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The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.   John 1:5 Every single person, at some point in his or her life, goes through a time of darkness. Whether it be a darkness of failure, darkness of sin, or the darkness of sorrow, there’s no escaping the fact that darkness is all around us. This darkness causes many to wonder, “Will the darkness win? Will evil prevail?” The answer to that question was given over 2,000 years ago when Jesus Christ was born into the world. To many in that day, it looked like the darkness was going to win. And while most people were afraid of the darkness of oppression by the Roman Empire, Jesus opened their eyes to the reality of something even darker… the darkness of their own sin. But in the midst of that darkness, God sent Jesus into the world to shine a great light… a light so bright and so overwhelming that those who experienced it were forever changed. God sent a bold answer all those years ago that while the darkness may sometimes seem overwhelming, goodness will ultimately triumph over evil. Jesus was the light of the world, and whoever believes in Him already has victory over sin and death. Trust Him for that victory today. In Christ, you can overcome the darkness and have victory over sin and death. Trust Him today! Opened Understanding by Dr. Paul Chappell “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,” Luke 24:45 Solomon was presented with an opportunity that was truly unique. When he assumed the throne of Israel after the death of his father David, God appeared to him and presented Solomon with a blank check—he could ask for anything he wanted, and God would do it. Solomon had his priorities in the right place (although later in his life he would turn away from following God), and instead of asking for riches, power, or fame, Solomon asked for wisdom. “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” (1 Kings 3:9). All of us have need of God’s guidance and direction for our daily lives. We understand that God does not speak to us in dreams or visions, but through His Word, and thus if we want His wisdom, we need to be careful students of the Bible. The wonderful news is that every believer has the Holy Spirit as a guide to help us live according to God’s Word. Jesus said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John 16:13). Rather than seeking guidance in signs and feelings, we need to read the Bible and find our direction and wisdom in the pages of Scripture. We have the same Holy Spirit who inspired the writers of Scripture to help us understand His meaning in the words. This is not something to be taken lightly. The greatest resource available to God’s children is often overlooked because we fail to listen to the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit as we make decisions and choices. Today’s Growth Principle:  We have the promise of the Holy Spirit to help us understand and apply God’s wisdom to our lives.