Light Unfolding

For the sake of…

Psalm 143:11

“For the sake of Your name, O Lord, revive me.”

How many times have I prayed for God’s help and intervention for the sake of my own comfort and ease? Like David, I often cry out to God and at times, like David, it feels as though God has turned His face away (v. 7). Yet rarely do I consider God’s perspective as David did.

David recognized that as one loved by God, he was a testimony of God’s character to the nation of Israel and its neighbors. Eyes were watching how God dealt with him. So David appeals to God for the sake of God’s reputation among the people. David had a perspective that went beyond his own concerns. He perceived God’s concerns – namely, His glory.

Our prayers shine a light on the true motivations of our hearts.

Lord,

Help me to seek after You and Your glory, even in the midst of trial and difficulty. This life is about Your glory, not mine. If You see fit to bring glory to Yourself through my trials, so be it. May my heart’s motivation be to bring You glory, not my own comfort and ease.

Becoming

“Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant and praise is becoming.” (Psalm 174:1)

“Love… does not act unbecomingly.” (I Corinthians 13:4&5)

I want to be becoming – inwardly beautiful with outward manifestations.

Is this it, then? Is this Eureka? Is this the linchpin of inward beauty? Of becoming?

Praise?

Perhaps it is the act of praise that becomes love toward God and helps us become who He always intended us to be. Praise is our maturing, our growing up into Christ who is the Head. Praise is our renewing of the mind and putting on the mind of Christ. Praise is our acknowledgement of God in all our ways, trusting His direction. Praise leads to worship, love, trust, dependence, enjoyment, thankfulness, humility, obedience, service.

Praise is becoming.

Light Unfolding

Unfolding. This word picture moves me. I see images in my mind that, even if I were a talented painter, I’d be ill equipped to translate into this material world. Light coming gently, layer by layer, illuminating darkness.

Psalm 119:130 “The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.”

Unfolding. This word picture moves me. I see images in my mind that, even if I were a talented painter, I’d be ill equipped to translate into this material world. Light coming gently, layer by layer, illuminating darkness.

I think of darkness. How darkness covered the deep at creation until God’s Word – then Light.

I think of the darkened state of humanity brought about when Words of Light were twisted by power of darkness and human flesh ate the forbidden flesh of fruit.

I think of stormy darkness and downpour and deluge. Of Noah and kin sealed in darkness of the ark.

I think of darkness of oppression. God’s own people beaten down, bloody and hopeless.

But in every event, God sent His Word – unfolding light in the darkness.

His blazing light called out to Moses. And through the final plague of death and darkness, brought freedom and light. The nation became a people led through the darkness and the wilderness by Blazing Light of God.

After days upon days of downpour, God unfolded His Word – His promise – before Noah in the light of a many colored bow in the sky. His word and light burst through our atmosphere reflecting unhindered in a million directions the Light of His Word of promise.

The Word came into the darkness of fallen humanity. Forbidden fruit eaters with the taste of death ever lingering on our tongues. As the Word unfolded in this world, Light shined in the darkness. He tasted darkness of death, but His Light overcame and shines brighter still in all who taste of His life – of His bread and His wine.

Psalm 119:131 “I opened my mouth wide and panted, For I longed for Your commandments.”

Yes, I long. This life aimed at heaven only finds satisfaction from the King of Heaven.

Lord, may Your Word unfold Your Light in this life.

For more Light Unfolding posts, God using His Word to bring light, click here.