Have you ever been camping?  I don’t mean in air-conditioned cabins with indoor bathrooms.  I mean the camping where cabins had no electricity and the bathrooms were out- houses.  If so, one thing you probably learned quickly was to have a flashlight handy when the sun went down.

Going to the out-house after dark was an adventure. One frankly, I could have done without, but waiting for the sun to rise wasn’t always an option.  So, what did you do after dark? You grabbed a friend for security, your flashlight for light and gingerly walked through the woods to the out-house. Clinging to each other, you jumped and squealed at every sound. All the while shining the light back and forth on the path as you looked for SNAKES!

When you finally reached the out-house you did not relax, but shined your flashlight inside as you scanned the out-house for the dreaded SPIDERS! Heaven forbid your batteries conked out leaving you left in the dark with the spiders and who knows what else. Especially what might be lurking in the hole.

DO YOU NEED A FRIEND & A LIGHT?

Violence! Disease! Inflation! Daily we hear anxiety causing news! Facing the day can feel as scary as walking to the out-house in the dark. We wonder what we will encounter as we scan the path ahead.  But just as we needed a flashlight and a friend walking with us in the darkness at camp, we need them walking with us each day.

A FRIEND

When we believe in Jesus, He is our friend.

Greater love has no one than this,
than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you,
  John 15:13-14

Aren’t our friends a mixed bag? Some would be too afraid to walk with us in the dark to the out-house. Others will faithfully cling to our sides, even in the dark, and do anything we need. Jesus is a faithful friend who will always be there for us. Just like we would cling to a friend as we walked through the dark, we can cling to the Lord. He will not leave us to walk alone.

Be strong and of good courage;
do not be afraid, nor be dismayed,
for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go,
 Joshua 1:9

A LIGHT

How about a flashlight that’s always handy? It doesn’t need to be plugged in! No batteries required so they can’t conk out! Where does the light come from? It comes from Jesus who promised that we would not have to walk in darkness.

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying,
“I am the light of the world.
He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness,
 but have the light of life.”
 John 8:12

BE PREPARED FOR THE DARK!

What do we do when we are out there facing the darkness and who knows what else? Like we get prepared with a friend and a flashlight to illuminate the snakes and spiders on our path, we get prepared with our friend and light, Jesus. He has given us tools to prepare us to walk through the darkness.

WHAT TOOLS DO WE USE?

1. PRAYER

Pray without ceasing,
1 Thessalonians 5:17

Praying without ceasing sounds impossible, doesn’t it?  I believe it’s simply communicating with the Lord throughout the day, just as we would a close friend. We can ask Him what to do in a situation or for help 24/7. We can thank Him for things we see and the goodness we experience. When we stay in communication with Him, our loving Lord will prepare us to walk through the darkness.

2. FAITH

Before we venture out, let’s arm ourselves with faith trusting that the Lord is not only with us, but goes before us. When we have faith, the Lord will be like the friend who would go before us into the out-house to check for spiders warning us and preparing us to meet them. By faith we can boldly walk wherever He leads.

And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you.
 He will be with you; He will not leave you nor forsake you;
 do not fear nor be dismayed,
 Deuteronomy 31:8

3. HIS WORD

God’s Word is the flashlight that illuminates our path.

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

God’s Word is a tool like a flashlight shining on our path to guide our way even in the darkness. Knowing God’s Word reveals His nature of love and prepares us to follow the path He has created just for us.

BEFORE WE VENTURE INTO THE DARKNESS,
LET’S ARM OURSELVES
WITH GOD’S FLASHLIGHT.

REFLECTION

Are you prepared for the darkness?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, as I write Psalm 119:105 and say it aloud, fill me with more of You in my heart so that I will always have a strong flashlight within me. Arm me with Your Word building my faith as I face the darkness with You besides me. In Jesus name. Amen.

IN FAITH, USE GOD’S FLASHLIGHT

May your day be filled with love and laughter,

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*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/

Photo friends, Jorg Seemann