Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

Psalm 119v105

The reason we need light is because we live in darkness. When sin entered the world, it brought spiritual darkness and death. Our minds and hearts were darkened towards God and His ways. Adam hid from God because the sin within him wanted to get away from the light of His presence. It is the same with us. The sin nature always wants to run from God and His Word.

Jesus is the Light of the World, and His Word brings light to our spirits and our understanding. I like the way this verse uses different words to describe how God’s Word leads us. The word for lamp means a small light, like a torch. It gives enough light to show you the next step, but that’s about it. The word used for light is something like a floodlight that is used to flood a whole area with bright light, like the ones used at football matches.

There are times in our lives when the way ahead is uncertain. We want God to show us the big plan for our lives, but often all we get is the next step, nothing else. At other times we see the way ahead very clearly and walk confidently along. Our journey through life is a constant mixture of these two types of light. Sometimes the way ahead is clear, other times dark and a bit scary. But God’s Word is always our guide, either slowing us down so that we see only the next foothold, or blazing a path in front of us so that we can run for a while.

I’m the sort of person who likes to see the way ahead clearly, knowing all the twists and turns in advance. But I’ve learned that there is something very intimate and personal about being guided one step at a time. It’s like being lost in a cave and a rescuer comes with his torch and shows you where to put your feet as he leads you out of the darkness. The rescuer is very close, maybe even holding you up as he guides your steps with that small steady stream of light guiding you to safety. How very precious that light is, and how you would fix your eyes on it as you walk towards freedom.

Lord, we do not know what lies ahead. It could be a season of great blessing and joy. Or a time of testing and trial. Help us to walk in the Light of Your Word, whether it’s a slow one step at a time, or a confident short sprint. Thank you that Your Word is the Light that we need at every step and stage of the journey. Thank you that Your Light will never be put out, and will never fail us. Thank you that Your Light overcomes the spiritual darkness all around us and keeps us on the highway of holiness, the pathway that leads to Your Eternal Light where darkness will be quenched for ever.