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God Lights Our Path
Andrea Lende • October 22, 2021
Luke 1:78-79
God Lights Our Path
You can listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/God-Lights-Our-Path-e19609u
Luke 1:78-79
“Because of and through the heart of tender mercy and loving-kindness of our God, a Light from on high will dawn upon us and visit [us].”
“To shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace.”
The Lord is truly gracious.
He was gracious when He sent His Son to die for us to give us life.
And He was gracious when he sent His Son to Light our way.
Zachariah, the father of John the Baptist, was prophesying and praising God for bringing salvation to him and God’s people.
After waiting for thousands of years, the Messiah was finally coming.
Zachariah referred to Jesus as “a Light from on high”.
A Light that would be their dawn, their beginning.
And that Light would shine on those who sat in darkness.
His Light has never been extinguished.
He is our Light even today.
And that Light penetrates our darkest moments.
When God sent His Son to walk this earth two thousand years ago, He knew His Son would accompany us through our journey on this earth as well.
I am so thankful I can call upon the Lord at all times and know He is with me.
Zachariah also tells us Jesus is the Light Who “directs and guides our feet in a straight line into the way of peace.”
A straight line to peace is music to my ears and my heart.
We don’t have to walk in circles for years in search of peace.
He guides us in the most expeditious way straight to His peace.
I simply need to remember to look to Him and not the world.
Today I am thankful for the Light that shines through the darkness and guides me to Him and His peace.
May you find the Lord Lights your way and leads you into His peace today.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for Your mercy and loving-kindness. Thank You for sending Your Son to be the Light in a dark and down-trodden world. Thank You for allowing Him to sacrifice His life to save mine. May His Light shine bright in our world today. Help me follow His Light and enter the peace He sacrificed His life to offer, Lord. Guide and direct my steps today as I walk out this day before You. Fill my spirit with Your love, so I can love those You ask me to love. Put compassion in my heart, so I can serve those You ask me to serve. May I serve with joy, Father. Make light the work You ask me to do this day and provide rest for my soul. Take the burdens from me and give me ease and refreshment. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM the Lord, your God, My child, and I Light your way and guide you to Myself and My peace.
Response: Thank You most gracious and merciful Lord.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.