Holding Daddy's Hand (Psalm 18:35-36)

Today’s scripture: Psalm 18:35-36

It’s been a long time since I’ve been around little ones on a regular basis, but I have fond memories of watching my nieces and nephews learning to walk.

First, they’d pull themselves up on a chair or table. Then, they’d take a step or two. Finally, they’d fall on their diapered behinds.

We grown-ups would applaud them for their attempt, and they’d just grin!

What I really loved doing, though, was taking their little hands and pulling them up. With my guidance, they’d take more steps than they could on their own.

That’s what I picture when I think of God’s “right hand [holding] me up.”

Sometimes, when I try to take steps on my own, I fall. But when I reach out for my Daddy's hand, He guides me along the path He designed just for me.

When I follow His path, “my feet [do] not slip.”

The Lord Knows Our Ways (Psalm 1:6)

Today's scripture: Psalm 1:6

I love verses like this … the first part, at least.

“For the LORD knows the way of the righteous.” I speak often about how God has a plan for each of us. And when we seek His will, He’ll reveal that plan.

Knowing that God has a plan founded on His love, grace, and mercy, I’m confident that He’ll do His perfect will through me.

But God’s “knowing the way” means a bit more. As I’ve written before, I like to look at other versions and translations of the Bible to give me a bit more insight into how God speaks to us. One paraphrase I like interprets today’s verse as:

The LORD protects everyone
who follows him,
but the wicked follow a road
that leads to ruin. (CEV)

I love knowing God protects me and guides me.

Then we move to the second part of the verse. And I actually prefer the Contemporary English Version: “… the wicked follow a road that leads to ruin.” The Bible talks about a “narrow gate” (see Matthew 7:13-14). The road that leads to salvation is narrow and often costly, so many will choose the broad path that seems to provide more … here on earth, that is. But that road truly leads to ruin: the outer darkness I wrote about yesterday.

So what can we learn from today’s verse?

First, we who follow Christ have a wonderful Heavenly Father who guides and protects us. When we prayerfully seek His will, He’ll lead us on a path that glorifies Him and makes us more like Christ.

Second, those who don’t follow Christ will one day experience eternal separation from God.

What’s the bottom line? We need to do whatever we can to help those who don’t know truth to find it. We need to help the “wicked” to find salvation through Christ so that they too can know God’s will on earth—and that they too can know they’ll spend eternity with God.

God's Pure Light (1 John 1:5)

Today’s scripture: 1 John 1:5

A long while ago, when Russ and I were on vacation, we visited some caverns. I can’t remember exactly where, but I do remember being down in a huge cave, and at one point, the tour guide turned out the lights. I’ve never been in any place so completely dark. No light anywhere. Not one smidgeon (not sure I’ve ever used that word in a blog!).

Complete and utter darkness.

Have you ever experience complete darkness? Either literally or figuratively?

Other than that one time in the cave, I’ve never experienced complete darkness—literally, that is. But I’ve certainly experienced figurative darkness. Sometimes it was of my own making. Sometimes it was because of what others did.

If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you may remember my writing about experiences with sexual abuse. Although the Lord has given me “closure” about those times, I still recall a couple of incidences that were very dark.

You may also know I deal with six chronic health issues, and when all six hit at once—which happens more and more often these days—it can be very dark.

But guess what? I serve a God who is light. Pure light. When I’m suffering, when I’m uncertain, when the path before me seems dark, I can call to Him, and He’ll light my way. Now, I may only see a step or two in front of me, but that’s okay. Because I know He’s beside me, and I can trust Him to provide whatever light I need. For the moment.

If you’re in a dark place right now, call out to the One who is light. He’ll light your path and fill the darkness with His glory.