Light and Strength

Genesis 1-2:4; Psalm 1 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness. And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:1-3 NLT) In the beginning! In the past, I’ve mostly based the devotionals on the Life Journal Plan, a through the Bible in a year plan, available on Youversion.com. This year I’m feeling it’s time for a fresh focus. After prayer, thought, and some helpful input from readers and friends, here’s where we’re headed in 2022. I’m planning for GraceNotes to start the New Year with the Gospels and Acts and we’ll stay in the New Testament for the entire year. I’ll be bringing in some seasonal themes for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I’ve started this reading plan by including readings from Psalms and Proverbs with each day’s readings, but the devotionals will be drawn from the New Testament scripture for the day. As always, GraceNotes will be based on God’s Word to my heart and from my heart to yours. In God’s creation of the heavens and the earth, it all began with Gold’s Word, spoken into chaos and darkness. The light that dispelled the darkness and brought order from chaos came through God’s unfailing Word. It still does! Jesus said, “…People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.” (Matthew 4:4 NLT) It was true then, it’s true now. God’s Unchanging Word is light to our path and strength for the journey! Let’s determine to open our hearts anew this year to the light and strength of daily opening our eyes and hearts and feeding our souls from his word. Prayer: Father, Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105). Help us to daily open our eyes to the Light of Truth, and our hearts to your soul-nourishing Words of Life. May we hear and obey, may we see and respond. Amen!