A Word of Light: by Joey

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In chatting with a new neighbor about living our faith and not being religious hypocrites, she gave me Micah 6:8 He hath shown thee, O man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

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Which struck a chord within me to look up the word humble which means: unpretentious: not attempting to impress others with an appearance of greater importance, talent, or culture than is actually possessed: (of a place) pleasantly simple and functional; modest.

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In the times we are living in things seem anything but simple, which means easily understood, presenting no difficulty. I know from my own experience nothing has been easily understood. Especially when you are raised to think one thing and the reality is not even close.

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This sent me on a journey looking to renew my grasp of the simple things in life. One of them being, a simple and modest approach to faith. As I continued to allow the word to stir in me, I became aware of a quiet breeze rolling through my spirit.

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Leading me to a few verses that have become relevant more than ever: Phil. 4: 8 Finally, brothers, and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

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Stopped in my tracks I see where I have let my life many times fall into conversations and thoughts that are less than praiseworthy. By the same token, I get the significance of Psalm 124: A song of ascents. Of David. 1 If the Lord had not been on our side— let Israel say—2 if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us, 3 they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us; 4 the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, 5 the raging waters would have swept us away. 6 Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. 7 We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

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The fowlers snare....hmmm. If you look at the word snare it means something by which one is entangled, involved in difficulties, or impeded. And if you look at the word fowler means to hunt shoot or trap...wildfowl.

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I think maybe we can all relate to the feeling of being trapped with the times we are in...and it seems like the intensity with which this goes on has a power that is almost inescapable. With that I was lead to Isa. 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint”

To me, it has been a journey that has caused my faith not to faint despite others who would have me think I am the weak link, despite the loneliness that would try to overtake and consume, despite the fear of the future that doubt paints.

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Having said that I am not better than these who have left road tracks on my heart, I am not less than either. I am simply one vessel God has placed in this journey full of cracks in the mortar that light shines through with a word of encouragement in due season.

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In closing, I am aware that this is a wild waves time, for many. Rev. 22:1-2 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.