Devotion Archive

 


"God saw that the light was good….”- Genesis 1:4

 

 

   After a dark night the first light of dawn as it spreads its warming glow across the Eastern sky brings with it a new sense of hopefulness of the coming day.  The darkness of night is past and a new day, with all of its hopes and promises, springs forth.  Indeed, physical light is “good,” even as God so pronounced it.  But even as physical light rejuvenates the physical self and removes the fears of the darkness, how much more does the spiritual light refresh the soul.  As the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the “light of the Gospel,” we behold God in the face of Jesus Christ.  And in His face we see the glorious redeeming love of the Father as it shines as a rejuvenating light into the deepest recesses of our soul.  And, as we tarry in the “light” it warms our soul and all of the fears and all of the uncertainties of the “darkness of sin” evaporate and the dawning of a new day opens before us. 

   With every sunrise a new day begins.  The yesterdays are gone and can never be recalled.  So it is as we humble ourselves before the Father as a repentant child.  For  repentance brings the “dawning of a new day.”  The old day is past, never to be recalled or remembered.  And as each new day dawns on the horizon of our soul, the warmth of the Father’s love rejuvenates us for the coming day.  

 

   Oh, the warmth, the peace, the joy that is ours as the “Gospel light” descends upon us allowing us to bask in the light of the Father’s eternal love as seen in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

 

 

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:7

 

 

     There is perhaps nothing in the entire world that compares with the isolation that is felt when one feels as if no one cares or understands the weight of the burden that he must carry.  Loneliness, the uncaring, unloving attitude of others can send one into the depths of despondency and often even into depression.  We often feel as if the weight of the world is upon us and there is no one who cares, is willing or is able to help carry the load.  We want to cry out as the prophet of old, “Woe is me.”

  

    But, alas, take heart.  There is one who cares; one who is both willing and able to lift the burden which we bear from upon our shoulders. 

  

     It is the Lord Himself that comes to us in our hour of distress and pleads with us to cast our burdens, our fears, our anxieties upon Him.  He calls to us, “come unto me, for my burden is light.”  He is able, more than able, and willing to bear our burdens.  So when the path seems dark, when the load seems more than you can bear, when the night is at its darkest, don’t despair, for there is one who cares for you.

 

     When I was young we use to sing a song in church entitled, No, Never Alone. It quickly became one of my favorites.  It reminded me that because of God’s grace, that no matter what the situation or circumstances might be, I was never alone.  There was one who would give light to the darken path; one to comfort in the hour of need; one to bear the heavy load.  All that I needed to do was walk in His steps and all would be alright.

 

     So, when your load is heavy and your night is dark, remember, you are never alone, for there is one who cares for you.      

 

 

“Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful:” – Colossians 4:2

 

     There are many Scriptures that are occupied with the subject of prayer, either in providing examples of prayer, or pronouncing promises to be obtained because of prayer.  We barely open the Bible before we read, “At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord.” (Gen 4:26).   Instances of men calling upon the name of the Lord are plentiful throughout Holy Writ.  In scriptures we are confronted with the wrestling of Jacob, or are encouraged by Daniel who prayed three times a day.  Our hearts become full with the radiant warmth of God’s loving forgiveness as we read the prayers of David who called upon God out of the depths of his heart.  Prayer is always on the lips of those who are faithful to their Lord whether it is on the mountain top with Elijah, or the dungeon with Paul or in the garden with Christ as He pours out His soul before His Father.

 

     What do we learn from biblical examples of prayer?  We learn, for one thing, the sacred importance and necessity of prayer.  We can be assured that whatever God made prominent in His Word, He intended to be obeyed in our daily lives.  A prayer soul is a Christless soul.  Prayer is the lisping of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the dying saint.  Prayer is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honor and the duty of the Christian.  As the child of God you naturally seek your father’s presence.  For it is in the throne room that the child receives the strength, the wisdom, the courage and the instructions for the coming day. It is because we have spent time with the Father that we can face tomorrow, whatever tomorrow may bring.

 

     As a new day begins it is my hope that you will realize the blessed joy of sending time with the Father in prayer.