by Robert Fudge

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.
107 I have suffered much; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.
108 Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws.
109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.
110 The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts.
111 Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.
112 My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.

Most mornings when I get this devotional sent, I go out and walk for about 30 minutes. As some of you have noticed I try to get this out by 5 AM and so it is still dark when I start. My route takes me down a road that has pasture on one side and woods on the other. Ever since the time I had the 2 pit bulls visit me while walking in the dark, I take a flashlite. I really do feel the need for a “lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” In my daily life I need to be able to see clearly where I am going and what dangers may lurk in the darkness around me. We, like David, must make a covenant with God to follow His will (His word, His precepts, laws, decrees, statutes). No matter what we face in life, we can see the path that God has prepared for us if we know His word. David first acknowledged that God’s word is good and necessary for him and then committed to following it, no matter what. He then committed to letting God teach him the word. The reason we too often don’t see the strength of God in our life or His solace in time of trouble or the way He wants us to go in time of decision is because we fail to study and to know His will for us. The only way we can know God’s will for our lives is to study His word. One of the interesting things I have noticed as I study the Bible is how those who were the closest to God willingly and joyfully spent so much time in praise and worship to Him. They recognized His greatness and they loved the time they spent in praise. Abraham built an altar and worshiped everywhere he went. David wrote and sang psalms of praise all his life. Moses always talked of God’s greatness, majesty, glory, and power.

The more we study God’s word the more we come to know Him on a personal basis. The closer we come to Him the more he draws us to Himself and the more we enjoy worshipping Him. But not only does He talk to us, He wants us to talk to Him. This is called prayer. Prayer is not just repeating something we memorized but it is truly opening our hearts to God and sharing with Him our thoughts, concerns, pain, weakness, admitting our sin and also our joys, triumphs, thanksgiving, praise, and worship. We serve a God who loves us and cares for us. He pictures Himself to us as our loving Father. He wants to provide a lamp for our feet and a light for our daily path. Let’s each of us take His light (His word) and follow it more closely in our lives. Spend time reading His word. Spend time talking to Him. As any loving father, he wants us to listen to Him and talk to Him and share our deepest feelings and thoughts – whatever they are.

God, our Father, please help us to study your word more, to know your way better and to follow it more closely. Thank you for the direction you have given us for our lives. Thank you for listening to our hearts. Thank you for giving us the assurance that you are always there for us, both in good times or bad. Thank you for showing us your love for us. We give you all praise and honor and glory. Holy is your name in all the earth. Make it truly holy in my heart today. We pray in the name of Jesus, your son and our brother.

May God bless each of you today as you live for Him.