Turn on the Light

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105, NKJV)

When I moved into a new (to me) home several years ago, I invested in changing all the lightbulbs in the house over to LED lights. Although they cost more than other types of bulbs, I thought it was worth the investment. Good lighting is important—something that we quickly appreciate when a power outage leaves us sitting in the dark.

I once lived in an area that seemed to have an unusual number of outages. I quickly learned to keep flashlights, candles, and even an oil lamp at the ready. It’s difficult to navigate through the house in total darkness. I still keep flashlights in various rooms of my home. Although I now seldom need one, I’m prepared.

Bumping our way through a dark house can lead to scrapes and bruises, sore toes, and possibly even a fall. But it’s even worse to try to navigate our way through life without light—the Word of God which illuminates the way we need to walk. Without using the Word as our light through a dark world, we are setting ourselves up for a lot of bumps and bruises and perhaps even a dangerous fall.

Have you ever traveled in an unfamiliar remote area when suddenly your GPS cut out? Scary, isn’t it! It’s easy to panic, uncertain of the right turns to make with no aid to help us navigate. (Unless you are that rare type that carries a paper map.) If we are driving in the dark, the situation intensifies. It’s difficult to see landmarks. Potholes or other hazards may be harder to avoid.  Someone once described living without God’s Word in our lives as trying to go somewhere we’ve never been without having any directions. It’s impossible.

My Bible is one of my most valuable possessions. It’s practical, powerful, and personal. It shows me what true righteousness looks like. It reveals sin, unwise priorities, and wrong attitudes. It gives me wisdom, knowledge, and discretion. As I read the Word, it reveals the character of God and shows me how to become more like Him. It teaches me how to live and what to do.

The Word of God is my GPS, the light on my path, to travel through a dark, sin-filled world.

Have you ever considered what would happen if our Bibles were suddenly seized and we no longer had access to the written Word? What if we only possessed what we had stored in our hearts? Have we memorized it? Meditated on it? Delighted in it? Treasured it like a prized possession? Would we remember enough to keep ourselves on course and be able to navigate the hardships of life?

What are you doing to make God’s Word more active in your life?

• “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11, NKJV)
• “The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.” (Psalm 37:30-31, NKJV)

Lord, Your Word is precious to me. I live in a dark, fallen world. Without the light of Your Word to guide me, I would soon be off course, heading in the  wrong direction. But the wisdom I receive from Scripture keeps me grounded and on the right path.

Scriptures to Study: Psalm 19:7 through Psalm 119:130, Matthew 4:4, Luke 1:79, John 1:5, John 8:31-32, II Timothy 3:16.

Suggestion:  Read through Psalm 119 and journal key points you discover. Describe how knowing God’s Word gives direction and stability in your life.