A Lamp Unto My Feet
When it is dark, or we are lost, or we need help, there is a light we can turn to. It is called a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. In this post, here is how we can be sure-footed in this world and know the right path for our lives.
When my children were very little, I would get up early, often dragging myself out of bed unwillingly, and make a hot breakfast every school morning. And I would wake my kiddos up early too, but not as early as me. Why? For breakfast of a spiritual kind!
Breakfast
Bobby, me, and the children would sit around the table and eat a hot breakfast, and we would do devotions together. I knew that feeding them both physically and spiritually was the best way to start their day and send them off to school!
Can you picture it, there we were, dressed and ready to go to school and work while it was still dark outside, eating and chatting and opening God’s word and a devotional book for kids and then teenagers. Praying and loving on one another. No TV, no angst, nothing carried over from the night before! We did this for years without exception!
Now, I was not the perfect mother… not at all!
Finding Jesus
You see, I was saved at the age of 33, and I knew what Jesus had done for me. A price more precious than I could ever count!
So, I taught my children with fervor about the love of God and how Jesus sacrificed His precious, perfect life in my place. And by the grace of God, my children were very young when they accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior and were saved from so many of the devastating life choices I made.
I KNOW what I was saved from! And I never wanted my precious children to have to deal with the things in life I did!
When I surrendered joyfully and happily, a ton was lifted off my soul. I became so thirsty to know more about Him.
A Bible Verse Just For Me
Psalm 42:1 sums it up perfectly…
AS A DEER PANTS AFTER WATER SO MY SOUL PANTS AFTER THEE.
When I saw this verse in my Bible, I knew God had written it just for me! He knew exactly how I felt!
I began a lifelong love affair with the lover of my soul! The more I read and absorbed and studied, the more I loved and pressed into and ran after my Lord! I just could not get enough of His company and wisdom and truth and comfort and grace and mercy! The more I read, the more I agreed with Him and obeyed Him!
And I so desperately wanted the same for my children!
How Can You Serve A God You Do Not Know
I used to say to my children, “How can you serve a God you do not know”? How can anyone know a God they do not spend time with?
When my children turned thirteen, I asked them to commit to reading a chapter from the Book of Psalms and a chapter from the Book of Proverbs every day until they were out of high school. And they did.
Why the Book of Psalms? Because in it, God shows His character. He shows who He is. And it is so important not to think of God as a man or someone you can even hope to understand fully! But Psalms gives the reader a small look at the glory of God!
And why read the book of Proverbs? Well, let’s get it right from the source…
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
for gaining wisdom and instruction;
for understanding words of insight;
for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to those who are simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young—
let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance—
for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.
Do you see it? “For gaining wisdom and instruction, for understanding words and insight! For receiving instruction in prudent behavior and doing what is right and just and fair! Wouldn’t you love that too?
Proverbs 1 goes on to say… For giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young
I wanted that for my children as they faced their teenage years. And for me? I want all of what Proverbs offers until my Lord calls me home!
Tucked into the longest Psalm is this beautiful truth…
THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH Psalm 119:105
God’s word, the Bible, will be a lamp on the path of life that is filled with darkness.
God’s word shines its holy light into the unclear and shadowed areas of life and makes them clear. It is a bright light that will positively show the right and profitable way to travel through this life on Earth.
Did you know that only 20% of Americans are “bible engaged”? They read their Bibles four or more times a week. And the number of Bible skeptics and those hostile has risen to 32%, according to Barna Researchers. And younger Americans are the group most skeptical and even hostile to God’s word?
But here’s the sad truth. Most homes in America have a bible! Actually, 87%, according to the American Bible Society. And the average bible in an American home is three! THREE!
There is a biblical disconnect. Can you see it? Most people have access to a Bible right in their homes (not even talking about online sources), but only 20 % are actually reading it with any regularity.
And of those who don’t read the Bible, the top reasons are “I don’t prioritize it, and I don’t have time”.
Most Americans know the Bible is important enough to own, but they are not willing to make time to open it to let the LIGHT of God illuminate their lives!
We collectively need to read Proverbs 1 again and again!
So, I am asking you what I asked my children when they were 13.
Will you commit to reading a chapter in the book of Psalms and a chapter in the book of Proverbs daily?
And not only read it. Talk it back to God! Let God’s bright, holy light shine on the path of your life and make it straight! Then, you will be amazed at how God can light up your path and your whole life!
Wise words this week…
THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO YOUR FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO YOUR PATH. Psalm 119:105
May you see God magnified in your life this week!
Thanks, Yvonne for your continued guidance each Sunday. So many can “preach” but you offer a plan of action. I’ll take my Bible out today.
Yay! God is so good and when we open up our Bible He always Has truth for our lives.
Oh Thank you for your spiritual message. I need this so much right now. Terrible times will continue so it’s very refreshing to know Gods Word never changes.
Amen! He is same yesterday, today and tomorrow and His promises are yea and amen!
Thank you for this inspiring post. I plan to commit.
You will be so blessed!
What a beautiful tradition and such a loving way to prepare your child for the day!
Thanks, JoAnn!
Yvonne,
I love reading your Sunday Scripture thank you so much!!
God bless you, Terri!
Yvonne – Excellent article. So much to ponder in your message today. I will commit to reading a chapter in Psalms and Proverbs each day.
I’m so glad you do this for us to read. I’m a church going gal but have just started doing Bible study about 20 years ago.
Everything I read in the Bible brings me closer to my Savior Jesus and I appreciate your doing this. Praise the Lord.
Amen!
Thank you for your clear message of the only way in life to find peace & joy. I have just completed a very strenuous move, and each day I asked the Lord for strength. He gave it in abundance. Not only strength, but peace amid the long arduous task. Thank you for encouraging scripture reading as well. I have been in business over 50 years, and I have found Proverbs to be the best business guide ever written. God bless you for sharing your journey with your children. They have a rich heritage to base their future lives on.
Thank you for sharing how God strengthened you!
God bless you! I pray for you and I love your Sunday posts. I will share this one with my young women friends.
Thank you so much for your prayers, Susan!
Sage advice, indeed, Yvonne. I’m putting this plan in place for my granddaughter and me. Thank-you. Enjoy today!
I’m sure you will gain wisdom and peace.
A wonderful post this morning, happy Sunday! That lamp has been leading me most of my life and gotten brighter along the way all Glory to God! Once you establish a relationship with the Father and come to know him, you get a revelation that it’s a must do to try and get everybody you know to Stop, take a minute and see the Goodness of God. You just don’t want anybody to mis out on his wonderful love. Thank you so much for your wonderful post. 🙏🏾❤️
Hi Ida, yes I so agree! God bless you! ❤️
I love your Sunday devotions. I look forward every week to them. They are very inspiring and you make me really think about your message. Thank You for sharing…
Thank you, Yvonne, for sharing God’s wisdom this AM. Already practice Psalms and Proverbs. Happy Lord’s Day!! Love all you share.
Thank you for these encouraging words! As a lifelong Christian now in her 60’s, I find myself needing the encouragement to find my joy in the Bible rather than looking about me. I can get down so easily it seems the way this world is . I find joy in decorating my home as well and so enjoy your posts. Thank you again for lifting me up today! I’m thankful for you!
Going to the Bible is finding the source of all joy! God bless you Donna.
You are my spiritual ‘nudge’. I adore all that you write, especially on Sundays. I look forward to your wonderful gift. And it reminds me to ‘go to the source’. Thank you for this and directing us back to our loving Father.
Thank you Michelled! Praise God for his beautiful gifts.
I love that you post every week about God. That’s the main reason I’ve followed you for so long. I look forward to the post every week. It is one of my biggest blessings. Thank you for sending it, and God bless you.
God bless you Anita!
A beautiful reflection as always Yvonne. Thank you.
I know this month marks the one year anniversary of Lisa’s New Life in Heaven. May God’s grace bless you, your Mom, your entire family in this month of remembrance.
Blessings always.
Gail
I too look forward to your Sunday scripture reading each week. You make it easier (and have opened my eyes ) to understand the Bible better and truly appreciate your guidance.
Thank you for your inspiring Sunday posts! And thank you for sharing your faith and not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Yvonne, I love your Sunday blogs because they are the best! I pray they will speak to hearts and lives that were not raised in Christian homes so that all your subscribers will come to know Christ and our Heavenly Father as pure love! Blessings upon you and yours! And, I accept your challenge! It certainly cannot hurt to come to understand these two books of WISDOM in the Bible.
Hi Ann, please keep praying for those who read Sunday Scriptures. I pray for God to speak to them through the words on these pages.
How awesome is the Bible! I truly believe that his word is a Lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path . I can’t imagine not reading the Bible daily. I’m fact I read it in the morning as I sit in my rocking chair on the porch and it is the last thing I do before closing my eyes at night. Your advice about the Amplified Bible has really helped me in my studies! Thank you,
Teri
You are a good example, Teri! And yes, the Amplified Bible is a very good version.