A Light to My Path

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119: 105

This week I've been listening to a CD in the van. (I know, shocker--not my MP3 player?  I'm so old school!)  I love this CD though.  I bought it for the kids a year or so ago to help them hide God's word in their heart.  The entire CD is scripture sung to really great music.  I don't know...but it sure encouraged me this week.

One of the song's is this simple verse that most of us have heard all of our lives.  "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  If I wasn't singing the verse around some campfire, I had it cranked up our record player, listening to Amy Grant's version of this scripture song.  (Oh, great!  Now I'm REALLY dating myself--what is a record player?!)

How many times do I wish that God would show me the future?  Um...all the time.

Wouldn't it have been so much easier if He had just taken me straight to Take Shape for Life?  Why did I have to go through all those years of struggling and suffering if He intended to help me in THIS way?

One answer.  

Glory.  

Well, that's the only answer I have.

Our struggles and suffering are faith-building and, ultimately, bring God the most glory.  If God hadn't allowed me to fall into an utter pit of hopelessness I wouldn't have the perspective I do now on His faithfulness to me.  I wouldn't celebrate my weight loss with the same joy and gusto that I am.  Ultimately, by going through those sufferings (only to be rescued, mine you!) God looks bigger...and I realize how powerless I am without Him.  Once again.

We go camping every fall.  We always stay in the exact same cabin, which is--each year--the exact same distance from the bathrooms.  The cabin doesn't move.  The bathroom doesn't move.  I know the way from the cabin to the bathroom.  But what I don't know is what lies on the path between the two.  There are rocks and branches and puddles and trees.  I would never dream of taking a midnight walk from the cabin to the bathroom without my flashlight, even though I can see the bathroom light off in the distance.  I don't know what lies in those woods.  And, I know myself to know that I would most certainly end up falling.  My flashlight provides just enough light to see my feet and a little bit of the path in front of me.  It doesn't light up the path like stadium lighting--but it shows me what I need to get to the bathroom safely.

God's word is the same way.  It shines the light on our currently moment--just far enough out in front of us to keep us safe.  It's not lighting up the entire night sky--but I would be a fool to venture out without it.  Not only is it a light until my path and a lamp unto my feet--it is the bread of life!  Light & bread.  Two things I can say I definitely need.

So, as I continue to lose weight, I want to remain in THIS moment and not try to project too far into my future.  I need the Light on my feet and on my path.  Otherwise, I'm going to get lost or fall or possibly be attacked by unsavory creatures.  

Part of learning to be content is learning to be anchored in the moment.  And to safely walk in the moment, I must have the light of God's word in my heart.

Now, there's some Bread that IS on my eating plan!