How Big is Your Light?

Posted bymusingsofmanettekayPosted inChristian Living, Devotional, Memoir, PrayerTags:, , , ,

When my children were young, I assisted our local church with a Bible memorization program for youth. Teams from area churches competed against one another in a game show quiz format. Regional, state, and national tournaments took place. To prepare, team members memorized entire chapters and books of the Bible.

The premise was to saturate the hearts and minds of the youth with the Word. The quizzing season ran in conjunction with the school year. Each season I gained some new youth and lost graduates.

One season I wanted to emphasize the reason we participated in this program. Imagine yourself as a tween or teen and you’ve decided to join in Bible Quizzing. It’s launch night—you’re meeting team members and coaches. You’ve been asked to gather in the auditorium. As you enter, people happily chatter and find seats.

I step on the stage to begin.
You and the others quiet down. I make introductions and give a brief overview of the program. Suddenly, the lights go out and everyone is embraced by total darkness. You can’t see your hand inches from your face, and you hear a lion’s ferocious roar. You scream as panic rises, and your heart pounds.

From the stage, I hear startled gasps mixed with nervous laughter. I turn on a teeny-tiny light, smaller than a pen. The palpable fear dissipates as you begin to see me silhouetted in the darkness.

I rhetorically ask the attentive audience, “Why did I have the tech crew turn out the lights and generate the lion roar?”

“From Scripture we know we live in a world that is darkened by sin and the Bible tells us that the enemy is, ‘prowling around like a roaring lion.’ That can feel frightening and cause us to panic. Yet, as believers, we are children of the light with the power to defeat the darkness, through Christ.

“How do we do that? The Bible says, ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path.’ Just like this tiny little light has begun to reveal more of me and I can shine it at my feet if I were to try and move from this spot.” I point my light out into the darkened room and it doesn’t help. The lion roars again and I continue.

“If the lion were real this little light might be better than nothing but I wouldn’t want to test that theory. Let’s go back to what the Psalmist said. God’s word is a lamp and light. Who controls the size of the light?

I explain, “We do, by how much we know and have hidden in our hearts. Many people know a verse or two. Let’s say this little light represents one verse.  Knowing John 3:16 for instance is good but is it enough to feel safe, secure, and confident against Satan—a prowling roaring lion?”

As the lion roars again,
I turn on a handheld flashlight. “Let’s say this light represents learning 5-10 verses. It’s a bit better than the previous one but this still doesn’t brighten the auditorium or help me see where the lion is.”

I incrementally repeat this with larger lights going up to an industrial-style light which can be shined into the front few rows of the auditorium. With each progression, I’m illuminated more by the light I hold. I conclude by turning on a flood light.

“Think about this. Just as each transition to a larger light illuminates more of me, knowing more scripture reveals more of God and His nature. Knowing the enemy is lurking around looking for an opportunity to devour motivates me to want full illumination. I want the awareness of the enemy’s approach and the tools to defeat him.

“Do you remember what Jesus did to defeat Satan when He was tempted in the desert? He quoted Scripture. With each temptation, Jesus’s rebuttal was, ‘It is written. . .’ ”

Supporting Scriptures:
“Be careful—watch out for attacks from Satan, your great enemy. He prowls around like a hungry, roaring lion, looking for some victim to tear apart” (1 Peter 5:8, TLB).

“Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105, CSB).

“. . .believe in the light so that you may become children of light. . .” (John 12:36, CSB).

“But you, believers, [all you who believe in Christ as Savior and acknowledge Him as God’s Son] are not in spiritual darkness [nor held by its power]. . . for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We do not belong to the night nor to darkness. So then let us not sleep [in spiritual indifference] as the rest [of the world does], but let us keep wide awake [alert and cautious] and let us be sober [self-controlled, calm, and wise]” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6, AMP).

Dear reader, ponder the title question. How big is your light? Do you sense a need or desire to memorize or learn more Scripture? If so, the Holy Spirit will help.

Prayer:
Dear Father God, thank you for providing a means to see more clearly through the darkness in this fallen world. I long to see more of You as I grow in knowledge and understanding. I want to be a better student of Your word. I want to be prepared to defeat the enemy just as Jesus role modeled. Holy Spirit, teach me as I read, study, and memorize Scripture. Amen.

Author Bio
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, grandmother, great-grandmother, foster care parent, and trauma survivor. I enjoy sipping tea, writing devotionals, prayers, short stories, and unburdening my heart to the Lord. Check the About page if you want to read more of my story.

Would you like to know more about the afterlife and how you can be assured of eternity in Heaven? Check the Questions page.

Check the Free Gifts page for downloadable/printable study guides and resources.

Copyright © 2020-2023 Musings of Manette Kay™ All rights reserved. Requests to the author and publisher, Manette Kay, for permission.

Image of hand with a flashlight by Stefan Schweihofer from Pixabay.
Scripture added by Manette Kay.

Growling lion photo by Pawan Sharma on Unsplash.

Published by musingsofmanettekay

Sharing bits of memoir in the format of devotionals, prayers, short stories, and occasionally a poem.

23 thoughts on “How Big is Your Light?”

  1. Amen, Manette Kay. More of God’s Word (scripture) in our hearts means more light for the heavenward path. I fear we too often underestimate the enemy of our souls. I do not believe Satan (or his demon cohorts) can steal our salvation in Christ, but they can render us ineffective for God’s kingdom work. Vigilance is required, with scripture memorization, fervent prayer, and sincere fellowship with other believers of paramount importance.
    A thoughtful and uplifting post! God Bless.

    Liked by 3 people

  3. Loved this Manette. It is such a great way to make the youth realise the importance of hiding God’s word in our hearts, spending time in scripture as that is the way we can have His light in this dark world.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Jo. I hope it offers a spark of inspiration for your daughter. Yehovah bless you.

      LORD use this story to inspire and encourage others. May many become motivated to study the Word and thus develop a deeper love and relationship with You. Amen.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Ken. Amen––we cannot live by bread alone. I pray for a greater yearning and love of the WORD. May we each thirst for it like the Psalmist says, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Psalm 42:1, NIV).

      Liked by 1 person

  6. What a powerful message Manette, and so well illustrated too. Memorization is my achilles heel due to my brain injury. I would dearly love to remember scriptures. God bless you sister 🙏

    Liked by 2 people

    1. That’s understandable, Alan. The LORD knows your heart. Memorization in and of itself can be wrongly used, like the Pharisees, they were learned educated men but their hearts were hardened by pride and arrogance.

      Alan, with genuine feasting and repetitive reading there becomes familiarity and knowledge of the Word.

      Memorization is not the ultimate goal but a tool. Think of it like this. Most of us could not list what we had for dinner five days ago. But if asked about a favored dish or meal we have adequate knowledge to name it, list the primary ingredients, have a basic understanding of the preparation, and are able to describe it to someone.

      Your devotionals indicate a deep love for the Word. You have the ability to share it with others because you immerse yourself in the Word regularly. The Holy Spirit will bring to recall what we need in our time of need. But we must have it in us. Like our bodies require food within to extract the necessary nutrients. If we are starving ourself physically or spiritually the body or Holy Spirit cannot extract what is necessary when needed. Yehovah bless you.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thank you so much for your very quick and kind reply Manette; the love of our Lord certainly shines from your words sister. In an answer to a different post comment I admit to my free use of my own paraphrases where I cannot remember the exact words. As you say and I believe, it is the Holy Spirit guiding me in what I have been reading. My brain condition is a regular thorn in my side in everyday things but also in His Word; I surrender it to His care and keep reading as often as I can, and praying. In all this I know that in my weakness He can use me! God bless you dear sister.🙏

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Psalm 119:105 KJV was the second Scripture verse I memorized as a child. Although I do not do a lot of memory work anymore, most of its contents are in my mind from years of memorization.
    Now there is online help: https://scripturememory.com/.
    Who knew the internet would help with getting the Word into our hearts!?
    ❤️& 🙏, c.a.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, C.A.
      The Bible verses I memorized as a teenager, new in my faith, remain most accessible in my mind.

      Thank you for sharing the online resource. I use a another free app and it has helped me to add new memory verses, while refreshing and maintaining old passages. People can check it out here:
      https://biblememory.com/

      This conversation hints at sufficient reason to continue the topic of this post with another part. Yehovah bless you.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Pastor Pete. I pray that it stuck with many of them. If they haven’t retained it, it was not lost on me. I’ve learned and as a Pastor, imagine you have too that God gives some lessons to us for direct application while permitting others the opportunity to glean from it. Yehovah bless you.

      Like

  10. Wow Manette, what an unforgettable, attention grabbing illustration you presented the youth of your church! Thank you for sharing it as it is a powerful reminder that I need to continue to be mindful of storing more verses in my heart.

    Liked by 1 person

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