//Women at the Well Ministries//
Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet
Daily Message from Pope Francis – Without the Fire of the Spirit
FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2021
“Without the fire of the Spirit, the prophecies are extinguished, sorrow supplants joy, routine substitutes love… The image of the lighted lamp next to the Tabernacle, where the Eucharist is reserved, comes to mind. Even when the church empties and evening falls, even when the church is closed, that lamp remains lit, and continues to burn; no one sees it, yet it burns before the Lord. This is how the Spirit, in our heart, is always present like that lamp.” Pope Francis
Daily Devotion – Daily Time with God
“He shall burn it every morning … When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense. There shall be perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations.” – Exodus 30:7-9 NASB
One of Aaron’s primary responsibilities as a priest was to take care of the lamps set before God. He was assigned to trim them not occasionally or often, but twice each day – every morning and evening. God wanted these lamps to burn constantly and as brightly as possible. Aaron had other duties that would keep him busy. He easily could have been distracted. But he never could forget the lamps.
While central to his ministry, this assignment also an important part of his personal life. This was a daily reminder to focus on God, to think about His Word, to evaluate his own heart and priorities, and to make sure He was serving Him faithfully.
These principles still apply to each believer. Every day, we each have many options about how we spend our time and what we do with our resources. How easily we can focus on our jobs or hobbies, our interests or families, world events or the news, even religious activities instead of on spiritual matters.
But the assignment given to Aaron reminds us why it is important to begin and end every day with God, to read His Word, to pray and spend time with Him, and to seek to be attuned to His Spirit.
Don’t ignore your “lamp,” but seek to make your testimony burn brightly. Spend quality time with God. Dedicate your life to Him. Seek to please Him and faithfully serve Him.
Prayer
Father, I seek to serve You. Purge anything that displeases You. Forgive my sins. Help me burn brightly for You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Extended Reading
Exodus 30
//Inspiration Ministries//
Daily Devotion – Our Plans vs. God’s Plans
“The plans of the heart belong to a person, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord … The mind of a person plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” – Proverbs 16:1, 9 NASB
The Bible encourages us to plan but also warns that the planning process has limits. In fact, in the space of a few verses, Proverbs provides two perspectives on planning, using two different Hebrew words.
First, the “plans of the heart” do belong to us. The Hebrew word here refers to making arrangements and preparing. It can be easy to try to arrange our plans based on our thoughts and desires to achieve the results we want.
But the Bible reveals that God wants us to realize that our understanding has limits. We can make plans without seeking Him or considering His insights. Ultimately, we must trust Him to guide us.
The second kind of plan involves weaving or fabricating, as we seek to weave events together to produce the outcome we desire. But in the end, we must realize that God directs our steps. We can be frustrated unless we depend upon Him. We must realize that all our efforts are futile without His blessing.
Today, remember that God gave you His Word to be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105). He is with you, right now – ready to give you wisdom. Seek to be a good steward, wisely using the time and opportunities He provides. Always remember the limits of your plans. In the end, trust Him to direct your path.
Prayer
Father, I commit these projects to You: _______. I seek Your plans. I trust You. Give me Your peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Extended Reading
Proverbs 16
//Inspiration Ministries//