From Darkness to Light by Kara (Liggett) Baumann

Passage:  “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12

I know several people who have been through financial planning courses to help get rid of debt.  One thing that they all have in common is that they allocate certain amounts of cash to use as spending money throughout the week to help reduce spending as much money on frivolous items. 

I don’t know if having cash would necessarily help me spend less money, but I do agree that it is easy to swipe a debit or credit card to make purchases and not think about the balance in those accounts since, technically, they are out of sight.  It’s much easier to use a credit card than to pay off the balance.  I would definitely agree that the principle behind the philosophy of spending only the money we can see would help us be more conscientious about our spending. 

I recently thought about what if I could see the spiritual warfare going on around us when we make everyday life decisions?  For example, when we are choosing how to spend our time during the day or choosing the words to say to someone, what if we could see the powers of darkness trying to persuade us to be selfish, petty, or judgmental?  Would we make a different decision if we could in fact see the battle that is taking place in our soul?  I want to believe that light would win over the darkness because I would be frightened to allow any darkness at all to take over my being.   

If we are prepared to use the light in our lives, like cash, we are more equipped to make decisions that help us stand by the faith we have in that light.  It’s more than just picturing the angel and devil on your shoulder.  A simple cartoon cannot fully represent the battle of God’s angels fighting for your devotion over Satan’s slick marketing of earthly desires that will do nothing but destroy you little by little by blinding you to God’s grace and mercy. 

I want to be debt-free from darkness, I want to live with a wallet full of light. 

Jesus You are the Light of the world.  You shine in the darkness but the darkness cannot and did not overcome You!  May we be bright light of the good news to a lost world.