A Lamp – Let there be light. (1)

Part 2.  A Lamp – Let there be light. (1)                               

                                

We continue with RiSiKiLi−

                       You know− Read it, study it, know it, live it.  

In my previous post, we looked at hearing God speak through His Word, continuing the greater theme of knowing God’s plan for one’s life. Now today let’s consider God’s provision of light so we can find our way through the plan He called us to follow. 

Psalm 119:105 states, Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. NASV

When was the last time you walked somewhere in total darkness with only a flashlight? That flashlight would light up the area where you put your feet. If you’re a wilderness camper you know this experience well. This is like the lamp in the psalm.

Have you walked through darkness with only the light from a lantern? It illuminates the immediate area around you. This is like the light in the psalm.

We need both kinds of light along our path of life and God’s Word provides this. The lamp and light don’t show much of what’s ahead or around us. In the same way we can’t see the thoughts and motives of a person sitting right next to us. That’s where trust comes in. Faith in God and confidence that He has our best interest in mind is essential. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that faith pleases God. Let’s make Him smile today by trusting the light and lamp of His Word to show us the way. 

The truth of Psalm 119:105 should cause each of us, who’s a follower of Jesus, to immerse ourselves into the Words of our Creator.   

Do we really believe the Word of God will light our way along this path of life? How do our actions answer this question? For most of us our actions will answer, “Sometimes I believe that and sometimes I don’t.” 

We need to know for a fact, in the very depths of our being (that is in our spirits), that this passage of Scripture is Truth, and allow it to change our lives. I’m talking again about revelation understanding—the knowing that this passage is true for each of us every minute of every day of our lives. 

The first recorded words spoken by God Himself are found in the third verse of Genesis 1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. ³ Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. ⁴ And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. Genesis 1:1-5 NKJV

 

SO—God’s very first recorded words were, Let there be light. Of course, He was referring natural light. But how interesting this is, in relation to our topic today, that these were our Creator’s first words.

Every believer can walk daily in God’s light. That is, God’s spiritual illumination. When we’re in darkness, it’s difficult to find our way.

When was the last time you stumbled on something unexpected while walking through a dark room? Every morning we wake up to a new day, not knowing what it will hold. Without God’s illumination it would be like waking up in a dark, unfamiliar place, unable to see obstacles that may cause us to stumble or pits into which we might plunge.

God knew from the beginning that mankind would need physical light in order to make it in the world. And He knew we’d need spiritual light in order to live in relationship with Him, walking out abundant life on earth and then on into eternity. 

Speaking of eternity—we who are in Christ will then experience the most splendid light of all. In John’s description of the New Jerusalem, he says, But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.  Revelation 21: 22 – 24 NKJV   

WOW—does that not make us just plum homesick!?   

But for now, let’s walk in the light of God’s Word. We’ll certainly have fewer bloody knees and sprained wrists. 

© Connie Wohlford

Scripture passages from: https://www.biblegateway.com/

Your ears shall hear.

“Risikili” – Part 7 – Your ears shall hear.      

 We continue with RiSiKiLi−

                       You know− Read it, study it, know it, live it. 

How’s your Bible time going? Are you getting to know your Creator through His Book?

God’s plan for each of us is that His Word be a guide for life each day. It can be described as a road map, in instruction manual, or a recipe for life.

Without It, how can we maintain spiritual strength, wisdom, and knowledge day to day? How can we otherwise know where to walk, at what pace, when to stop, and where to turn? When we’re walking in the way of God, we’ll have ears to hear Him direct our paths.

I love the encouragement of Isaiah 30:21: “Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.”   

The only way for us to have the ability to hear God speak on a regular basis, is to get to know Him personally. This we do through His Word−His provision to mankind for this purpose. 

Someone might say, “Well, one time God spoke to me out of the blue when I wasn’t even saved and I was certainly not reading a Bible.” Yes, that can happen. 

An example might be when a person is about to make a decision such as going through the door on the right vs. the door on the left. This might be a soldier in an urban combat situation. God can do a sovereign work and speak clearly to him and say, “It’s the left door. Go in.”

As I said, this may be a sovereign act of God as He sees fit at that moment. Perhaps He’s answering the prayers of the young man’s mama or grandpa, down on their knees interceding for their precious loved one.   

Bottom line: It’s important for us to learn to let God show us the way through life. His Word can illuminate our path—we need to turn on the switch by reading it.

 

 

 

We don’t know what may be around any corner—God does. We can’t see the snares and pitfalls—God can. We don’t know the final outcome of any situation—God knows (Isaiah 46:10).   

 

Reading and studying our Bibles, builds trust in the One who gave us life. Knowing and trusting Him, allowing His Word to light our path, and living it out—Risikili—leads us into and through a life of upmost abundance. At the end of it we’ll hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”    

What are you doing to get to know your Creator better? Are you consistent in Bible study?  

Please leave a comment telling me and other readers how your Bible has helped you get to know God better. Also tell of a time when God gave you an answer or an instruction as a result of your Bible reading/study. 

Here’s an example from me: One morning my Bible reading included Proverbs 3:27, Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. 

As I read, I had an immediate thought, “You need to give Dianne the money for that dress.” I knew it was the Holy Spirit speaking to me!  

About a month earlier, I agreed to buy a dress from a friend. She had purchased it and then decided the color didn’t work with her red hair. As it happened it was one of my favorite colors to wear. She handed it over and said, ”No rush on paying. Whenever is fine.” 

I took her at her word and though I didn’t forget, I simply didn’t think about paying her at a “convenient time.” Then when I read that proverb, I knew I needed to take care of business. I made it a priority and her the money the next time I saw her. I also enjoyed telling her about God telling me to pay up.  

Though that occurred many years ago, I smile every time I think about it and she probably has no recollection of the occasion. 

If you’re not consistently in the Word, I encourage you start today. Then watch out for God speaking to you—often in an unexpected way.   

Feel free to record your decision to begin doing so and see it as a commitment to your Heavenly Father.  

May God richly bless your personal Bible time.  

© Connie Wohlford

Scripture passages from: https://www.biblegateway.com/

Taste Test

“Risikili” – Part 6 – Taste Test          

We continue with RiSiKiLi−

                       You know− Read it, study it, know it, live it.

Is that you Lord? Say what? Hum, is that spicy taco talking to me?

Do you ever hear something in your head and wonder if God is talking to you?

I can tell you a good way to know—to be able to discern the voice of God. In my last couple of posts we addressed being able to trust God’s Word. Now let’s look at hearing God’s voice with the help of His Word—the Bible. 

In the natural, when we eat food our hunger is satisfied. Our digestive system kicks in and that food provides nourishment to our bodies so life is sustained, our cells are nourished, and we have energy for the physical and mental things we do day to day. Each time this occurs, we’re then hungry again in a few hours and need more food.  

 

When we read and study our Bibles we ingest the Word of God. With the help of the Holy Spirit residing in us, our mind, soul, and spirit processes it. It then becomes nourishment to our mind, soul and spirit and sustains life and health in the core of our being. That is in the essence of who we are in our innermost parts. It’s our spirit being, that part of us that communes with God, that defines the real you or me. That’s the part of us that lives forever.  

And that’s part of us that wars with our flesh (physical being) over what we will give ourselves to, in any given moment. Do you ever detect a battle going on between your flesh and spirit?

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. John 24:4

That battle might be to see or not to see a movie, to participate or not in a certain conversation, to eat a large piece of cake vs. a small one, to make that remark to my spouse or not, or to ask that hurting person if I can pray for him or not.  

This internal battle can involve much more serious matters like wrong sexual behavior, abortion, drug use, cheating, to study God’s Word this morning or sleep another hour. The list could go on into eternity. What’s your battle at the moment? What will it be an hour, a day, a month, five years from now?

In this battle, which part of you or me will be stronger? Which part has been strengthened most by things we’ve chosen to do, see, and think up to that point of decision making? Have we been feeding our flesh more or our spirit more?  

Which one is stronger? Which one has been winning these skirmishes in the past and is likely to win them in our future? 

Photo by thehambyhome

Just as our physical bodies need nourishment daily, our spirit needs nourishment every day in order to be the strong part and win the daily altercations. The winner determines our future. 

 

I am not talking about that devotional scripture in the little book we keep in the bathroom, or on the bedside table, or the one that comes across the computer screen each day.

Certainly these are helpful, but I am talking about devotion not devotional!  —And about revelation not just inspiration. Are we willing to set aside significant time in our daily routine to spend alone with God and His Word? For most people—whether they want to admit it or not—the best time is early morning. 

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You Psalm 63:1a

Photo by Connie Wohlford

So, you want to hear from God? Give His Word a chance to prove Itself. Be devoted to God and time with Him, getting to know Him intimately. We recognize best the voices of those we know best. Taste and see. 

 

Comments welcome.  

© Connie Wohlford 

Scripture passages from: https://www.biblegateway.com/

 

Can you trust your Bible? (2)

“Risikili” – Part 5 – Can you trust your Bible? (2)

We continue with RiSiKiLi−

                       You know− Read it, study it, know it, live it.

As we continue with the theme of the value of God’s Word and figuring out the plan of God for ourselves, I’m posting the remaining Bible attributes listed by Bible Scholar/Pastor/Teacher Jack Hayford.

We must be able to trust God and His Word if we want to know His design for our lives and be able to verify that the plan in fact does line up with His Word, the Bible. Here is the rest of Pastor Hayford’s list extolling the truth and value of Scripture. (If you missed 1-5, just take a look at my last post – June 25, 2015.)

Pastor Hayford continued: 

THE ESSENTIAL PLACE AND POWER OF GOD’S WORD*

6.  The Regenerating Power of God’s Word

The Word of God regenerates new spiritual life where man has, by nature, died spiritually.  

For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God (1 Peter 1:23 NASV).

7.  The Authority of God’s Word over Our Lives

As ‘spiritual’ people we are to refuse the ‘natural’ inclinations of fallen man, giving place instead to hearing and yielding to the authority of God’s own Word. 

Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. ⁹⁰ Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands. ⁹¹ They stand this day according to Your ordinances, For all things are Your servants (Psalm 119:89-91 NASV).

8.  God’s Word and Our Soul’s Nourishment

Spiritual survival is not possible for long without feeding upon the Word of God. 

So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord (Deuteronomy 8:3 NKJV).

9.  God’s Word and Practical, Fruitful Living    

The regular application of the Word of God is the pathway to success and prosperity in living.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105 NKJV).

10. True Spiritual Growth Requires God’s Word 

True spiritual growth requires the Word of God, which makes spiritual maturity genuine.

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. ² I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; ³ for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? ⁴ For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal? ⁵ Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? (1 Cor. 3: 1-5 NKJV). 

11. Loving God’s Word As Jesus Follower

To follow Jesus and to know God, a continuing requirement of steadfast commitment to hearing, heeding, and studying the Bible is necessary.  

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him (John 14:21 NKJV).

12. God’s Word: Purifier unto Holy Living

The Bible shows us Christ’s likeness so that we can be ordered and shaped into that image.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵ But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does (James 1:23-25).

13. God’s Word, Evangelism, and Expansion

The spreading of God’s Word and the fulfillment of our personal potential come by the Word of God.     

For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater (Isaiah 55:10-11 NKJV).

14. God’s Word: Read It! Study it! Memorize it! 

God’s Word is the only conclusive source of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding concerning ultimate realities waiting to liberate and enrich those who will pursue its wealth.    

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15 NKJV).  

 

 

 

 

 

If you do not have revelation of these things, I implore you to ask God to help you receive this truth into your spirit− that it will be Ramah Word to you.  And ask Him to put into your spiritual belly a hunger for God’s Word that cannot be satisfied. He wants to do that and you will benefit in ways you could never have imagined.  

As said by Pastor Hayford, “There is no such thing as health or growth in Christian living apart from a clear priority on the place of the Bible in the life of the individual or the group. The Scriptures are the conclusive standard for our faith, morals, and practical living and are the nourishment for our rising to strength in faith, holiness in living, and effectiveness in service. The Holy Spirit who comes to fill us is the same Person who has given us the Book to guide and sustain us.”* 

*Spirit Filled Life Bible, Thomas Nelson, Page xii 

Note to readers: As you consider the points mentioned by Pastor Hayford, other readers and I would love for you to comment on how you’ve experienced having one of the 14 Bible attributes help you personally. Feel free to comment below. God bless you as you glean many blessings from the Word of God. Thanks for stopping by.

Can you trust your Bible?

“Risikili” – Part 4 – Can you trust your Bible?

We continue with RiSiKiLi−

                       You know-- Read it, study it, know it, live it.

 

 

 

In my last post we looked at ways to know God’s plan and the importance of verifying that the plan lines up with God’s written word, the Bible. Now let’s look at some reasons why we can trust the Word of God. 

I appreciate the words of Bible scholar and pastor Jack Hayford, extolling the truth and value of the Scriptures. He said: 

 

“God’s Word has been unscrolled in both the Scriptures and in His incarnate Son− Jesus Christ. Jesus, in describing the importance of the eternal Scriptures said, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’ (Matt. 4:4). He also commended the steadfast inquiry into the Word of God: ‘Search the Scriptures … they … testify of Me.’ There is no such thing as health or growth in Christian living apart from a clear priority on the place of the Bible in the life of the individual or the group.  

 

Psalm 119:9-10

 The Scriptures are the conclusive standard for our faith, morals, and practical living and are the nourishment for our rising to strength in faith, holiness in living, and effectiveness in service. The Holy Spirit who comes to fill us is the same Person who has given us the Book to guide and sustain us. The writer of this study has demonstrated the balance the Bible brings to living in his life, in his teaching ministry, and in his leadership.”*

 

Here are the first five of fourteen attributes of the Bible, given by Pastor Hayford:

 

“THE SOURCE AND NATURE OF GOD’S WORD”

1.  The Divine Inspiration of the Bible

The Bible is ‘God-breathed’ and the words planned by God’s creative design.*

2 Tim. 3:16 > “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”

 

2.  The Complete Trustworthiness of the Bible   

The Word of God is ‘perfect’ in its accuracy and ‘sure’ in its dependability.* Ps. 19:7 > “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;”

3.  The Content of God’s Word is Complete  

The Bible is complete, completely trustworthy, and sufficient to completely answer anything we need to know about eternal salvation or practical wisdom concerning relationships, morality, character, and conduct.*

Prov. 30:5-6 > “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. ⁶ Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.”

4.  Jesus and the Holy Scriptures

Jesus confirms that every word of Scripture is given by God, every truth is to be held inviolable, that the Scriptures are indissoluble and credible.*

Luke 16:17 > And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

 

 

 

 

5.  The Way God’s Word Is to Be

The Word of God is to be ministered literally and life-givingly in the Spirit of Truth and Spirit of Life.*

2 Cor. 3:5-8 > “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, ⁶ who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. ⁷ But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, ⁸ how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?”

 

So according to Pastor Hayford, God’s Word is divinely inspired, totally trustworthy, complete, confirmed by Jesus Himself, and is to be ministered literally. Let’s meditate on these truths and their accompanying passages. 

 

Thank you for reading this post. I hope it strengthens your own admiration and love for the Word of God. In my next post I plan to give the rest of Pastor Hayford’s fourteen Bible adulations.

 

I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. Psalm 119:16

*Spirit Filled Life Bible, Kingdom Dynamics, Thomas Nelson, Page xii 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How can I know it's God?

“Risikili” – Part 3 – How can I know it's God?

We continue with RiSiKiLi−

                       You know, Read it, study it, know it, live it.

 

In my last post we established that God knew His plan for each of us before we were born and that our enemy/God’s enemy will try to derail the plan if we’re not vigilant. Also we spoke of abundant life and God’s desire that we attain His idea of abundant life, which is far beyond anything we could dream up. 

     

Photo by Margot Pandone

So let’s continue looking at how God’s Word plays a role in this. We need to examine our personal desires in every aspect of life. In order to line up our highest desires with His highest desires for us, we must get to know Him and His nature. By prayerfully reading and studying His Word we get to know God. In reading the four gospels− Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John− we learn about Jesus. In knowing Jesus, we know  God. 

As we know Him better, we begin to recognize His unfailing love for us. As we comprehend this matchless love, we will trust Him more. As we trust Him more, we begin to step out in faith more boldly into the path He designed for us. 

The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble (Proverbs 3:18-19).

If we’re listening, God will speak to us through His Word. Yes, He speaks to us in other ways as well− such through another Christian or by His Own Spirit speaking to our own spirit. But the only way to prove we’ve heard a Word from God and be certain that it really came from God is to see that it lines up with His written Word.  Many people take action on what they thought was a Word from God, to simply later find themselves disillusioned and confused.  

Just today, I heard someone say that he knows a man who says he doesn’t need to read his Bible. He just listens to the Holy Spirit. Whoa! That sounds scary! When we think God is telling us something, we need to prove it against His Word. The Holy Spirit will never tell us anything that does not line us with God’s Word—the Bible.    

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

And another thing− if we want to hear from God, it’s imperative that we pray. We need to talk to Him and listen for Him to talk back to us. 

And remember, as we said last time, Satan does indeed have a plan for each of us and one of the best ways to begin to walk out Satan’s plan is to walk in our own plan.  The road of my own plan will eventually merge right into his.  So many blindly choose this route and then wonder how their life turned out so disappointing. Often they will attribute it to “bad luck.”  Well, luck has nothing to do with it and the word “luck” is not in my Bible.  Bad luck is a commonly used excuse for consequences resulting from not walking in God’s Truth.

 

So how can one know this “Truth,” in order to walk in it?  Since “Truth” and God’s Word are synonymous, the answers are waiting in the pages of His Scriptures.  

“There is no such thing as health or growth in Christian living apart from a clear priority on the place of the Bible in the life of the individual or the group.” Jack Hayford 

Let’s pray these psalms > Lord, I ask that You “Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul” (Psalm 143:8).  “Guide me in Your truth and teach me” (Psalm 25:5). In Jesus name--- AMEN. 

Photo by Joshua Sortino