Tuesday’s Devotion: The Lights that Don’t Go Out

Psalm 121  1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.  3 He will not let your foot slip—    he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  5 The LORD watches over you—    the LORD is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; 8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Every night before bedtime I say to the dogs, “It’s time to get a treat and go to bed!”  They all jump up, Dino usually starts barking and they run to the basement and go to their room.  The other night after I turned out the lights I walked through the darkened house and marveled at all the remaining lights.  There were lights glowing all over the big room in the basement; the time in digital format was dancing across computer monitors; red, green, and yellow lights glowed softly around the room reminding me of the interior of a space ship.  There were lights on the computers, on the stereo system, on the TV and VCR and a white light glowed from behind some speakers – who knows what that was coming from.  Upstairs lights came from clocks on the oven and microwave, a digital picture frame, the alarm system and more TVs. A light flickers from something mounted in the hallway ceiling and Joe’s toothbrush even flashes to show it is charging.  The house is never truly dark; it never sleeps.  I wondered if the lights in the dryer and refrigerator really go out when they are closed.  I only had to look out my windows to see more lights outside from glowing solar powered garden globes in our yard and our neighbor’s yard and street and security lights.  They give me a greater sense of safety when I need to go out into the dark.  It all reminded me that I have a God who doesn’t sleep; that the true Light of the World never goes out. God is always watching; always loving; always protecting. Remember that maybe the next time you turn out the lights and they don’t all go out.

Gracious God, we marvel at the light that you give us.  You have set the sun, moon and stars in their place.  Most of all we are grateful that you are our constant guardian and guide.  We praise your holy name and give you thanks for our care.  In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.