W@W WRAP – Week 340

Light in the Darkness…

Read:

Act:

Let us be determined this week to:

Give thanks to our Father of lights. We find hope by relying on God and asking Him to replace any darkness, sin, bitterness, hurt, grief or negativity in our lives with His perfect, abiding love. This requires us to trust in His promises and His Word. Hope enables us to strengthen our faith and accept God’s plan for us – knowing it is for our good and His glory. Romans 12:12 (NIV) instructs us to always be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. By surrendering our hearts to God and allowing His light to shine through us, we can inspire others to experience His incredible power and greatness.

Live and walk in the Light by trusting God wholeheartedly! Let’s remember that God has a specific plan and calling for each of us, and He is faithful! Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that He knows the plans He has for us, plans for peace and not for evil, to give us a future and a hope. May we live in the light of Jesus – even in challenging, difficult or dark circumstances. Let us be alert regarding spiritual blackouts in our lives, always ready to walk in the Light and be a light in the darkness. We shine this light by showing love and kindness, bringing hope and encouragement to others, practising forgiveness, serving selflessly, praying for one another, and remembering that God is with us. We should also memorise God’s Word because it is the truth and the light that will lead us and our loved ones out of any spiritual darkness. As we live out God’s plan and walk in His light, those around us gain a better understanding and experience the application of Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP), “Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognise Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].

Remain in a state of dependence on God – a state of experiencing His rest, His everlasting peace! May we remember that peace and joy only come from knowing God intimately. By applying the teachings of Our Lord, we can re-evaluate how we spend our time – to achieve a healthier and more peaceful life. Let us prioritise God in our lives and allow Him to rejuvenate us and provide us with rest. It is also important to practice silence and solitude, slowing down physically to be more present with God and others. By incorporating rest and eliminating hurry, we can learn from Jesus and experience the unforced rhythms of His amazing grace and shining light. Remember that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, and we can find rest in His presence.

So, may we continually ask our Lord to help us put our ‘faith into action.’ May we know, without any doubt, the truth of Matthew 5:14-16 (MSG), “You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. May our prayer today be: “Lord, please shine Your light into the dark places of our lives and illuminate our hearts with Your truth, goodness and faithfulness so that our prayer-believing lives can shine brightly for Your glory!”

Pray:

Father, we thank You so much that You are the Lamb who is also the Shepherd. You take away the horrible filth of our sin and You replace it with the clear, living, water of Your Holy Spirit and Your presence. Thank You that You Yourself are our peace. I pray for everybody here today – that they will know that presence, that they will know that peace, and that they will rely completely on Your character and Your truth and Your Word. In Jesus’ name.

We come to You today with our hearts full – knowing that You hold our hopes and dreams in the palm of Your hands. Would You breath Your life into the areas that are for our good, and that fulfil the mission that You have called us to. Please help us to trust You with all of our hearts, to not lean on our own understanding. We know that as we acknowledge You, You will make our paths straight. Help us to live joyfully in hope and patiently in affliction. We know that at the end of this journey of perseverance and surrender we will see Your glorious face. We will all stand, walk and live in Your holy presence. We thank You, Lord Jesus.

Allow me to pray the words of Joshua 1:9 over you, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Believe that God’s plan is greater than any setback, bigger than any obstacle, and more powerful than any fear. Trust that He will guide you and provide for you every step of the way. May your ‘faith in action’ be an inspiration to others as you demonstrate the incredible power of trusting God’s plan. Remember that faith moves mountains, and with God by your side, anything is possible.

Father, we thank You that You want us to rest. You want us to realise that we are not able to do things by ourselves. There are so many verses in Scripture about our need to rest. You created the universe for times of rest. We only need to go back to Genesis 1, 2, and 3 to realise that even in creating what we know, You rested on the seventh day. I ask that everyone would realise and know that You require us to enter a state of rest. If we expect it from You, You will give us the rest that no one else can give. I pray this, Lord, in Your name, and I thank You for it.

Father, thank You. Thank You that we can be here today and come to You in prayer, trusting that Your light will shine in our lives and that You will show us where there is darkness or where we might be entering into spiritual darkness. Help us to prepare well. You say in Your Word, “The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.” Help us to be prudent warriors of faith. We ask this in Jesus’s name, Amen.