04/24/2018
Rescued from Darkness
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
— Colossians 1:13-14
Holly’s eight-year-old son, Bradley, struggled with nightmares, an issue since he was a toddler. She’d tried everything: night lights, essential oils, music playing all night long. But nothing worked for long. Over the years, they’d experienced some seasons of relief, but then the nightmares returned.
One night she again heard him call to her, “Mom!” She rushed to his bedroom and knelt by his bed as tears streamed down his face. “I was really scared.”
“I know, honey.” She brushed his hair out of his face and cradled his cheek with her hand. “Let’s pray for you.”
Bradley nodded and closed his eyes, and she did too. “Dear Lord, would you send your angels to protect my sweet boy? Surround him with your light and keep any darkness from creeping into his thoughts and mind. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
When she opened her eyes, Bradley had a huge smile on his face, all traces of anxiety gone. “Did you see him?”
“See who?” she asked.
“The angel—my angel,” he replied with a slight smile on his face.
“No, honey! I didn’t,” she said.
“He’s here. He’s my angel. He’s here to keep me safe,” he said as he scooted back down beneath his bed covers and rolled over, falling quickly back to sleep.
Bradley never saw his angel again, but from that night on, he never had another nightmare. He’d been delivered from his dark dreams.
Paul’s letter to the Colossians was written to a people who feared the unseen forces of darkness just like little Bradley, so Paul provided the antidote. Those who receive Christ are transported from darkness to light, from bondage to liberty, from guilt to forgiveness and from the power of Satan to the power of God. We don’t have to live with a spirit of fear or be anxious about the darkness. Our God has defeated sin and death, and we live in His light.
Today’s One Thing
Think about an area of your life where darkness tries to overcome you. As you pray for protection in that area of your life, remember that you’re a child of God. You’ve been placed in the Kingdom of Light.