Last Sunday we gained an extra hour of daylight because of daylight-saving time. It sprung us forward.

That Sunday the weather was simply beautiful, and it seemed that many of us had an extra pep in our steps.

Let’s parallel this extra hour of light with the life we have within us, a reflection of the radiant love of God.

The Bible says that what came into existence was life, and the life was light to live by.

The life-light blazed out of the darkness, and the darkness couldn’t put it out.

During the months of daylight-saving time, we gain an extra hour of light.

A negative thinker might focus on the glass being half empty, perhaps missing that hour we lost when we moved our clocks forward.

But it’s belief in positive principles that keeps us standing when we may feel like lying down. These principles — if we allow it — can become a source of inspiration and encouragement.

Dr. Myles Munroe, a best-selling Christian author, says that facts without principles will become a source of frustrations. Facts always submit to prin- ciples.

When I awakened to the light that is God’s love within me, I’ve cultivated the understanding that darkness cannot extinguish this light.

There are times when I feel like a walking lightbulb. I began using the light and turned my wattage up with every dose of revelation knowledge I received on the goodness and overabundant love of God.

This is only possible with the condition that we will allow God’s love, which is a reflection of his light, to grow within us.

Just think about how attitudes change when the sun is out and the temperatures outside are pleasant, from the colors of flowers to the bright clothes we wear.

This is the light, bloodline of life, and it exemplifies the purity of what love is.

This light is waiting for all of us to turn it up with our faith and to let nothing turn our lights into a dimmer switch.

Yet darkness will attempt to camouflage our light, as if it has more power — which is a lie we are not to believe.

Don’t be afraid to let your light shine. Better yet, shine brighter when any form of fear attempts to dim your light.

To live with hope during this season of additional light, let us not forget how great and gigantic our God is. His love can penetrate all darkness. Here’s to a happy spring forward.

Tonya Lee Carrie Fancher is an advocate for disconnected youth and motivational speaker. She can be reached at tonyaleecarriefancher@gmail.com.