You Never Have to Walk in Darkness About Anything

Heavy rains hit our area the last two days. This caused our electricity to flicker and finally it was out for a few minutes. When it came back on I had to reset the clock on the range and restart the computer. It was after getting all the other things checked on that I noticed the lowest strand of Christmas tree lights was out. Darkness was all around the bottom of the tree. No ornaments or decorations showed up because no light was shining in those branches. The clock and the computer were an easy fix, but the getting the lights to shine again required more work.

Christmas lights are a great reminder that Jesus is the Light of the World. The word tells us that if we are walking in the light of Jesus we will never have to walk in darkness again.  Simply put that means we can make good decisions based on God’s love and His will.  We won’t have to wonder what to do; we won’t have to feel around in the dark for answers.  We will know because we will look to His Word knowing that He does exactly what He says he will do.

Often we find ourselves caught in the dark and we don’t know where to go or how to move. We might wonder what we should do in a particular situation. We might even wonder how we should celebrate the holidays, respond to criticism, react to rejection or many other things. 

But we don’t have to walk in the dark. We are born again believers who have the Holy Spirit living inside of us. He is our internal light and He always points us to the right decisions.  We don’t have to wonder what to do. When we look at the council of His Word and we follow the light of His presence we are in turn shining His light for others to see. Our enlightened minds and hearts shine out of us like a beacon or like a Christmas tree overloaded with lights. People are drawn like moths to a flame. And we too are drawn, for the Light has dawned in our hearts. 

In the hurry and scurry of the holiday season, if we’re not careful, our light will dim or go out. It’s easy to forget about the reason for the Season and get frustrated in the slow line of traffic or disappointment in the store as we can’t find that perfect gift. You may be experiencing the gloom of hurt, feeling down, or depressed emotions this holiday season. You might even find the holidays a bitter experience as you struggle with turbulent relationships, painful memories, or stressful situations. Caught up in the momentary afflictions, we have a hard time showing Jesus to the world. And yet we are meant to spread the light.

Oh beloved, rejoice in the Light of the World! Rejoice that this light is your reason for celebration, your answer to tribulation, your foundation for abiding joy and your chance to share the Gospel. You are in the Light by divine appropriation. You don’t have to pay for it, you don’t have to work it up, you just abide in Him.  Won’t you take a moment this morning and ask the Lord what He would have you do to spread the Light of Jesus this season? This is an opportune time to shine His light to everyone, whether it’s a kind word or the gift of forgiveness or giving of yourself in some way.  You are His Light and you are destined to live in His favor and blessings. Check a moment to see if you’ve let the light dim and take that to Him. He loves you and He’s for you and that’s why He’s chosen you to plug into Him and be a beacon of Love for the world to see, not just at Christmas but every day of the year.

John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life

I John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 96:2 Sing to the Lord; praise His name. Each day proclaim the good news that He saves.

Bring Every Need to the Lord

I woke up this morning fully expecting to see at least some white stuff on the ground. But to my surprise there’s no precipitation happening, nor did any happen overnight here. The weather centers keep saying we are going to have bad weather, but it hasn’t materialized yet. I don’t know if I should keep relying on their word or not. Maybe I just can’t trust their word anymore. After all the we...ather forecast hasn’t occurred here, at least not yet. It’s not that I’m disappointed. I just thought they knew what they were talking about. After all they’re experts. They said they know and they’ve given us the word.

There are times when I have prayed and prayed about something. You know, that heart’s desire that is always on my mind and always on my lips. I research the Scriptures and I pray the Word over the situation or the person. I know God’s forecast says the Word is true and the answer will come. But it’s been a while. Do I keep looking out the window of my mind? Do I keep believing the answer is imminent? Or do I give up? Do I stand on the Word of the Expert or do I fold under the circumstances of what my eye sees?

As I am typing this very devotional I am beginning to hear the freezing rain outside my window. The weather officials were right. We are experiencing the answer to their word. I kept watching the news cast and kept looking for the evidence and it is occurring, finally.

Oh beloved. Most everyone prays about something. But you’ve been looking for specific answers to specific prayers. You’ve prayed and prayed and prayed. You’ve looked, watched and wondered. Others may have told you it was foolish to pray that prayer. But you’ve kept on praying. You also keep looking for the evidence of that answer. You’ve prayed in the car, in the bed, at the kitchen stove and in your office.

You’ve also stood on the Word of God and prayed that over the loved one or the situation. You can be assured that not one of those prayers is prayed in vain. God hears every single prayer. While the answer must always be left in His hands, (how can we make it happen ourselves?) we have assurance that if we keep seeking, keep asking and keep knocking He will eventually open that door to the answer. Don’t think your prayers are insignificant, unimportant or useless.

Unlike the weather officials, who sometimes do get the weather outlook wrong, God’s Word can always be trusted. Keep bringing all your needs to the Lord for He never ignores you. Keep seeking His face for that wayward spouse or child or parent for His desire is that all should come to the knowledge of God and live for Jesus. Keep praying the Scriptures over it all and watch. Let God encourage you when everyone around you says it’s useless.

Keep knocking on the door of God’s heart for He loves you and He’s for you and He promises that He will withhold no good thing from you as you seek Him earnestly in faith.

Psalm 69:13 But I keep praying to you, Lord, hoping this time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation.

Luke 11:9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

1 Kings 8:28 Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today;

1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always; pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Being Attacked by the Why's of Life?

Some things about kids never change. One of those eternal things is asking  “Why?”  You ask a child to come inside and they will ask why. Tell them to get ready for bed they will ask why. Tell them to put on their coat, and you get a why. Even explaining everyday things like the sun, the moon, the stars – you get a why. Kids just naturally want to know why. My own children asked it all the time and now I hear my grandchildren asking the same question.

We want to know why.  Irritations occur like being cut off in traffic and we hit our hands on the steering wheel and say why.  We have a flat on the way to work and wonder why. It rains and we forget our umbrella and wonder why. Most of our whys are a bit self-centered – just wishing we could have freedom from those little irritations of life that are inevitable.

Some of our why’s come when hard things enter our lives. Someone rejects us and we want to know why. We get passed over for a job and we ask why.  Young kids rebel and grown kids don’t live the way they were raised and again we wonder why.  A spouse walks away, a friend betrays you, someone passes way and again the why’s come up. These why’s are heartfelt – the pain is strong and we cry out to the heavens for some sort of explanation.

We blame ourselves with why’s as well.  Why did I do that? Why don’t they like me? Why have I gotten into this mess? If we only look to ourselves and our circumstances we’ll be done in. Eventually something irritating will happen to everyone. Eventually, something hard and extremely hurtful will enter into our world. If we just look to ourselves, to our own devices, we can become bitter, angry, frustrated, depressed, dejected and doomed.

Oh beloved, this morning you may be surrounded with the why’s of life. You may be blaming yourself, blaming others, blaming fate. You’ve grown tired of the struggle and you’re ready to pitch in the towel. You know you messed up. You know you deserve better. You know that you’re the only one in this hard, rough place with no sign of help.

But beloved! You can make it! Because God Himself is with you! For the believer, even in hard times, even in frustrating moments, even in rejection and fear and longings of the heart no one sees – God is with you! When you put your trust in the Name of Jesus Christ for your salvation, you can be sure that while you don’t see immediate reasons for life’s hardships, you can know that God is with you! Why? Because His Word is His Bond. His Cross is His reason. His empty grave is His proof. God loves you. He loves you when you mess up and wonder why. He loves you when friends quit you, spouses pass away, jobs play out and money gets tight. He loves you when your children disappoint you, when life gives you lemons, when no one else comes to your assistance. And because He loves you, beloved one, He is with you always – He will never leave you, He will never quit you, He will never turn away. He is with you on the side of the road when you have a flat, He is with you at the hospital bed when you have a loved one going home with Him. He is with you!

Rejoice this morning that you are loved and treasured and valued beyond any other creation. Rejoice that He knows your name and your days are written in His loving hand. Rejoice that all the why’s are not important because you know WHO is with you all the days of your life!

1 John 4:9 God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him.

Psalm 42:11 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again— my Savior and my God!

Psalm 62:5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him.

Are You Asking? God's Answer Will Come!

My parents used to write notes on the mirror in the bathroom with a bar of soap. Usually it was "I Love You". Sometimes it was a reminder to pack something or the like. I too leave notes on the mirror. They're easy to wipe off by a little water and a cloth. Yesterday as I was in the bathroom cleaning up after one of the grandkids took a shower, I noticed an old note on the mirror. One I had long wiped away. But because of the steam, there it was plain as the day I had written it! Although I had forgotten about it, it was still there waiting to be revealed again. 

Oh beloved, our prayers are like writing on the mirror.  We give it to God. We talk with Him often about the need, the want, the heart’s cry. We ponder and we wait.  We go about our daily lives and carry on. We might even forget about it. But the Lord never forgets.  One day, just like the message in the steam covered mirror, God’s answer will come. He will reveal His character, His will and His way. It’s not for us to know why delays happen, why promises seem distant or when He needs to answer. We know, by the Word He has spoken that He is always with us, always hearing us, always taking unconditional care of all that matters to us. Go ahead and talk to Him about your life and don’t leave anything out. You do not know when His answer of love will be revealed, but you can always trust that He loves you and has your absolute best in mind.  He’s no ordinary confidant, He’s our beloved Savior!

I John 5:15 And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for.

 

Psalm 65:5  You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas.