Witness in play

We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him....... 

- Acts 5:32 -

Thoughts on This Verse... Of all the many gifts God gives, the gift of his presence in us through his Holy Spirit is among the most precious. The Spirit's presence makes us God's temple (1 Cor. 6:19). The Spirit intercedes for us according to the will of God when we pray (Rom. 8:26-27). The Spirit helps us overcome the pull of our flesh (Rom. 8:13-14). The Spirit gives us strength in our inner being (Eph. 3:16). In other words, the Spirit is at work to transform us to the character of Christ. Let's thank God for his holy presence in us through the Holy Spirit. 

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Self-denial vs deny thyself

Then he said to them all:''If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.''...... 

- Luke 9:23 -

Thoughts on This Verse... Offering ourselves to God isn't easy because it means we must first die to our own selfish will. Like Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane, we face our own cross and must cry out,''Not my will, dear Father, but your will be done!'' 

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Preparation beforehand

However, as it is written:''No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.''...... 

- 1 Corinthians 2:9 -

Thoughts on This Verse... Kids look forward to Christmas, Disneyland, and summer vacation. They imagine how great those things could be. Christians look forward to heaven and dream of seeing the Lord face to face, of being reunited with those we love who have gone home to the Lord before us, and of sharing in the glory of Jesus and his angels. But we can't even begin to imagine the great things that God has prepared for us. They are far more glorious than anything we can dream or imagine. So let's anticipate being surprised and live with passion for the cause of the Kingdom knowing that any loss, any wound, any trouble, will''not be worth comparing to the glory to be revealed in us'' (Rom. 8:18). 

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Oh Boy!

My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you....... 

-  Isaiah 26:9 -

Thoughts on This Verse... When young people in love are apart, they long to be with each other again. When a parent is separated from his or her child, the parent misses the child intensely. When a spouse can no longer be with a long time marriage partner because of disease, death, or divorce, that person's soul can ache to be reunited to the one they have loved. Do you recognize your spirit aching to be with God? Do you end each day and begin the next longing to be in the presence of God? Let's recognize our God-hunger and not only satisfy it by spending time in his presence, but let's also communicate our desire, affection, and need for the presence of our heavenly Father in our lives. 

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Grass that will wither

Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away....... 

- Psalm 37:1-2 -

 Thoughts on This Verse... Frustration and envy... hmmm, isn't that our reaction to those who are evil and yet seem to prosper? We're reminded to not let the apparent and short-lived successes of evil people derail our faith or dampen our spirits. Their victories are temporary, their wealth is like a flower that will wilt, and their lives are like the grass which withers and is soon gone. 

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Call me

'''Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'''...... 

- Jeremiah 33:3  -

Thoughts on This Verse... This was originally spoken to Jeremiah about the fate of Jerusalem. However, this promise is true in special ways for us as well. God wants us to call to him. God often waits for us to ask before he blesses us with what he longs to give us. Yet we lack the ability to comprehend and receive all the great truth about God. He is simply too big and too glorious for us to fully comprehend him and his grace.

  
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Sovereign Lord indeed

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn ......... 

- Isaiah 61:1-2a -

Thoughts on This Verse... Jesus read this passage at a synagogue in Nazareth to describe his ministry (see Luke 4). He came to preach good news, to bind up, to bring deliverance, to offer release, to proclaim grace, and to offer comfort. If Jesus has sent us into the world as the Father sent him (John 20:21-23), shouldn't we be teaching and serving as he did?

 
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**