Arise

Welcome to this devotional journey! No matter where you’re starting from today, God is inviting you to lift your eyes and expect Him to move. Over these days together, we’ll discover how His light breaks into our ordinary moments and how His Word calls us to rise and shine with fresh hope.

Isaiah speaks right into real life and offers real hope. God does not wait for perfect conditions. He comes near, then invites us to respond. “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you” (Isaiah 60:1, NIV). The next verse is honest about the world, since Isaiah says that “darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,” yet “the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you” (Isaiah 60:2, NIV). That is good news for Mondays and midnights. God’s light meets us where we are and begins lifting us.

Isaiah 60 stands on the firm ground of chapters 58 and 59. In Isaiah 58, God shows that real worship reflects His heart by bringing freedom, lifting burdens, and caring for people in need. Then in Isaiah 59, when no one else could fix the brokenness, God acted. He promised to stay close to His people, placing His Spirit on them and filling their mouths with His words. God always takes the first step in grace, and we are invited to respond.

Lifted eyes change where we look for help. The psalmist says he “lifts his eyes to the mountains” and asks where help comes from, then answers that help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1 to 2, NIV). In simple terms, Psalm 121 teaches that the One who made the hills is more reliable than anything on them. As we look to Him, our lives begin to shine with brightness. Jesus confirms this joyful vision when He says His people are “the light of the world,” called to let good deeds be seen so others praise the Father (Matthew 5:14 to 16, NIV). John adds a smile to the story. In John 1:5, the light of Christ keeps shining and darkness cannot overcome it.

So let your heart get excited. God is already moving toward you. He is placing His Spirit upon you. He is filling your mouth with His words. As you arise into His light, you become a gentle beacon that helps friends, family, and neighbors lift their eyes too.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your bright, present love. Lift my eyes today. Fill me with Your Spirit and Your Word. Let Your light cheer my heart and spill over to others. Amen.