recall a time in my life when I was carefree.  That is not to say that I didn’t have responsibilities, or the occasional worry and stress that come from living in this world, but I was generally very carefree.  Most recently I have felt weighed down, that is to say, burdened by the cares of the world and fighting desperately to get back to that carefree state.  I often recall saying to friends that “I want to be light.”  I viewed that lightness as being relieved from the burdens that seemed to be weighing me down.  It was only this past week that I realized that being carefree is not being relieved of burdens, but rather choosing to be carefree.  My aha moment was realizing that feeling heavy or feeling light was my choice.

​After realizing it was a choice, I also realized how important it is to feel and be light.  Christians are called to be God’s ambassadors and to allow His light to shine through us and to be a beacon to those that are in darkness.  If Christians are weighed down, it may be difficult to allow God’s light to be visible to others.   There are several scriptures that speak to this light and its importance.

John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

I John 1:6-7 “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
Throughout the Bible, God admonishes Christians to let this light shine.

Matthew 5:16  “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

I Thessalonians 5:5 “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.”

Ultimately I have decided it is a choice.  I have the ability to determine how I will receive and view the challenges in my life.  I can view them as a weight and allow myself to be burdened and risk hiding the light; or I can be prayerful, give the weight/burden to God (Psalms 55:22), and allow His light to shine brightly.

Glory To God For All That He Has Done

Blessings – Janice

All scripture is in King James Version

​A friend recently recommended the book “Waking The Dead” by John Eldredge.  As I read the back of the book the word confidence came to mind.  The back of the book reads, in part, “…to be touched by God is to be restored.  To become all God meant you to be. That is what Christianity is supposed to do for you – make you whole, set you free, bring you fully alive.”

The words made me think how a Christian should move through this life with a certain level of confidence.  Confidence is often defined as “the state of feeling certain about the truth of something,”  God promises are sure, they provide a firm foundation upon which a Christian can stand and move.
When we are sure about the ground we are walking on (e.g., concrete) , we don’t worry about the ground – we move quickly and firmly; we walk without looking down; we walk with purpose; we walk with confidence.

When we are unsure about the ground we are walking on (e.g., gravel or ice), we worry about the ground – we move slowly and timidly; we walk looking down; we walk focused on the ground; we do not walk confidently.

God’s promises allow the Christian to walk with confidence.  The enemy is constantly seeking to shake the Christian’s confidence and slow the walk or even halt the walk all together.  It is natural, in this life, for Christian to occasionally wonder and to test the ground before moving forward; but to ultimately and always move forward based on God’s promises and His will for our lives.  As Christian’s grow in knowledge of God and in His will, the time between testing and movement should grow smaller and smaller.

Confidence in God’s promises is not hubris, it is simply moving with faith and belief in the word of God.  There are numerous scriptures that speak to having confidence, some include:

Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (personal favorite)

Proverbs 3:26 “For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”

Joshua 1:9 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

I John 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, He heareth us.”

• If as a Christian you are unsure of your path, go back to God’s word and determine if you are walking within His will:

​​

• If the answer is yes, then move forward with confidence knowing the foundation is strong and firm.

If you are not walking within His will, then stop your movement, study His word, seek His face, and ask God for His direction.  Once His will is understood and accepted, then move forward with confidence knowing the foundation is strong and firm.

Christians should always allow the Lord to go first, and to follow after Him.  As a friend recently reminded me, He will “…go before thee, and make the crooked places straight… (Isaiah 45:2)

Glory, Glory and Glory To God for All That He Has Done

Blessings – Janice

All scripture is in King James Version