HEAVENSREEF

Choosing the word light for this year had me noticing on a walk the other day, that GOD’S light also produces shadows and shade.  Here in Arizona we experience 325 days of sunshine!  But you learn very quickly that the shade or shadow of a tree or anything for that matter is important to find in the extreme heat.  It is a welcome relief and during the summer finding the shade of a tree to park your car under is paramount! I have now experienced 120 degree heat.  Believe me, getting into a car sitting in the sun in our summer heat is not fun.

With all of the sunlight here, you cannot help but notice shade and even shadows.  I thank GOD for HIS amazing light and all that it means, but what about HIS shadows?

Our GOD gives light to the darkness and often HIS light reproduces beautiful shadows that can only be noticed if we look for them.  Sometimes they are obvious, sometimes not.  Let’s not take those shadows for granted and let’s look at them now because we know GOD gives light to our darkness…….

PSALM 18: 28  “FOR IT IS YOU WHO LIGHT MY LAMP; THE LORD MY GOD LIGHTENS MY DARKNESS.”

HE is the light within us, around us and HIS light is a sure beacon for us, a guide that shines even more brightly the closer we walk with HIM.

But what then about all those shadows?  In my many Bible concordances I found lists of scriptures with the word shadow…….I was surprised, but really I shouldn’t be.  GOD is so good!  The Bible refers many times to being under the shadow of HIS wings…….

PSALM 17: 8  “KEEP ME AS THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE; HIDE ME IN THE SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS.”

There is this one too…….

ISAIAH 49: 2  “HE HID ME IN THE SHADOW OF HIS HAND.”

Both scriptures say the same thing: HE hides us!  Let us ponder this……HIS shadows of protection can be seen and felt by us in the here and now and yet all of it is a mere shadow of what is to come!  What a comfort for HIS children!

SHADOWS ARE GOOD BECAUSE WE YEARN TO SEE MORE.

Let’s sink deep into this……..we need to know that we fully exist in the shadow of all of GOD’S protections, provisions and finally HIS immeasurable grace!

REMAIN IN THE SHADOW OF HIS PROTECTIVE WINGS!

This reminds me of a sweet mama bird who protects all her newborn chicks by placing her warm, velvety wings over and around her nest.

 

HOSEA 14: 7  “THEY SHALL RETURN AND DWELL BENEATH MY SHADOW……”

When GOD chose us, we turned to HIM and because of this, we now exist in the shadow of HIS mercy and what a comfort to know this.  No one now or in the future will be able to snatch us from HIS hand because JESUS said this……

JOHN 10: 9  “MY FATHER, WHO HAS GIVEN THEM TO ME, IS GREATER THAN ALL, AND NO ONE IS ABLE TO SNATCH THEM OUT OF THE FATHER’S HAND.”

Such a comfort to know…….our LORD will protect and keep us under HIS wing…..HIS hand……HIS shade.  Let us embrace this, especially for the times we are in!

Remember this now and every day we are blessed with dear ones……we are in the shadows of HIS salvation for now and forevermore.  And the best is yet to come!  The full shadow of HIS presence will be gone in the here and now, because one day we will stand in the glorious light of HIS presence in Heaven!

HEBREWS 10: 1  “FOR THE LAW IS ONLY A SHADOW OF THE GOOD THINGS TO COME……”