magazine, Crosswalk.com, and iBelieve.com. She also writes Bible reading plans for the YouVersion Bible App. Chelsey lives in Ohio with her husband and two children. You can connect with her on Instagram @chelseydematteis and at her website ChelseyDeMatteis.com.

Related Resource: Discouragement Often Comes after Calling | Ezra 3

In this episode of  The Bible Explained, Jen walks through Ezra chapter 3 and explores the Israelites’ return from exile as they begin rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. She highlights how the people, though fearful and greatly outnumbered, chose unity, obedience, and worship by first rebuilding the altar and restoring sacrifices to God. The episode focuses on the emotional moment when the temple foundation is laid—some rejoice with gratitude while others weep, remembering the former temple’s glory. Through passages in Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah, Jen emphasizes God’s encouragement not to “despise small beginnings,” reminding listeners that God often works through humble starts, difficult seasons, and imperfect circumstances. The episode closes with a practical encouragement: when God calls people to a purpose, opposition and discouragement will come, but faithful perseverance and trust in God’s presence are what carry the work forward. If this podcast helped you understand the Bible in a clearer way, be sure to follow The Bible Explained on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!