The Light Is There

   What do I want in my life most of all?

   Even as a flawed individual, and subject to the whims of human nature, it comes to me that I want to have God's guidance in my life. Right now, in this quiet time, today in my schedule, and in the rest of my life, as long as it lasts.

   When I sit down this morning and begin to pray, I put down all the areas of my life that I want to have His guidance in for just this day, including this early quiet time. I put down 5 items on a quick list to tape to my computer, so that I will not forget to get them done. These 5 things involve other people that I will, Lord willing, interact with today in some way, and I want to remember those obligations that I have signed on for. I want to hear from God first of all, and I do not want the things on my schedule to interfere with that priority, so I just list them and continue on in my prayer and reading time.

   I pray for guidance in all these areas. I pray for my actions and reactions in all of them also. I pray that God will help me be the man that reflects His character and His will. I pray that I will treat all those that I come in contact with today with the respect and dignity that they deserve as fellow creations of The Heavenly Father. I pray that I might speak and act with His wisdom and not whatever is mine.

   I pray that the words that come out of my mouth will be ones uplifting and not putting down others.

   Knowing what agenda items I put on my list, but not knowing how each will play out, or if some will not even be there as the day progresses, I pray for grace in the moment. Not for me to plan it all out right now as I think of these people and situations, but His wisdom and grace at the time of contact and as these unfold.

   I pray for His presence, for this brief early time, and for a continual one in my life as it proceeds through the day. I can't know what will happen, but I can be fortified to meet each person and event with the right attitude if I know that He is still there with me.
 
   It is easy for me to get lost in the possible situations of this upcoming day, but what I need most of all is to get lost in this time with God. The other things will take care of themselves, or rather He will take me through them on His time schedule, if I but seek Him first of all.

   So, I think of a scene down at the Pier the other day. Standing on the pier itself, looking back toward the shore, I see our lighthouse just sitting there, waiting for the darkness to come when its light will be a beacon to those out on the nearby ocean. It is there all the time, but its guidance become evident as night begins to surround it.

   In the same sense, the only light that I have is the moment of time that I am living in. The rest of my day is unknown, it is dark to me, but I can rest in the thought that The Light is there and if I look for Him, He will guide me in anything and everything that will happen.

   A lofty thought and realization, now to live it out.