God has been bringing Psalm 37 to my attention throughout this last week. In the normal, day to day, we pray a prayer of thanksgiving for our food, in the mornings, we may thank God for a new day. Maybe something frustrates us, and we remember to go to God with our problems. But when there is something big going on, prayer becomes a moment by moment necessity, whether to keep our minds focused, or to keep our hearts calm. This last week, prayer has kept me going and I have been praying the words of Psalm 37 over and over.
"Delight (surround) yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness SHINE like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." v.4-6
"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him..." v. 7a
"If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm." v.23
"Wait for the Lord and keep His way..." v 34a
In verse 6, it says He, God, will make my righteousness shine. And that made me think of Luke 8:16, "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead he puts in on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light." There is something about the light that has caught my attention. Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." As I pray and ask God for continued direction, I must remember that His Word is my guide. Through the Bible and the Holy Spirit, I can become convinced of the plans He has for me, so much so that I have no desire but to want them. Which is where the song lyrics below come in. Both of them have spoke so much truth into my heart over this last week as I remember that there is darkness in this world, and He has called me to be a light. He has called me to carry my candle into His world, so that His name may be known. And therefore, I pray and ask God to send me out. I have said from the beginning, Jesus I want to be your hands and feet, and here is a beautiful song that puts that cry of my heart, into lyrics. And once again, I am reminded to shine my light that He has burning inside me.
I'm praying, I'm reading His word, and asking the Holy Spirit to convince me of what He has for me. I am continually reminded that God has plans that I cannot fathom, but what He has revealed is a desire to go; to go to Kenya, to teach, to shine the light He has placed in my soul, to be the hands and feet to those who need His loving touch. I am willing. That is all He is asking of me right now.
Father God, there is a candle burning brightly in my soul, wanting to know you more, wanting to share the knowledge of your love with those who do not know. God I am willing to go, to carry my candle, to hold it out so that all can see it. God, how lit is my candle? Can you see it burning? Is it burning for you? As I was driving home the other night, I was wondering from heaven, how many people who call themselves Christians, followers of you, have a candle that is burning within them, bright enough for you to see it. Desiring to do your will, wanting to get the good news of Jesus into the world. God my heart breaks to know there are people in this world who do not know you, whether they have never heard of you or have refused you, they are there, and they need to know of your love. Help me God to shine my light bright for you, wherever you have me, so that you will be known. God I give you my life, use it for your glory, so that your kingdom is furthered, whatever that looks like. I desire to shine my candle in the darkness, so that people can see it. Send me out to go light your world.
In Jesus name,
Amen
There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit who brings a fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home
So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
Jesus, Lord of my salvation, Savior of my soul
Send me out to the world to make You known
Jesus, King of every nation, this world's only hope
Send me out to the world to make you known
Send me out to the world
I wanna be Your hands & feet
I wanna be Your voice every time I speak
I wanna run to the ones in need
In the name of Jesus
I wanna give my life away, all for Your kingdom’s sake
Shine a light in the darkest place,
In the name of Jesus
In the name of Jesus.
Here am I, I will go
Send me out to make You known
There is hope for every soul
Send me out, send me out
I love that Chris Rice song!!
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