Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a video of Debbie Boone singing the 60s classic … You Light Up My Life, a love song proclaiming the reality of how Christ lights up our life in the midst of darkness of this world, giving us hope to carry on … and THEN ON TO THIS LINK with the group Hillsong leading worship and singing Light of the world, You stepped down into darkness, and declaring how pursuing Jesus opens our eyes to the Hope He is in our life … FOREVER!!
Highlight Passage: Psalm 139: 12 [NKJV] …
28 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You; but the night shines as the day.
… His light dispels the darkness.
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Highlight Context – Psalm 139: 1-12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… His light is always there for those who really believe.
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Reference Passage #1 - Deuteronomy 31: 6 [NKJV] …
6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
… Moses to God’s chosen just before he died and they were to go, bewildered and feeling lost, into the promised land.
Reference Passage #2 - Psalm 119: 105 [NKJV] …
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light unto my path.
… God’s truth is our light in the darkness.
Reference Passage #3 - John 14:1-6 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … … Jesus, being a light for His disciples in the midst of their confusion and darkness.
Reference Passage #4 - Hebrews 13: 5 [NKJV] …
5b … He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
… Encouragement and hope from the words of God (see #1 above).
My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread author, David Roper, used a very personal story about his dog to illustrate his teaching for my morning quiet time. He wrote today, … Our old dog—a West Highland white terrier—sleeps curled up at the foot of our bed. That’s been her place for 13 years. … Normally she doesn’t move or make a sound, but lately she’s been pawing us gently in the middle of the night. At first we thought she wanted to go outside, so we tried to accommodate her. But we realized she just wants to know we are there. She’s nearly deaf and partially blind now. She can’t see in the darkness and can’t hear us move or breathe. Naturally, she gets confused and reaches out for reassurance. So I just reach down and pat her on the head to assure her that I’m there. That’s all she wants to know. She takes a turn or two, settles down, and goes back to sleep.
Ever been like that dog, … feeling like you were in the dark and needing a little light of hope to deal with the darkness? … I certainly have!! … And then I come here, as I do every morning; and God shines a light on my path with His word, … enough to start my day with light, even when I’m surrounded by darkness (see attached photo).
So, take in that picture, listen to the two linked songs, and meditate on God’s truth above; and then take hope in the midst of this wonderful season. Jesus came into this world of darkness, as the group Hillsong sings, and brought eternal hope. And as Debbie Boone sang back in the 60s … Jesus does truly light up our lives … today, … tomorrow, … and FOREVER!!!
My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … You light up my life with the truth of Your word, but even more with the hope of my Savior. … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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