Let the Sun Shine In

Today is Day 36 of of Lockdown in New Zealand for the COVID-19 pandemic.  I am grateful that 2 days ago we left level 4 and are now in level 3 for however long.  This has allowed some people to return to work and some children to school, although parents are encouraged to keep children home if possible.  What a strange time it is and we all wonder what the new normal will look like.

Sitting in my 'study' today which is otherwise known as the guest room, I noticed the TV screen in front of me.  Reflected on its blackness are colours as the sun shines through a top window. Now, as the sun has moved there is very little colour.  I remembered a little song we used to hear on the radio years ago...... So let the sun shine in, face it with a grin, smilers never lose and frowners never win....."

Now, more than ever before we need to let the sun shine in; but how do we do that?  I'll tell you what I have found.  Reading the Bible is an amazing way to let light shine into our hearts.  In Psalm 119:30 it says "The entrance of your words give light...".  

How does it do that?  Because God's word is truth it brings enlightenment to our spirit in the best possible way.  You will find many books in the library these days that speak about light and enlightenment that will deceive you into looking for light in the wrong places.  People talk about being 'spiritual' or spirituality but it is rarely based in relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  It is 'me' centred making myself god, i.e. what I think/feel/experience is 'my truth'.  That may be, but it's really Satan's deception.  That way may bring you a certain peace for awhile but it will not be lasting, let alone eternal.  

God's word is truth.  God understands us because he made us.  He understands how we tick, he understands our weaknesses, our needs and our passions.  Reading God's word will bring light into our lives that will instruct, correct and enrich us in a way that nothing else can.  Haven't got a Bible?  You can find one online in any number of free apps.  Don't know where to start?  Start with the gospel of Mark, then John.  Have a look at the Psalms and get an online devotional like The Word For Today that will expand your reading..... https://vision.org.au/the-word-for-today/  

Let God's light come in by tuning into a Sunday service online or on TV.  His Word brings light because it brings hope to a hurting, lost world.  Just remember, this is not a one-time thing.  You need to keep letting the light of God's truth into your life.  Keep your face to the Son - Jesus Christ who says..... “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 NLT

Prayer:  Lord Jesus Christ, thank you that you are the light of the world.  Thank you that no darkness dwells in you. Thank you that you willingly light up our world through your words and your love.  Give us a hunger for the truth and for understanding of your truth.  Amen

Opposition

The story of Samson is famously known for him allowing himself to be seduced by Delilah. She was influenced by her kinfolk to find out, by whining and wearing him down, the secret of his strength and then robbing him of it.  Samson's life is a bit of a puzzle to many of us, and although we don't understand it, there are lessons to be learned and observations to be made to help us learn both from his victories and his mistakes. 

His parents, having been visited by the Angel of the Lord, (Judges 13), knew from before he was conceived, that he was God's man for the job.  It didn't make it any easier for them when he started to make, what seemed to them, strange life decisions.  They didn't understand why he requested a wife from the Philistines and they questioned his decision.  Maybe Samson didn't understand either why he had this desire.  Judges 14:4 gives us the answer.  It was a God-given desire so that He could move against the Philistines.  It was all in God's plan, not Samson's.  When God has a plan and we move to line ourselves up with His plan opposition will usually come.

 As Samson headed down to Timnah for his bride 'a young lion came roaring against him.  At the point of attack the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him and he tore the lion apart' and Samson continued on his way.

Satan always wants to hinder God's plans and wipe out God's people, or at the least discourage them.  Perhaps you had a great plan that was just beginning to take flight and then came this COVID-19 lockdown which has delayed everything and taken you prisoner.  Don't worry, I know these 2 things for sure - God's ways are not our ways and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts.... (Isaiah 55:9), and God is in no hurry to bring about His purposes. If it's his plan, He will bring it to pass.  Job confessed this in his conversation with God (Job 42:2)...'I know that you can do all things, and that no plan of yours can be thwarted.'

Don't be afraid of interruptions and opposition, allow the Spirit of God to come upon you to fight through.  Stay connected, stay faithful, stay hope-filled and peaceful as you wait for His time.  He will do it.  'For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.'  Ecclesiastes 3:1 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, help me, like Job, to recognise that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.  Help me to stay faithful to what you have shown me and wait patiently for your timetable.  In Jesus' name. Amen

Time For Reflection

For those of you missing the great outdoors here is a beautiful photo taken somewhere in North America recently. We can't go but we can still enjoy!

How blessed we are during this 'lockdown' to have the time to ponder, enjoy, read, write emails, chat with friends.  No rush.  We have been given the gift of time to be still, be reflective, be creative.  

I was reading Romans 12 where Paul urges believers to "..be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you might prove what is that good and acceptable and  perfect will of God." Vs 2.  Prove means to test, examine or scrutinise.  In other words we really need to examine th scriptures, look into them, give time for what we read to gel in our minds and hearts in order to know what God is saying to us. We do this because our minds need to be continually transformed in the way we think in order to line up with how God thinks.  We all have mindsets that need changing , well I do anyway, and it is the truth of God's word renewing our mind that works the transformation.  

I don't know about you, but I am very inclined to read my Bible and not get to the examining part unless something hits my heart. That's because I am a 'feeling' kind of person; not one who is analytical.  I have to work at really looking into God's word reflectively. Perhaps most of us do.

When I looked further into Romans 12 I found these things.  Maybe you will find more..... 

• Vs 3 - God's grace is seen in each of our lives in different ways.
• Vs 4-5 - Though we are all members of the body of Christ we are each gifted as individuals to be used in the way God has designed for us.
• Vs 6 -8 - We are to recognise and use our gifts for the benefit of the body of Christ, knowing that our part really does matter no matter how small it is.
• Vs 9-13 - We are to be genuine in our love for one another, be kind to each other, give preference to one another, be diligent, pray determinedly, be generous, be hospitable. These we are enabled to do by God's grace and our obedience, even if it doesn't come naturally.
• Vs 14-17 - We are to bless those who persecute us, we are to feel with others whatever emotion they are experiencing - empathise. Lord help me to do this!
• Vs 18-20 - We are to be likeminded in our faith, humble, not repaying evil for evil, leaving God to take vengeance where necessary, living at peace with everyone as much as we can.
• Vs 21 - We are not allow ourselves to be overcome by evil (in any form) but to overcome evil with good.

There is something in there for each of us. If there is more than one thing you feel you need to work on, just choose one and start with that.  It's quite a tall order and could be overwhelming, BUT, it's all possible through pressing into God's and asking for His help. As we allow His word to transform our minds to become obedient to Him we are changed to become more like Him.  We do this because of what Christ did for us on the cross.  Galatians 6:14....But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

May God bless you as you take time to reflect on His word and find treasures there that will change your heart and mind and bring you more and more into his peace-giving presence.

Prayer:  Father God, thank you so much for your life-transforming word, the Bible.  Help me to treasure it, to value it, to allow it to go deep in my heart, to transform my mind.  Thank you that your way is truly the way of Life.  In Jesus' name, Amen.