God Speaking

“You, O Lord, keep my light burning; my God turns my darkness into light.”

(Psalm 18:28)

There have been lots of criticisms lately about social media and the harm it can produce if not properly monitored, but it also has another side of connecting friends and family and as I grow older, I find it a great source of not only keeping in touch with my friends, but of sharing innocent sweet moments of family, and also I often find it a mood changer by making me laugh at the clever witticisms of others. One friend often sends me quite thoughtful statements and the one I received this week made me nod in agreement. It went like this;

Body:“I am very tired, time to lie down and sleep”

Mind:“No not yet, we have to go over all those mistakes you made today and those foolish words you wished you had not said. Then we have to start worrying about how much you ate and how much you now weigh. Then we have to worry about your job and all those bills that are adding up. Then we have to go over yet again all the wrong decisions you made in the past…”

As I read it I though no wonder we find this described in God’s words as “the terror of the night” (Psalm 91:5) and how often we can relate to staring into the night as worry and fear become accentuated by the darkness around us.

There is a beautiful selection in the Book of Psalms known as, The Songs of Ascents, 120 – 134, which the pilgrims sang on their way to Jerusalem to worship. I like the message in the last Psalm (134) as the last of the pilgrims leave the temple they know that the Levite priests on duty will have to stay and guard the temple during the night and offer this advice to keep the terrors of the night away;

“Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.” (Psalm 134:1 – 2)

What wonderful advice for us still today. What a powerful way to stop worry invading our minds. What a great reminder that he who can dispel any darkness is right there with us just waiting for us to cry out to him.

“…I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)

Darkness of all different sorts can descend on us at any time of the day, not only at night time. Fear and worry can obliterate joy so that gloom encircles all that we attempt to do and life becomes a mechanical set of activities. We can even forget that help is at close hand as the worries cloud our vision. This is when we most urgently need to turn to God’s word. Listen to his invitation and cry out to him for help. He will hear and lighten the darkness for his children.

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.” (Psalm 145:18 – 19)