<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/span>Psalm 119:105<\/b> \u00a0 <\/span>Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.<\/i><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Psalms 43:3<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Psalms 19:8<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Proverbs 6:23<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0 <\/b>For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Ephesians 5:13<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>2 Peter 1:19<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>\u00a0And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Psalms 18:28<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0 <\/b>\u00a0\u00a0For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Job 29:3<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>\u00a0when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>John 1:4<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0In him was life, and the life was the light of men.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>John 1:9-11<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0 <\/b>The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>John 8:12<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, \u201cI am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Matthew 6:23<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0 <\/b>\u00a0but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Proverbs 4:18<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Ephesians 5:8<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light<\/p>\n We have a heavy-duty flashlight to light up each day of the coming year. It\u2019s God\u2019s Word, a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. When our way is especially dark, it\u2019s a floodlight. When we need God\u2019s comforting presence, it\u2019s a lamp on the table. When we have a dreary day, it\u2019s our sunshine. When we need guidance, it\u2019s a beacon. When we need courage, it\u2019s a torch. When we share it with others, it\u2019s a lighthouse. When we spend time with it, we ourselves become radiant.<\/p>\n Just as the Israelites gathered manna each day, we need the nourishment of the daily bread of the soul. What a privilege to have the very words of God Himself spread out before us in a book small enough to hold in our hands. From its 31,102 verses, you\u2019ll find illumination for every moment of the new year. Don\u2019t miss a day\u2014and start today by thanking God for the joy of walking in the light of His Word. (Jeremiah)<\/p>\n _______________________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n This is what is known about the effects of darkness on a person:<\/p>\n In the darkness, we lose reference points.<\/p>\n In the darkness, the mind tries to interpret the stimuli it receives.<\/p>\n In the darkness, strange distortions and perceptions are made to the cues of what others do and say<\/p>\n In the darkness, we become more inwardly focused<\/p>\n In the darkness, we struggle to find quietness<\/p>\n In the darkness, we have repetitive thoughts that occupy our minds<\/p>\n In the darkness, there are constant emotional and behavioral effects<\/p>\n In the darkness, there is irritability<\/p>\n In darkness, there is panic, confusion, fear, worry, and anxiousness<\/p>\n In the darkness, everything is perceived is distorted\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Darkness is spoken of many times in God\u2019s Word.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Matthew 6:23<\/b><\/a><\/span>\u00a0 <\/b>\u00a0but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!<\/p>\n Jhn 3:19-21<\/b>\u00a0<\/a><\/span>\u00a0And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.\u00a0For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. \u00a0But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Job 24:13<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThere are those who rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Job 24:17<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>For deep darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Isaiah 5:20-21<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!\u00a0\u00a0Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Ephesians 4:18<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>\u00a0They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>1 John 2:11<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0 <\/b>\u00a0But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>1 Corinthians 2:14<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0 <\/b>\u00a0The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Revelation 3:17-18<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.\u00a0\u00a0I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n When we read of the blessings of grace, mercy, and love of God and the LIGHT that is shining in and through Jesus Christ, how is it that we choose to stay in darkness rather than the light? Could it be that we don\u2019t want to get close to the light? Could it be that living in a very dim light is all the light we want? Could it be that we are so used to the darkness that only the smallest flicker of light seems bright? Could it be that we are basing the light we have on worldly and fleshly concepts of light and darkness? Could it be we are on a dark path following others of whom we think have light?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Without God\u2019s Word, we would be in darkness with no hope. Without Jesus Christ (the light of the world) we would be in darkness with no hope. Without the Holy Spirit, we would be clueless about the light, the need for salvation, forgiveness, and repentance. But, to those who have seen the light, repented, followed, obeyed, and relied on\/in Jesus Christ for their salvation and forgiveness of sin(s), to them eternal life is given. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Without God\u2019s Word walking in darkness seems like walking in light. It is the only way known. Many are content with this or try to find ways to add light into their lives via self-help dribble proclaimed as a way to have light in your life. They follow after cultural norms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Think about how the worldly culture has grasped hold of diversity, inclusion, and equity garbage. LBGQT\u2026 is utter darkness. A woman\u2019s choice is the murder of an innocent baby. Pornography is fleshly lust and perversion damaging the soul. The spanking of a child is a form of abuse. All of this is not only proclaimed but taught as the perfect way of living out your life. None of this should be tolerated in our thinking. For the most part, I do not think it is in the heart of a Christian to believe, condone, or tolerate any of this darkness in their lives.<\/p>\n Yet, there is a darkness that still happens in the lives of Christians. The light of Jesus Christ starts to fade due to a lack of God\u2019s Word in their lives. Things that were clearly wrong in the light are now not recognized as wrong. The discernment of such things is no longer there. There appears to not be any difference in the way they live and how the rest of the world lives. They partake of the same busyness of life. They partake of the same sauces of entertainment. They speak of the same topics. They worry, fear, get anxious, hate, boast, etc\u2026.. just like those who live in utter darkness. Their churches do not proclaim sin, God\u2019s anger, wrath, judgment, hell, torment, or sanctification.\u00a0 <\/span>No, they proclaim a watered-down need for salvation. They proclaim Jesus Christ as a blessing giver and when you are lacking in some area of your life just ask for this blessing (finance, relationships, family, health, employment, etc\u2026. without the need for continued spiritual growth and maturity.\u00a0 <\/span>They proclaim baby food and no real meat. Mega churches pop up where you can feel good about being in a church, the preaching\/teaching makes you feel good about yourself, great productions of worship music, and yet there is very little visible light in the lives in many of those who attend. They walk away from a Sunday service without a single conviction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When I listen to sermons on the radio and hear the pastor telling jokes – what is the purpose? God\u2019s Word is not a joke. It is serious with eternal life or eternal torment and darkness in the balance. I would agree speaking about fire and brimstone every service would not be wise. However, sanctification, growth and maturity, godly living, God-honoring, God-glorifying, God-reliance, God-obedience, God-trust, God-following, God-fearing, etc\u2026. should be in the absolute lite of God\u2019s Word.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Without God\u2019s Word (LIGHT) in our lives continually we will walk in darkness. Discernment of spiritual and godly things is absent. Right and wrong become blurred. Absolutes become maybes. Godly wisdom and worldly foolishness become mixed. Light and darkness become undistinguished, the difference between the heavenly and worldly gets confused, and Holiness and sinfulness are forgotten words\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n The darkness of this lost world is all around us all of the time. We should be on full alert to discern it. We should be a beacon of light in it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I doubt there will be any change in a person until there is an intentional desire for God\u2019s Word (LIGHT), a desire to hear the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit, and a choice to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all of our thoughts, words, and actions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cand people loved the darkness rather than the light\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0Psalm 119:105 \u00a0 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. \u00a0Psalms 43:3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! \u00a0Psalms 19:8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the … Continue reading “58.v. Psalm 119:105”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[18558,18559,18573,18560,18574,18566,18561,18564,18563,18562,18571,18570,18569,18568,18565,18567,18575,18556,18572,18576,18577,18557],"class_list":["post-195132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-daily-prayers","tag-1-corinthians-214","tag-1-john-211","tag-2-peter-119","tag-ephesians-418","tag-ephesians-513","tag-ephesians-58","tag-isaiah-520-21","tag-jhn-319-21","tag-job-2413","tag-job-2417","tag-job-293","tag-john-14","tag-john-19-11","tag-john-812","tag-matthew-623","tag-proverbs-418","tag-proverbs-623","tag-psalm-119105","tag-psalms-1828","tag-psalms-198","tag-psalms-433","tag-revelation-317-18"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195132","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=195132"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195132\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":195137,"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195132\/revisions\/195137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=195132"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=195132"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=195132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n