May You Walk in More Light

May You Walk in More Light

We had another houseful of grandchildren this week. It’s always fun and chaotic. As I went downstairs before daylight, I noticed that the grandsons, who were sleeping on pallets, had turned all the lights off but the one small light over my keyboard at the computer. It was dark everywhere but there. I made my way to the desk and began to type. Soon I had to run back upstairs to get something. As I left the computer area I realized it was much darker just a few steps away. I could hardly see the four steps to the upper area of our home. I also noticed that when I was going back downstairs, headed toward the light of the computer area I could see much better, even the steps had light on them.

God spoke to my heart: When you are in the light you have enough to see clearly for where you are. But when you walk away from the light you will find it even harder to see. Only in coming toward the light can you have your steps illuminated. I AM the Light of the whole world. And you are My child, so you are an inheritor of the Light. Always keep close to Me. Walk towards Me, grow in Me, brighten your life in My illumination. Every time you step away from My Light, things will only grow darker. Your circumstances of disaster, discouragement, and ultimately disbelief have to flee in the light. The enemy of your soul wants you to believe that I AM not enough, that I AM not the way, and that I AM not able to give you light for the present time. He is a liar and the Father of all lies. Yes, you may be experiencing problems that look impossible, but don’t walk away from Me now. Yes, you may have been left alone, cast out or forsaken by someone you trusted, but I will never leave you to grope in the dark for comfort. I AM your comfort. My light dispels all darkness.  Your perception of your gloom will only change as you look at Me. My light is always present. I will make the darkness light before you as you come closer to Me.

Oh beloved, are you walking in fear, disbelief or worry? Are you living in the dark? It’s time to turn around and walk in the light! Your view will clear up and your heart will strengthen as you determine to believe God in spite of whatever is going on. His plans for you are outrageously wonderful. A life lived for Christ is blessed with every spiritual blessing – not one is kept from you. Quit stumbling and quit mumbling and start praising Him. Things may “look” dark but He is always lighting your way for He is the Light. He will dispel the darkness and His light cannot be extinguished. Turn around and look for His light is beckoning you to come back to Him.

God loves you and He is surely for you so you can trust His light to dispel any misconceptions, miscommunication or misinformation as you live in the Light of His Word. He sheds His Light on everything so you can see clearly and walk fearlessly.

Colossians 1:12  always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light.

Psalm 112:4 Light arises in the darkness for the upright, gracious, compassionate, and just [who are in right standing with God] Amplified

I John 1:5  This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in Him at all.

Psalm 119:105 Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

John 8:12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the Light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the Light that leads to life.”

No Need to Fear The Dark

As the lights went off early this morning, Danny had already left for work at 3:30. I found myself in the dark alone. 

As I pondered whether to be afraid or find a light, I remembered a recent visit with our daughters and their families. They shared tales about being afraid of the dark in their rooms. One told of the pile of clothes in a chair that looked like a person sitting there. Overnight they kept their eye on the man hoping he didn’t get up and get them. But as morning came, the true identity revealed just clothes. I too remembered a “tiger” in my room that was a pile of blankets upon the light of day. I was amazed that this seems to be something all kids experience. The only difference in us was that I would nearly suffocate, thinking if my head was covered the fictitious monster couldn’t see me and thus couldn't get me!

There are many things that appear bigger than life in the night watches. Faced with a desperate situation, we can only see what we’re focused on. We can’t see anything well. We get worried and our imaginations run wild. We may even get to feeling that we are done for, that all our hope is gone. We cover our heads, we bury our minds, we grasp for comfort and all to no avail. The problem is still in the room with us, sitting in a chair. Staring us down, the problem seems to loom larger than life. We concentrate more and more on the problem and it just gets bigger and bigger.

But let the Son come into the room and we find sweet relief. That problem, though we may still have it, is not nearly as big as we thought, nor as ferocious. It is just a pile of stuff compared to the Lord. We have Jesus and He lights the room with His presence and lightens our hearts with His love. We are no longer fearful because He is with us. We don’t have to fret or fume or worry or concentrate on the problem. We don’t have to cover our head or bury our life for He has come into the room to give us sweet relief. Not only will He comfort us, He promises to help us with the problem. He knows the situation even better than we do for He sees the end of the night. We are stuck in the situation, but He is here to release us from the blame, the fear and the worry.

Oh beloved, you don’t have to hide from the situation and hope frantically that it will not overtake you! Open up God’s Word and read. He is your Answer - to the problem, to your worry, to the outcome and to the plan for good and not evil. As you turn your eyes on Jesus, the things that are trying to suffocate you will lose their ferocity because you will be looking at the Savior rather than the problem. He promises to give you sweet rest no matter what’s going on around you. God will either remove the problem altogether or He will give you instructions on wisdom to deal with it and peace to know that His ways are best. The darkness will not overtake you for your Lord is the Light of the World and the Light in your present dark situation.

Rejoice that God loves you and He’s for you and that’s all you need to see your way through to morning as you rest in the light of His Word.

Psalm 91:1-2 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!”

Psalm 139:10-12 Even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night,” Even the darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.

Psalm 121:2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

Life Can Be Scary! Look to the Light of God's Word.

Being afraid of the dark as a kid was bad, but living in the city, there was always a street light. My parents also made sure there was a nightlight somewhere.  But when we went to visit with my Uncle Bill and Aunt Ruth they lived way out in the country in Arkansas and at night it was DARK! I often slept on a pallet by the bed my parents slept in.  Sometimes I’d stare out the window looking for any light. At the back of the bedroom we slept in was a chest freezer. On the front down at the bottom was an orange indicator light. As long as that light was on the freezer was working properly. When I got especially scared I would stare at that light until I fell asleep. I somehow found comfort in concentrating on that rather than my surroundings.  As daylight came, I woke up unafraid and ready to have a great time.

I know life can be scary. The things we trust in the good light of day seem so remote in the night. Darkness can come into any area of our lives from our homes to our children, to our marriages, and our livelihoods.  The enemy of our soul wants us to believe that things are hopeless and that there will never be light again.

Oh beloved, run to the One Who is the Light of the World! Jesus not only saves us from the penalty of separation from God, He also gives us hope in the night. His light will shine always to guide you no matter what you are going through. Not only does He guide us in the night, He brings us into the light of day for His Joy comes in the morning! He loves you and He says to you never fear. With Me there is hope and light. I not only bought you with a price, I will keep shining My Light to guide you all the days of your life! We can rejoice even in the night as we keep our eyes on the Light of His Word!

Psalm 89:15 Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD.

John 12:46 I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.

Isaiah 42:16 NAS “I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, In paths they do not know I will guide them.  I will make darkness into light before them and rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, and I will not leave them undone.”

I John 1:5 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in Him at all.

Luke 1:78-79  Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace