Living As Light

Author: Davelewis

  • The Word that delivers me from the enemy!

    Psalm 7:1-2; Proverbs 7:1-5; John 1:1-14

    Psalm 7:1-2 ESV
    [1] O Lord my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me, [2] lest like a lion they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.7.1-2.ESV


    Proverbs 7:1-5 NKJV
    [1] My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you. [2] Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye. [3] Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart. [4] Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding your nearest kin, [5] That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.7.1-5.NKJV

    Taking refuge in God (Psalms 7:1-2) by keeping His word within me; His commands and laws as the apple of my eye (Proverbs 7:1-5). When I do this, He will save me from the enemy of my soul who pursues me like roaring a lion, seeking to tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces.

    From the adultress, seductress, immoral woman, who flatters me with her words, aka, the lies and deceptive words of the enemy. Adultress is figurative of this world and all of its ways, which is where my enemy, Satan, resides as the God of this world and the father of lies and deception.

    It’s not just a matter of reading my Bible every day, but meditating on God’s word in that quiet, secret place within my soul, at the core of my being, where the heart of God meets with my heart daily,  binding them on my fingers and writing them on the tablet of my heart. When I do this, the Holy Spirit will make the word of God like my next of kin. His wisdom, instructions and knowledge will be like my sister and when that roaring lion, the enemy of my soul, walks about seeking to devour me, God will be my refuge, my hiding place. He will hide me under the shadow of His wings, like an eagle protecting its young from predators, safely tucked away. The enemy won’t be able to see me when I’m covered by the shadow of God’s wings.

    No human intervention or clever device will save me from the attacks of the enemy of my soul, who can only come at me externally. No pop psychology, ideology, religion, or philosophy can save me from inner turmoil and disturbance of my peace and joy.  Merely going to church won’t drive the enemy away.
    It’s only by hiding God’s word in your heart; binding it on your finger and writing it on the tablet of your heart, that you will be preserved and saved.


    This is the promise of God. Give Him all of you; your heart, mind, soul and strength. Humble yourself in His sight (in your heart ) and He will lift you up. When you do this every day, that is the full meaning and act of “repent and believe.”

    This is the path of righteousness that leads to life.

    When we repent of our sin, turn towards God and believe in His Word, we’re choosing to receive the Word of God who became flesh and dwelt among us.

    John 1:1-5, 12, 14 ESV
    [1]  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. [4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

    [12] But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
    [14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.1.1-14.ESV

    Jesus is the Word of God, who took on human flesh and dwelt among us. The scriptures point to Jesus, from Genesis to revelation and right here in the Psalms and Proverbs, Jesus is the Word. When we hide His word in our hearts, it is the living triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the godhead three in one, who resides in our hearts through faith.

    This is the living power of God’s word in Hebrews 4:12, which gets deep, down in me, penetrating the deepest parts of my life; my heart, mind, strength and soul. God’s word gets into my moral fibers, exposing every thought, intention and motive of my heart.

  • Breakthrough

    As He breaks me of me, I am set free, so that He can live His life through me.

    So many times I’ve pushed God away by simply wanting my own way and trying to manage His calling on my life. God wants all of me, so that He can pour all of Himself into and through me, there by drawing more lost sheep to Himself.

    He’s calling me to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16) set on a hill, ready to shine for His Kingdom and glory.

    He’s no looking for religious zealots who want to serve themselves, but servants who will let everything go for the sake of following Him, seeking first His kingdom and righteousness. He’s looking for those who will abandon their own will and desires, become poor in spirit, meek, pure of heart,  peacemakers, who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

    Are you waiting for your breakthrough? It comes through humble sacrifice and submission to Him and His will.

    Matthew 5:2-11 ESV
    [2] And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: [3]  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [4]  “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. [5]  “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. [6]  “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. [7]  “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. [8]  “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. [9]  “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. [10]  “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11]  “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.5.2-11.ESV

  • O Lord, deliver my life!

    Psalms 6:1-10 NKJV

    Deliver my life from Your wrath: a plea for forgiveness, grace and mercy on my soul.

    The guilt and shame of my sin overwhelms me and weighs me down physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, draining me of inner peace, happiness and joy. The abundant life God created me to live is far from me. O Lord, deliver my life from this place of darkness, gloom and despair

    Psalm 6:1-6
    [1] O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure. [2] Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled. [3] My soul also is greatly troubled; But You, O Lord—how long? [4] Return, O Lord, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake! [5] For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thanks? [6] I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears.

    Deliver my life from spiritual blindness caused by my own sin.

    The guilt and shame of my sins has dimmed my spiritual vision. The light of God is fading, flickering within me. My vision has turned to darkness and stumbling, when I used to walk in the light of God’s word and His countenance. His face shown upon me, lighting my path before me, but the enemy of my life and soul has tripped me up and pulled the rug out from under me. I used to stand on solid ground, but now the earth beneath me is shaky, like walking on egg shells. If I continue to walk with my enemies, the ground beneath me will become like quick sand. I will sink in the muck and mire of my sins.

    Psalm 6:7-9

    [7] My eye wastes away because of grief; It grows old because of all my enemies. [8] Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. [9] The Lord has heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer.

    Deliver my life from the presence of my enemies

    The enemy is encamped all around me. He’s waiting to pounce on me through guilt, shame and fear, which causes stress and anxiety. This is what happens when I focus more on my external problems and less on the Holy Spirit, my Helper and my Comforter.  The enemy walks about like a roaring lion looking for opportunities to devour me, to break in and rob, kill and destroy all that God is doing in my life. But the enemy cannot invade my soul, my inner man, my heart, which belongs to God alone

    Psalm 6:10

    [10] Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.6.1-10.NKJV

    My enemies don’t stand a chance against the Holy Spirit who lives in me. The presence of God in my life, at the core of my being, strikes back at the outer presence of evil and wickedness; the enemies that seek to pull me away from the presence of God inside of my soul and spirit. The outer, exterior forces that I wrestle with every day can tempt my flesh through its lustful desires that seek to be fed and filled. But the Spirit within me, when fully activated, drives those enemies away and keeps them at bay.

    Allow God’s presence within you to deliver your soul; to cleanse you and wipe away the stain and stench of sin.

    Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me!

  • The living power of God’s word is sharper than a double-edged sword

    What are the guiding principles of your life? Are they found in the Word of God, or in the words and “wisdom” of this  world?

    Proverbs 5:1-6 ESV
    [1]  My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, [2] that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. [3] For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, [4] but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. [5] Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; [6] she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.5.1-6.ESV

    Ephesians 6:17 ESV
    [17] and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

    https://bible.com/bible/59/eph.6.17.ESV

    Hebrews 4:12 ESV
    [12] For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/heb.4.12.ESV

    Proverbs chapter 5 is a warning to those who desire to be friends with this world. The speech and language of the world are compared here to the words of an adultress or seductress; a forbidden woman.

    Her lips drip honey Her speech is smoother than oil but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double edged sword

    The true wisdom that comes from the word of God is contrasted here with the words and wisdom of this world, which seem to be words that can lead us to greatness and prosperity. But true wisdom from God comes through the living power of His word, not from the philosophies and ideologies and so called wisdom of this world.

    The seductress here is figurative of the words and wisdom of this world, which seem to be more attractive and promising, yet in the end they become known for what they are; bitter, destructive, leading eventually to destruction

    The words of the seductress or adultress here are described as being “sharp as a double edged sword” yet the living power of God’s word is SHARPER than a double-edged sword. The image of the sword is used here. The sword was the weapon of warfare in those days, and they were kept very sharp and ready for battle. A double edged sword is sharpened on both sides and able cut through a human body, or that of any beast, with deadly precision.

    The words of the adultress are poison, leading to death. They have no life in them. But the word of God and the wisdom that comes from Him brings living power, able to penetrate our human heart, right down to the core of our being, cutting through all of the thorns and thistles, wounds and scars, deep secrets and hidden sins, buried underneath our human nature, locked away from our memory, in a place we don’t dare go, in the dark caverns of our soul.

    But the living power of God’s word goes into those guarded places within our soul and exposes them, bringing them out into the open where we can deal with them. The living power of God’s word brings hope and healing to our human soul, while the dead, bitter words of this world; pop psychology, religious philosophies and ideologies, offer no real, eternal solutions to our deepest grievances and hurts. Such worldly wisdom brings no freedom, peace or real healing, just  temporary sugar coating.

    Are you ready for true and lasting healing, inner peace and total freedom? Look to the living power of God’s word, which is sharper than a double-edged sword and able to deliver you from the empty and lifeless promises of this world and bring you true hope, joy, comfort and happiness.

  • Who are the  righteous?

    Who or what is a righteous person?

    Proverbs 24:16 ESV
    [16]  for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.24.16.ESV

    Psalm 4:3 ESV
    [3] But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.4.3.ESV

    The righteous are the godly; those who seek God, His word, His Kingdom, His righteousness.

    David was characterized as “a man after the heart of God.” The Psalms are evidence of David’s heart, as at least two-thirds of the Psalms are attributed to “the servant of the Lord.”

    A righteous person is one who seeks to be a servant of the Lord and sees him/herself as such.

    A righteous person is not perfect. Proverbs 24:16 tells us, the righteous falls seven times and rises again. Is that seven times a day, per week, in the span of a lifetime?

    A righteous person is one who recognizes their sin, repents daily and seeks God’s grace and mercy. Many of the Psalms are prayers to God for mercy and forgiveness. Psalm 51 is a great example. David was confronted by Nathan the prophet, who revealed David’s great sins of adultery and murder involving Bathsheba and her husband Uriah, whom David sent to the frontline of battle, having him killed so that he could have Uriah’s wife Bathsheba. Yet God made a covenant with David and considered David to a righteous and godly person.

    A righteous person is one who, like David, seeks after the heart of God, to walk in His ways.

    A righteous person is one who repents and believes constantly. They’re always mindful of how God is at  work in their lives. They are conscientious of God’s presence on the inside, at the core of their heart and being. Psalm 139 is evidence of how God knows us inside out!

    A righteous person is one who loves God with all of their heart, mind, soul and strength, AND their neighbor as themselves.

    The righteous are those whom God hears when they call upon Him (Psalm 4:3) because their heart belongs to Him. Every day they deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Him.

    Are you a righteous person?

    Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and everything else will follow

  • Dwelling in peace and security

    Psalm 3:5 ESV
    [5] I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.3.5.ESV

    Psalm 4:8 ESV
    [8] In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.4.8.ESV

    When we willfully and prayerfully seek to follow God’s word, to walk in His commandments and His ways, we will be at peace within ourselves.

    So often when we lie down at night to rest, we toss and turn because of the day that has just passed. The choices and decisions we make throughout the day may leave us grieving within our own heart and mind. Instead of sleep and rest, we lie awake pondering and worrying, holding onto anger, bitterness and rage.

    Yet as God promised the Israelites, so He will keep in perfect peace, all of those who trust in Him and put His Kingdom first.

    Instead of spending our days and nights worrying about all of your problems, let it go as you lie down to rest. Give it to the Lord in prayer. Forgive those who have sinned against you and make it a priority to seek the forgiveness of others you may have sinned against. As much as you are able to, live at peace with all  people. Dwell together in love and unity.

    Every morning, start your day in prayer, giving your life and your will to God in humble submission to Him. Then you will walk in His ways, keeping His word, and when you do commit sin, you’ll be aware of it, seek forgiveness, and move on. This is repentance and sanctification in action in our lives. As you daily submit to God, He will transform you by the renewing of your mind. By the time your head hits your pillow at the end of your day, you will not be fretting against the Lord, you won’t be stewing in the day’s events or worrying about tomorrow, which will bring its own concerns and priorities.

    Getting a good night’s sleep is a gift from God and is so important for living a healthy and productive lifestyle.

    Morning, noon and at night, give it to the Lord in prayer, and His peace which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind, in Christ Jesus!

    Amen!

    Leviticus 26:3-7 ESV
    [3]  “If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, [4] then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. [5] Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely. [6] I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. And I will remove harmful beasts from the land, and the sword shall not go through your land. [7] You shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/lev.26.3-7.ESV

  • The Voice

    Psalms 29:1-11 NKJV
    [1] Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, Give unto the Lord glory and strength. [2] Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. [3] The voice of the Lord is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The Lord is over many waters. [4] The voice of the Lord is powerful; The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. [5] The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, Yes, the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon. [6] He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox. [7] The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire. [8] The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; The Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. [9] The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!” [10] The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood, And the Lord sits as King forever. [11] The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.29.1-11.NKJV

    Psalm 29 is a poetic declaration of the Voice of God over everything, from creation and the elements; the seas, mountains and forests, over animals and all of His Creation. He speaks over all of the earth, to the feeding and care of forest animals to caring for your soul.

    God speaks power, strength and peace in your life, at the core of your being. Give Him all of your heart, mind, soul and strength and He will speak into your soul.

    He will give you His Zoe: God will give you the “God-kind of life,” referring to the Greek word “zoe” which signifies a rich, abundant, and eternal life that comes directly from God, essentially sharing in His divine nature through faith in Jesus Christ; it’s not just existence, but a quality of life filled with love, joy, and purpose.

    God speaks your name too. His sheep hear and know His voice and will not listen to the voice of strangers. His sheep know him and he knows them and calls them by name.

    Read John 10:1-18

  • Are you rushing to judgement?

    Judge not lest ye be judged!

    Rushing to judgement fits right in here!

    Rushing to judgement is a quick response, when we don’t have all of the facts.

    Rushing to judgement assumes I’m right and they are wrong! Definitely rooted in pride, which goes before a fall. EGO is edging God out! Rushing to judgement does indeed edge God out!

    Rushing to judgement neglects my part in this, “in as much as you judge others, you are judging yourself, because you do the same things, maybe even worse, and the same way you judge others it will be measured back to you!

    There is a form of judgement called discernment, which is observing ones behavior and attitudes, along with their behavior. Discernment is actually a godly trait to be cultivated in the Christian life through prayer.

    There is difference between discernment and rushing to judgement. Discernment comes through much prayer and seeking to live by grace through faith as we interact with people on a daily basis.

    Rushing to judgement is actually the opposite of discernment because there’s no thoughtfulness or prayer put into it.

    If we’re to truly love our neighbors as ourselves, we won’t be quck to judge them. We will listen to them more intently, giving them ample opportunity to explain themselves

    This is 1 Corinthians ch.13 applied

    1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT
    [4] Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud [5] or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. [6] It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. [7] Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.13.4-7.NLT

  • How to be Joyful, Prosperous, and Blessed!

    Psalms 128:1-2 NLT
    [1] How joyful are those who fear the Lord— all who follow his ways! [2] You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!

    https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.128.1-2.NLT

    The world’s view of prosperity vs a godly, biblical view.

    Biblical principle:

    Fear the Lord

    Proverbs 1:7 NLT
    [7] Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.1.7.NLT

    Walk in His ways

    Proverbs 8:32 NLT
    [32] “And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.8.32.NLT

    Psalm 119:1-3 ESV
    [1]  Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! [2] Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, [3] who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! Then you will truly be happy, blessed and prosperous.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.119.1-3.ESV

    The world’s view, worldly principle:

    Be a good person

    Do good deeds

    Try your best to get along with everyone, but take care of yourself first.

    Find your own way. Whatever looks good, go with that

    Live your best life now. Enjoy your life and if there is anything left over, share with others

    Earn your way into heaven. If your good stuff outweighs your bad stuff, you’re in!

    If it were only that easy, we would not see all of the heartache, pain and suffering that goes on in this world, or in our own personal lives.

    We suffer because we don’t seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness first. We attempt to go our own way and consult with God after the fact, when our plans go awry.

    Proverbs 16:1-3 NLT
    [1] We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer. [2] People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. [3] Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.16.1-3.NLT

    When we fear the Lord, walk in His ways, commit our ways and plans to Him first, everything else will follow, and the life we experience will be eternally happy and blessed, in this life and in the next!

  • The practice of sin

    What’s your practice?

    Galatians 5:16-21 NKJV
    [16] I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. [17] For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. [18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. [19] Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, [21] envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.


    When I think of “those who practice such things” I immediately think of what “practice” means.

    Athletes train and practice constantly and continually so that they can compete successfully in their sport. Olympic athletes train for years, practicing their sport habitually, so that they can make it onto the world stage. Every athlete practices so that they may maintain good strength, discipline and skills, in order to compete in their sport.

    Whatever we do habitually and regularly is our practice.

    Paul is telling us to develop a new practice. True followers will desire to turn away from their flesh with its sinful passions and desires. We once practiced these works of the flesh, and continue to do so if we’re not “walking in the Spirit.” We cannot walk in the Spirit if we’re not filled with the Spirit. We cannot be filled with the Spirit if we’re walking in (practicing) the works of the flesh. Our flesh and spirit are at war with one another, so that we do not do the things we want. Paul wrote extensively about this ongoing spiritual warfare. Romans and the Pauline Epistles all touch on the reality and presence of the battle of our flesh and spirit. Those who call themselves followers of Christ have entered this constant state of warfare, where their spirit is battling against their flesh, with their thoughts, emotions and feelings fighting against what God commands and requires of those who choose to follow Him.

    Galatians 5:22-26 NKJV
    [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. [24] And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. [26] Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

    Our new practice is walking in the Spirit, which is a daily choice. Putting on our new man every day is important. We cannot walk in the flesh and overcome the wicked intentions that invade us. Only in the Spirit can we walk away from the lusts and desires of our flesh. In Christ we are victorious!

    When we recognize that there is nothing good in our flesh, we will be led to repent and believe the Gospel, which is the good news of Christ’s atonement for the sins of the world. Jesus said to repent and believe. That’s a part of our new practice. It is the reason for our new practice.