Unbeatable!

The light shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 1:5 

 

 

How would you feel if your darkest thoughts, motives, actions, and intentions were suddenly brought out for all to see?  I can only speak for myself, but I would most definitely be ashamed.  Why? Because I don't want to admit that I have anything to do with darkness.  Yet, truth be told, I do...as do we all.  We like the dark because we think we can hide, but God sees everything because darkness cannot hide anything from His Light!

 

Now, think about this, Jesus is the Light of the World. In Him, there is NO darkness.  As a matter of fact, Jesus saw our darkest thoughts and died for us so that we could be forgiven for all our darkness.  God knows every thought and intention we have and loves us anyway.

 

I ask that you would pray with me:

 

Abba,

 

Thank You for loving me in spite of myself.  Thank You for knowing me better than I could ever know myself.  When I am tempted to try to hide in the darkness, remind me that You see through all my intentions, thoughts, actions, motives, and acts.  In reminding me, also remind me that You have told us that we are to bring all our burdens to You that You can handle them.  Forgive my darkness and fill me with Your love and light.  

What Do You See?

Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever.

Isaiah 9:1 

 

Believe it or not, I pray for God to inspire my soul with these devotions.  God is always faithful.  Sometimes He brings a thought to mind, sometimes He brings a verse to mind, and sometimes He shows me something that a friend is enduring.  This devotion is not exception.  God reminded me that some are enduring darkness and despair.  Because of that, they are in need of encouragement, so here goes.

 

When I was in grade school, my family would take vacation to the Southwest to a conference center called Glorieta in New Mexico.  While I love the Southwest, I didn't like the conference center because, being introverted and socially awkward, I spent most of my time alone.  I remember, one evening after dinner, walking down a path back to our cabin.  I had a flashlight and shined it on the path so I wouldn't trip over something, being that I have always been the graceful sort.

 

About halfway to our cabin, one of maintenance workers was sitting in a chair looking up.  I muttered a greeting and was stepping around him when he said, "Boy, want to see something incredible? Turn off that flashlight, stop looking at the dirt, and look up."  I figured I had nothing to lose, so I did.  Looking up, the sky was so clear and dark with stars shining so brightly.  I can't tell you how long we sat there watching the night sky counting the shooting stars, but for once in my life I felt freedom from all my worries and concerns.  My new friend told me, "You know why this is so amazing?  Because God reminds us that we can only see this sight when it's dark.  Think about it, God's telling us when our world seems dark, if we look up, He's always there."

 

Now, my first thought was this guy is a maintenance worker, how did he come up with such a profound concept.  Then God reminded me that He used fishermen to get the message of love to the people.  As a matter of fact, God reminded me that His Son was a carpenter.  Never underestimate God's methods of delivering His message!  And when despair & darkness surround you....look to God.  His light is always shining on us and in us.

Hide And Seek

I could ask the darkness to hide me
    and the light around me to become night—
    but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
    Darkness and light are the same to you.

Psalm 139:11-12 

 

I remember playing Hide-And-Seek as a youngster with my cousins and friends.  The best time to play was always at night because it was easier to hide and harder to seek. Then there was the time when one of my friends decided to level the playing field a bit...he brought his Dad's flashlight.  It wasn't just a flashlight, it was a Police Officer's flashlight which could light up the entire yard!  So much for being easier to hide because the night was a bright as day.

 

I used to believe that I could hide things from God.  I would play Hide-And-Seek with Him, or so I thought.  I figured if it's dark, then God can't see me.  And I was wrong!  God knows everything and sees everything or else He wouldn't be God.  We can't hide anything from Him, so why try.  We have been given access to go boldly to the throne of grace and seek His face...so why don't we?  Could it be we are too angry?  Could it be we are too embarrassed?  Could it be we are ashamed?  Could it be we just don't want to face it?  Truth be told, God already knows and, here's the kicker, LOVES US!!!!  Let's embrace His love for us and be bold!

Shins Are For WHAT?

I praise you, Lord,
    for being my guide.
Even in the darkest night,
    your teachings fill my mind. 

I will always look to you,
    as you stand beside me
    and protect me from fear.

Psalm 16:7-8

I think I have told you before, but my mind is more of a crayon instead of a tack nowadays, that I have discovered why God gave us shins....to help us locate the corners of furniture in the dark.  I can't tell you how many times I have been in a darkened room and, sure enough, my shins are the ones that find everything there is to bang into.

It's no fun being in the dark.  And, quite honestly, I don't know how people live in the areas where night lasts for 6 months.  

I know I have told you about some of the darkest times of my life.  We all have such times when wonder if we will ever know happiness again; where we doubt we will ever be able to face others again; where we know our lives no longer have purpose...those are some of the darkest times.  Yet, even in the darkest times, God has a way of reminding us that He is with us.  Whether it is through a person, a quote, a book, a movie, a pet...God always has a way of reminding us.  And in those times, when we accept His offering of caring, it's like a light begins to glow in the darkness.  And eventually, that glow will grow until we see that our darkness was of our own making and the light of life really is within our grasp because God has brought us to it.