All tagged light

An Early Morning Power Outage and Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, God is Light

Our devotional for this morning is regarding the absolute certainty of God, who is light, and who answers prayer. On a day in 2016 I was sitting in complete darkness in my eerily quiet house thinking about the fact that God answers prayer. A severe storm had just passed through and although it had moved off into the distance I could still hear the rumble of thunder... My neighborhood was dark and without power. To those without faith, this is like their prayer life... they sit in darkness with no hope, and no power. But to those of us who trust in the Lord our prayers are answered in the midst of the surrounding darkness and our battery operated cell phones still communicate our faithfulness.

God’s Illumination of our Faith

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Light of God

Fall days can be wonderful, we stand in the rays of the sun and feel their warmth on our faces, yet despite the sun’s warmth the actual temperature is much cooler. It feels like one of the most perfect and comfortable times of the year. But, when we walk into the shade we suddenly feel a chill, and pull our collar up tight around our neck. Only by standing in the direct sunlight can we enjoy the sun’s warmth. Standing in our faith is much the same, and when we step out of it, we also feel the world’s chill setting in once more.

The Light in every Night

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Light and Life

How black is the deep darkness that surrounds us? Do we think we are lost because we see no light before us? The light of our Lord God is never extinguished, even in the darkest places in our lives it shines. In hopelessness He is like a dim light in the distance on a pitch black night. His light still surrounds us, and we know this because when we turn to face Him our eyes see Him clearly, and we realize that His light has been with us all along… bathing us in His presence, and glory. Had this not been true you would have seen nothing when you turned.

Are we Fireflies of Faith?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Light of God

What we say, and the way we behave influences others, and as Christians this can win souls for the kingdom of God, or drive them away towards eternal damnation. The consequences of the decisions we make, actions we take, and things we profess as being true, are profound in their effect on others... whether we intend for them to be this way or not. Our faith, or lack of it, holds the key to life and death for all those who witness our behavior, hear what we teach, and otherwise see our faith in action. In a dark world they are drawn to even a dim light of hope… how true is the light we shine into the darkness?

Uncovering our Lights of Faith before the World

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Light of Faith

Do we find ourselves living in the world and making short excursions into our faith? Have we designated certain times during a typical day to talk with Jesus, and God? We might be tempted to say no we don’t, but let’s examine our days by keeping a log. Many of us will find that we speak with God in the morning for a few minutes, then again at night before we retire. We might also say a short prayer before meals, but are we doing that only in the privacy of our homes, and not in restaurants or public places? For the remainder of our day, do we pray only on those occasions when we are afraid, or in dire need, but seldom, or never, speaking aloud in prayer, and remaining absorbed in the world for the bulk of our waking hours? This is neglect, and indicates that we are not truly being changed, but merely dabbling in our faith. When will we come to realize that our light is to burn all the day long?

Do you find yourself searching for faith in the darkness?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Lessons of Faith

Even in the midst of our greatest laments the Lord is with us in the fullness of His love. We might feel inclined to believe that we have been abandoned, but His love never ceases, never comes to an end, and refreshes us each day as His radiance shines bright upon us. There are times when His cloak is made to cast a shadow over us so that our spirit might shine on it’s own from the darkness, and what was once unnoticed in the brilliance of His presence is allowed to strengthen and shine forth from the night.

Do we Shine the Light of Life, or the Light of Our Worldly Glory?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Courage, Daily Devotional , Light , Glory , God

The wealthy dress in fine clothes and drive exquisite cars. They live in fine houses and dine in fancy restaurants. When at the opera, or sporting events, don’t they sit above the common people where they can be seen? Why is this so? It is because they desire their successes to be envied, and to separate themselves from those of lesser means, but not so far that their power and wealth won’t be acknowledged and bring them glory. In a somewhat similar fashion, we, as people of faith, are meant to allow others to see our faithfulness, and good works, but for very different reasons... we are meant to give all glory of God, and give others the opportunity to do the same. In this way we are inviting the lost to join us in faith.