Seeing an early-morning sunrise is definitely an amazing sight.  What starts as a pale glow in the horizon eventually illuminates the entire atmosphere.  Did you know that’s how God intends our lives to be?  Proverbs 4:18 states, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day”(NIV).  Meditate on that verse for a moment.  It’s exciting to think that God’s will for you is to always increase!

In the world, you often find a terribly bleak forecast.  When you’re going through tough times, people may try to convince you that your situation will only grow worse.  Even when things seem to be going well, people may try to scare you, saying that your “luck” is about to run out.   However, as Christians, we realize that we’re not living under luck but under the blessing of the Lord!  We also know that even when we’re experiencing prosperity, God only has better things in store.  Psalm 84:7 states that people who find their strength in God will move “from strength to strength.”

Of course, we still know that we will face challenges in life; God never promised a life of ease.  However, we can be confident that even in difficult times, God is moving us toward increase!  James explains that “the testing of your faith produces patience” and therefore instructs us to “let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:3-4).  You see, even through trials, we come out stronger because of the blessing of the Lord.  One of the important characteristics of Jesus that we learn from Scripture is this: “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:7).  So, when we follow Jesus, who is a God of continual increase, we experience that blessing in own lives through all circumstances!

As you look back at Proverbs 4:18, notice that God compares us to the light that gets brighter from dawn to the “full light of day.”  However, He does not compare us to the light that fades toward sunset.  That’s because God’s will involves increase, not decline.  He wants you to experience increase in every facet of your life, including your faith, joy, finances, health, and influence.  He wants to better your marriage, your family, and your relationships with friends and co-workers!  Most of all, He wants a strengthened personal relationship with you in which you continually grow more and more into His image. Second Corinthians 3:18 explains that we are being transformed into the image of Christ “with ever-increasing glory” (NIV).   So, no matter what you’re going through today, whether you think it’s good or bad, know that the best is yet to come.  In this new year and always, expect God’s increase in your life!