The Light

 “The true light that gives light to everyone.”

John 1:9

“We, like John the Baptist, are not the source of God’s light; we merely reflect that light.  Jesus Christ is the true Light; he helps us see our way to God and shows us how to walk along that way.  But Christ has chosen to reflect his light through his followers to an unbelieving world, perhaps because unbelievers are not able to hear the full blazing glory of his light firsthand.  The word witness indicated our role as reflectors of  Christ’s light.”

~ Life Application Study Bible 

“The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid.”

Psalm 27:1

It’s In His Hands

 “The Lord is my light and my salvation -

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life -

of whom shall I be afraid.”

Psalm 27:1

Are you worrying about your children, stressed out over your job, or discouraged because of a disappointment, thinking it’s not going to work out? We need to live with the attitude of the psalmist David. He had all kinds of things come against him—people, armies, even his own family—and yet he would say to you about your situation, “God’s got this. He’s directing your steps. He’s bringing the right people across your path and your children’s paths. He has beauty for the ashes, and right now He’s working behind the scenes. Dare to believe, dare to trust. Be still and know that He is God. He has you in the palms of His hands.” Don’t worry or fear when you face obstacles that are bigger than you. It’s an opportunity for God to show you He’s God. It’s one thing to believe God has power to do the impossible. But God wants you to do more than just believe; He wants you to experience His power. He will show you His greatness.

~ Joel Osteen Devotional

Guarding the Heart

 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,

 will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 4:7

God’s desire for relationship and his love for you is the major theme of Scripture. His care about the condition of our hearts is preeminent in both Old and New Testaments.  The word heart occurs 862 times in the Bible.  Half of those times are mentioned in the Wisdom Literature and the Prophets.  It appears more than holy, blessed, or sacrifice. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (NIV). The Hebrew translation of guard means to keep above all keepings.  So, above ALL you guard –  your marriage, family, bank account, passwords, your car or house –  guard your heart with more vigilance than anything else.

Joseph guarded his heart from his circumstances. Since he was continually looking to God for understanding he became better not bitter.  As a result, God showed favor to Joseph using his protected heart to save not only his father’s family and the nation of Israel but Egypt.  He knew to whom his heart belonged and gave him peace despite life’s desperate situations (Hebrews 12:14-15).  Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). This is why God insists on worship of him alone. It’s for our peace, enjoyment and rest as his sons or daughters. To worship anything else brings sorrow and destruction.  Fear and anxiety steal the peace of God in our hearts (1 Peter 5:7). Temptations insist we ignore the Spirit’s promptings in our minds (John 10:10). And, anything taking God’s rightful place in our lives is sin (Deuteronomy 4:8-10).

Guarding is a continual growing and maturing process. We must learn what it feels like to be protected by God’s peace, and stay there.  Learn to recognize and know what his voice sounds like and heed it. Learn his words to depend on in times of decision. We must guard our hearts from idolatry because the world and its ways want to crowd God out of our hearts (1 John 2:16).  Jesus shows us by example one strategy of guarding his heart. He  often went away to pray alone (Matthew 14:23, Luke 9:18, Matthew 6:46). Ponder how you can keep to the task of guarding your heart.   Find some solitude today and take a few moments of silent reverence before God with Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts, and see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
-Psalm 51:7-12

By Donna Burns  

Peace of Christ

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

since as members of one body you were called to peace.”

Colossians 3:15

 “Christians should live in peace.  To live in peace does not mean that suddenly all differences in opinion are eliminated, but it does require that loving Christians work together despite their differences.  Such love  is not a feeling, but decision to meet other needs.  To live in love leads to peace between individuals.

Paul tells us to let Christ’s peace be umpire or referee in our hearts.  Our hearts are the center of conflicts because there our feelings and desires clash - our fears and hopes, distrust and trust, jealousy and love.  How can we deal with these constant conflicts and live as God wants?  Paul explains that we must decide between conflicting elements by using the rule of Christ - which choice will promote peace on our souls and in our churches.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

How God Reveals Himself

 “The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

Psalm 19:1

“As God reveals himself through nature, we learn about his power.  As God reveals himself through Scripture, we learn about his holiness and sinfulness.  As God reveals himself through daily experiences, we learn about his gracious forgiveness and our salvation.”

“We are surrounded by fantastic displays of God’s craftsmanship - the heavens give dramatic evidence of  his existence, his power, his love, his care.”

“As you look at God’s handiwork in nature and the heavens, give thanks for such beauty and the truth it reveals about the Creator.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

The Spirit Helps Us

 “... the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we 

ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, 

because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”

Romans 8:26-27

“As a believer, you are not left to your own resources to cope with problems.  Even when you don’t know the right words to pray, the Holy Spirit prays with and for you and God answers.  With God helping you to pray, you don’t need to be afraid to come before him.  Ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for you “in accordance with the will of God.”  Then when you bring your requests to God, trust that he will always do what is best.”

~ Life Application Study Bible