Lamp of Light

Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105, English Standard Version

Lamp of Light

We have a room in our apartment with no windows; it is so dark when the lights (and computer) are turned off, that you have to feel your way to find the door. That made me think of this verse from Psalm 119. Spiritually speaking, our lives are rooms with no windows apart from the lamp of light provided for us from the Lord.

Because of sin, however, we are told by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:12,

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (King James Version)

It is so important that we guard our lamp of light. Our lives can become tarnished as the shade on our lamp becomes darker and darker because of sin in our own lives.

Oh to be perfect! I am the worst at putting my foot in my mouth. I love satire, but I try not to become immersed in satire that harms the lives or names of others. That is pretty hard to do when it is so popular today to "slam" other people.

Think about the Lamp of Light that is provided to you by the Lord God of Hosts, and pray that, by the grace of God, your lamp will not become tarnished with sin. Perfection will come for believers when we meet our Lord Jesus Christ face to face, and our lamps will remain clear for eternity.

Lord, hasten the day!

God Bless You,
Linda

Light is Sown

10 O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
He preserves the lives of his saints;
He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!
Psalm 97:10-12, English Standard Version

Light is Sown

I had a note on my home page of Facebook today from my nephew, Landon, reporting that his crops are in and he can actually enjoy the 4th of July. As a farmer, his holidays depend upon sowing the seed and harvesting the crops. I thought of that when I read the verses shown above.

The Psalmist commands us to hate evil, and then goes on to tell us that light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. What a wonderful reminder of God's love for his people.

However, when Landon sows his crops his work is not done. All summer and into the fall he must fight the weeds that seek to take over and destroy his crops. So, too, do the weeds of sin seek to overtake us. Why would we be encouraged to hate evil, unless evil continues to seek to destroy our testimonies of God's grace in our lives?

What do you think is involved in hating evil? I can think of a few things; perhaps you can think of others. We think of turning away from sin, but more must be done to insulate us, even from our own selves! Spending time in the Bible and in prayer are the most obvious forms of insulating us against the prongs of the devil.

Why is it that taking a few minutes from each day to read and meditate upon the Word of God, and in fellowship with God in prayer seems to be too much to ask? In our busy lives, we view a quiet time with the Lord as optional.

I would encourage you today and in the days ahead to rekindle that precious time with the Lord each day. Light is sown, but what do you do to protect the light of God from being overpowered by sin?

God Bless You,
Linda

Light of Life

12 I must perform my vows to you, O God;
I will render thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered my soul from death,
yes, my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.
Psalm 56:12-13, English Standard Version

Light of Life

I used to be a morning person; I could hardly wait to get up in the morning, especially in summer when I could run barefoot outside in the cool grass still wet with dew. I probably would still be a morning person, but now I wake up in a fog, often in pain. I find it hard to go to bed at night, especially if I am having a good day, because I know that I will have to face the next morning again.

It is so easy to become spiritually buried with the circumstances of our lives which often seem to overwhelm us. How much better would it be for us to wake up every morning and recite Psalm 56:12-13?

As Christians, we have everything to live for! Our soul is no longer bound in the chains of sin that sought to destroy us. God has delivered our very soul from death, and has kept our feet from falling. We, by the grace of God, need to change our focus that we may walk before God in the light of life!

Think about that as you go about the duties of this day. God is the light of life! Nothing can blot out that light that will shine before us forever. Bathe yourself this day in the light of life!

God Bless You,
Linda

Send Out Your Light

3 Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.
Psalm 43:3-4, English Standard Version

Send Out Your Light

Years ago, one of my Bible professors said that one of the proofs that the Bible is true is that the men of God were presented with all of their weaknesses and sins revealed. They were not presented as perfect people. I was thinking of this as I read through this Psalm of David.

As the Psalm begins, David is discouraged, feeling like God has rejected him. How many times have we felt the same way? How many times do the circumstances of life seem to overpower us? How many times does it seem that even our very best friends have disdained us; we are despised on every side?

When that happens, what do we do? Do we seek to justify our name, do we speak evil against those who have wronged us, or do we immerse ourselves in a major pity party? Look at what David did; David turned his focus upon God. He understood that his only true help would come from God. First he appeals to God.

Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!

Then he turned to the altar of God and praised him.

Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.

In verses 5 and 6 of Psalm 43, David ended with the question we should all ask.

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?

Let us pray today that our answer to that question would be the same as was David's.

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

That is the essence of all of our hope, is it not? Let us all pray today, "Oh, God, send out your light."

God Bless You,
Linda

We See Light

7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light do we see light.
Psalm 36:7-9, English Standard Version

We See Light

When I read verses such as those shown above from Psalm 36, I do not understand why everyone would not want to be a Christian. Look at what is available to the saints of God.

*God's precious, steadfast love.
*Refuge in the shadow of God's wings.
*Feasting on the abundance of God's house.
*Drinking from the river of God's delights.
*The fountain of life.
*We see light from God's light.

If these verses are true, which of course they are, why do we see so many Christians with sad faces and no purpose in their lives. What could possibly happen in their lives that would tear them away from God's light?

The Psalmist continues in verse 11 with these words.

Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.

Here are probably the two most common reasons we Christians are walking in the shadows instead of the full light of God's light, and I am the most guilty of all: Pride and the hand of the wicked. How quickly we are filled with pride when we think of how Godly we are! And, how much we are influenced by the ungodly world in which we live.

Let us this day, look upon the Lord Jesus Christ and cry out to him for help, that in God's light we see light!

May His grace shine upon you.

God Bless You,
Linda

Light up My Eyes

1 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?

3 Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
Light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.

5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
My heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
Because he has dealt bountifully with me.
Psalm 13: 1, 3 & 5-6, English Standard Version

Light up My Eyes

Is it just me, or do others feel that they are too often stuck in verse 1 of this Psalm? It seems as though as soon as I seem to reach a pinnacle in my Christian life, feeling closer to God than ever, He suddenly seems to have forgotten me. I find myself saying, with the psalmist, How long will you hide your face from me? Light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.

Thankfully, the Christian life is not one of just feelings. When God seems to be far away, we should do just what the psalmist did in verses 5 & 6. This is the time to read the Bible and meditate on all of the things God has done for his people, and for us particularly. Remember, God never moves, but we do!

As we meditate upon the Lord, we should think of his steadfast love for us, and we should rejoice in the salvation granted to us by the Lord Jesus Christ. Did we deserve that salvation? Can we keep ourselves saved by our own actions and efforts? No. We can neither save ourselves nor keep ourselves saved. Our salvation is all of Christ, from the beginning to the end.

Just as our salvation is all of Christ, so is our walk with him. Does that mean that we do not have to put forth any effort? Of course not, we must continually seek to live faithfully for the Lord in obedience to his commandments. However, we must understand that even that is impossible without the help of the Lord. Christ is our All!

So, I encourage you today. If it seems as though God has forgotten you, plead with Christ, as did the psalmist, Light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. Then meditate upon his steadfast love to you, and rejoice in the salvation he has given to you.

I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

God Bless You,
Linda

Light of His Face

5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the LORD.

6 There are many who say, Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!"
7 You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
Psalm 4:5-7, English Standard Version

Light of His Face

What is it about our face that makes it reveal our emotions so easily? If I were an artist, perhaps I would understand it better.

Just look at a little child. One look at their face and you know whether they are happy, sad, angry, frustrated, excited, etc. We adults are better at concealing our emotions, but often our face still gives us away. Think of how pleasant it is when someone sees you, and suddenly their face just lights up.

It is even more puzzling to me to understand how we Christians can see the face of God looking down upon us, but I know we can. We can sense if God is displeased with us, but oh how wonderful it is when we see the Light of his face shining down upon us!

Read the Psalmist's words again, and apply them to your life today.

"Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!" You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

Spend some time just meditating on the blessings of the Lord, and all of the amazing things He has done for you beginning with your salvation. Think of his long suffering and patience with you and his forgiveness. Think of his control over the sun, moon, and stars as he keeps the stars and planets in their courses.

Yes, there are many who say, "Show us some good." But, as Christians, we know that we are surrounded by the goodness of God. We are filled with joy when we see the light of His face.

God Bless You,
Linda