Light and Strength

I talked recently about taking some time completely away from social media, and that included most television. For the past three weeks I have been mostly off line, with just enough to research and post my blogs.  I really have not missed it. I told someone that for the past three weeks I have been blissfully ignorant of the drama going on in the world. I’ll jump back in, but for now, as I am resetting my life, trying to get some strength back and finding a new normal, I will stay off for a little longer. 

One thing you do see on social media and most news channels, is when someone really messes up. The media world salivates for stories of someone’s downfall. Could you imagine if the media we have now was present in King David’s day?  

David went from lowly shepherd to the mighty king of the nation of Israel. He made his share of good decisions and bad decisions, some, really bad decisions. But at the core of it all, his heart always belonged to God, even when he was not walking close with Him. 

Within Psalm 26:1—a Psalm penned by David—we see David pouring his heart out to the Lord. He had been up on the mountain tops and he had been down in the valleys throughout his life. He was in a good place with the Lord here in this passage.  He seemed to be saying,  “Lord, You will judge me.  I have both walked with You and I have floundered around on my own.  At this point in my life I pray to never slip away from Your presence again.” Then in verses 11 and 12, he continues committing himself to the Lord, “My choice for myself now is to walk in goodness and honesty. My prayer is that You will continually keep me and have mercy on me. My feet are firmly planted in a good place, close to you  where I will lift my hands in worship and praise as I bless Your name.”

Then David in Psalm 27:1, is sharing the praise of how the Lord lights up his life and how He is his Salvation for eternity. When he considers it, how can he allow the things of the world to make him fear? The Lord is the One that gives him His strength. When he has the strength of God, who would be fearsome enough to make him afraid? 

In verse 4, he goes back to reminiscing on the things he has endured and survived, Here his desire was to seek his Lord. He wanted to dwell within God’s house and with God’s family for all of the days he had left on this earth. He wanted to experience the beauty that is the Lord and to continue to worship and fellowship and live in His house. 

I want that!  First of all, I want God to strengthen my life and my faith.  I want to experience the beauty that is the Lord and, continue to worship and fellowship and live in His house. 

The challenge in this passage could be for us to choose to step out of the darkness and into the light and embrace the strength that God offers to wrap around us as a blanket.  Begin placing your trust in the light and strength of God. 

How can I apply this to my life? Make an effort to throw fear to the side.  The Lord offers us light, salvation, strength and protection. It is there for the taking. I can praise God that He provides salvation, the ultimate source of light and strength, 

My faith is lifted up by knowing that I have the strength of God backing me up in this life.  I can have security instead of fear and light instead of darkness. 

Lord, You are the ultimate Light. You provide light and strength to me over and over again. I praise You in that when I close my eyes, I see Your light! When I am weak I feel Your strength.  Thank You for allowing me to feel a sense of secure peace, even when storms are all around me, You give me light and strength.

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“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”  (KJV)

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.“  Psalm 84:11 (KJV)

“7 Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. 8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.”  Micah 7:7,8 (KJV)

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”  John 8:12 (KJV)

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.”  Isaiah 12:2 (KJV)

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”  Romans 8:31 (KJV)

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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about Him.  

What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe?  Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him?  You can know Him.  Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity.  You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.  

Here is an excellent website that can give you additional information about making your decision for Jesus Christ!  PeaceWithGod.net

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Blog Image by Nicolas Jægergaard from Pixabay