Winter...
The days are short and they can get dark and dreary very easily. When I awake in the morning and look through the window, most days all my eyes can see is a gray haze, leftover snow on the ground mixed with a sense of dread that mysteriously floats this way and that.
It makes me long for spring. I want to see the beautiful crocus peek their heads out of the ground and brighten the landscape with their lavender hues. I want to breath in deep and smell the crisp spring air in the morning. I want to go for a walk and feel the sun on my face and shake off the winter blahs that have kept me in chains for what seems like an eternity.
The thing I crave most in winter is light.
The light...
This five letter word is the key to beating the winter blahs.
There are two kinds of light that we need to restore our souls during the winter.
1. The light from the Son that guides us and illuminates our way.
Friends...
When the dreariness of winter tries to steal your joy, and send you down the long path of darkness, don't let it! Fill those dark places with the light of Christ. Sink into His Word, spend time in prayer and let Him renew your Spirit.
Take note...
It will take a deliberate choice of meeting with Him every hour and every minute of the day so your mind stays fixed onto Him and the healing balm of His presence.
2. The light of the winter sun above us that blesses us with a comforting sense of warmth and beauty.
The lack of sunlight can feel almost feel suffocating to anyone. This especially rings true to those of us that live in parts of the world where we actually have four seasons. During the cold winter months we need to get in as much sunlight as we possibly can.
Don't let the darkness overpower you during these times, with God's help get up and get moving with your day. The best schedule I have found to overcome the winter blahs is to, start by spending time in God's Word, exercise, and then get ready for my day. I do my hair and makeup and put on clothes that I would wear if company was coming over. Then I open the curtains in my home and wake up my house for the day.
Take advantage of the sunlight that you do have. When the sunlight is minimal there are actually sunlight lamps, or "happy lamps" that you can purchase and use in your home that replaces the natural sunlight your missing.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day." ~ Genesis 1:1-5 (NIV)
It will take a deliberate choice to gain each one. Are you willing to walk this road? No more just getting by. Let's make a choice to beat the winter blahs by taking in as much Son/sun light that we can. Once we do this, we in turn can shine the light of Christ that resides within us for all the world to see.
Do you have any thing that you do to beat the winter blahs? We would love to hear from you. Please share your ideas in the comments below.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." ~ Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
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Shari, I imagine many in the Northeast are agreeing with you right at this moment about the winter blahs! Winter here in Louisiana is like a roller coaster. It can go from 30 to 80 in a days time, so sunshine is not necessarily a shortage in what little winter we have. I love your comparison of needing the Sun and Son. I actually read that the reason that people are more prone to sickness in winter is because of a lack of vitamin D, which comes from the sun. When I'm not spending continual time in the Word, I feel lacking in many areas as well. Thanks for this reminder to get a little sun and a lot of the Son.
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