You’re walking through the woods on a lovely fall afternoon, but you soon realize it’s time to turn around and return to the cabin. Unfortunately, the sun makes its descent faster than you calculated. Dusk sets in. You can barely see the path. Suddenly, the last strains of sunset are gone, and when it’s dark in the woods, it’s really dark—”zero vision” dark.

Through the trees you can almost make out a faint light from the cabin, but that doesn’t help with the path right in front of you. It’s dark as dark can be. Above are a few scattered stars, but that’s no help. Even the moon is out of sight behind the clouds. The path was there last you looked, but now it’s dark as dark can be.

You touch your toe a few inches in front of you, then set your foot down. Other toe, set foot down. This will take forever. You wonder, Did I put that little flashlight in my backpack? You scramble around feeling your way through the zipper, then to another pocket. Bingo, the flashlight! But is it working? Click. Light!

Now you have a light for the path. Just what you needed.

That, my friends, is what the Bible becomes for the Christian—a light for your path. Of course you recognize the verse:

Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:108

My youth director gave me a verse to take with me to college (some years back!) I made a little poster of it for my dorm wall. Many times I looked at the poster when things got tough. I imagined the Lord offering his hand, waiting for me to take hold of it.

“For I the Lord your God will take hold of your right hand, saying unto you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.'” Isaiah 41:13

We went through a dark valley during our son’s rebellious teen years. It seemed unending—one step forward two steps back, over and over again. I clung to Isaiah 40:31 where the Lord said “wait”, “depend on me to gain strength.” After many years of waiting and hoping, we could finally soar like eagles.

. . . but those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles: they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

My husband served as a minister of music for many years. At one point, he considered serving with a different congregation. I felt very satisfied where we were and besides that my parents had just moved to our location. I was fighting such a decision in my soul, but one day as I walked down the hall in our house, there on the wall hung a small plaque that had been there for a few years. It said, “In all your ways acknowledge me.” Ouch! It took some powerful praying, but I came to the place of being ready if that was the Lord’s will.

We visited the new city and church, but neither of us could feel peace about the move and we turned it down. However, in the process, it was a true learning experience for me.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

As we think this month about the importance of studying God’s word, let us remember verses we have lived, “life verses” some would say. Would you share one of your life verses and maybe a line or two of how God used that verse in your life? Scroll all the way down to comment.

~ Joyce ~