Thoughts for the Day

Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
to observe your righteous ordinances.
I am severely afflicted;
give me life, O Lord, according to your word.
Accept my offerings of praise, O Lord,
and teach me your ordinances.
I hold my life in my hand continually,
but I do not forget your law.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

So we started Lent full of confidence that we could take on or give up certain things, and through it all we could draw closer to God. But we've slipped back perhaps now, or somehow its not so easy. Perhaps a brief look at some verses from the longest Psalm in the Bible might help. Psalm 119 was written as an acrostic it uses just about every synonym known to describe God's 'Laws', and emphasises how keeping them is to be desired. The psalmist says effectively God's word in the scriptures is like a light that shows us where to go when the world around us is dark.

Living in Hampshire as a young girl all summer long I cycled off to church each Sunday morning and every evening, and all was well until the autumn. One night I was a little late coming back and by the time I hit the path through the woods it was very dark. I had to get off and walk and even then it was hard to see which was the correct way. The following week I made sure I had a lamp on the bike. However, that didn't prove much better since it was fairly dim and didn't shine far enough ahead. I needed some derailleur gears linked to the front and rear lights, although when I stopped I had no light!

God's word in the Bible is meant to help us, to shine a light on the way we live our lives; the way we relate to others; and the way we worship God. How is your walk with God, at the moment - stumbling in the dark, confidently-striding out, or something in between? Can you revisit some of the changes you decided to make for Lent, don't beat yourself up if they've been forgotten, just start again.

Lord God,
help us to remember that Your
word as found in our Bible
is a lamp to our feet,
and a light to our path,
to help us find our way through this world,
and to guide us into the way you would have us travel.
May we immerse ourselves in your word this Lent,
and some come to Easter rejoicing.
Amen.