March 7,2023 – Reflections on “The Light of His Presence!”

Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, Your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! For, Who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord, a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around Him? O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as You are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around You? Psalm 89:5-8.

         Who Is this Lord God and His Son, Jesus? What do they have to do with us? Creation would not happen without them, the seasons would cease to be, and the sunshine would ‘sleep in’. We are alive because God’s breath is in our lungs. Reading Genesis One gives us a clear picture of how our world began and is. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day. Genesis 1:1-5.

I took light for granted as a child. With a switch, came light. Unless we visited Grandpa and Grandma’s house, there they lit oil lamps. The light flickered across the room. When the day dawns there is no flickering for the brilliance of the Sun that God created. Where did the seasons come from and who provides their continuity? “If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely.” Leviticus 26:3-5. Did you notice the first phrase of this promise beginning with IF?

When we live in God’s Light, we know His Presence because through Faith in Him. The beginning of Hebrews Eleven tells us what Faith is and why it is important. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it, the people of old received their commendation. By faith, we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. Hebrews 11:1-3. Every time the sentence begins By Faith, we are reminded of Abel, Enoch,     Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses.

The prophets conquered kingdoms with justice, suffered, in various ways, because of their faith in the God Who provides something better.
         Who is Jesus? In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5.

What did Jesus, God’s only Son, promise? “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am, you may be also.” John 14:1-3.

We find Hope to face each new day, through our Faith in our Lord God and through Jesus, His Son. Even before God created the world, He knew us and our purpose. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love, He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:3-6.

         What draws us away from the great love of Jesus? The enticements and desires draw us to the world. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33.  

For seven long years, my husband drowned in a sea of dementia. His last two years provided me with purpose. Though he didn’t remember me, I told him about Jesus and how Jesus loved him. I prayed with him, and we listened to hymns while holding hands. Then one day he told me he saw an angel on his shoulder. I praised God, for I knew he would not be a stranger in the Promised Land of Forever. God watched over Him. His gentleness grew. When his breath stopped, I missed him but was so thankful to know he is with God.

One day I sang Jesus Loves Me to him. Tears came into my eyes as I sang. It isn’t a children’s song; the lyrics are truth that makes every breath we draw come alive with Love, Hope, and Joy of trusting and having faith in our Lord God.

How can we find the single-mindedness of living every moment with God? I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your Word. Psalm 119:15-16.

It matters what we say and what we think about. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:7-8.

      Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14.