1 00:00:10,950 --> 00:00:13,970 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We're glad to have you 2 00:00:14,010 --> 00:00:18,230 Speaker 1: listening with us. Today's topic is how using candles can 3 00:00:18,270 --> 00:00:20,990 Speaker 1: help you focus on God and the light He's shining 4 00:00:21,050 --> 00:00:24,570 Speaker 1: into your life. We'll return with the devotional after a 5 00:00:24,610 --> 00:00:42,490 Speaker 1: brief message from our sponsors. Light Candles with God Written 6 00:00:42,610 --> 00:00:47,250 Speaker 1: and read by Whitney Hopler Surely you will light my candle. 7 00:00:47,930 --> 00:00:53,169 Speaker 1: The Lord my God will lighten my darkness. Psalm 1828 8 00:00:53,170 --> 00:00:58,380 Speaker 1: RGT I often light candles at home to remind myself 9 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: of God's presence with me. During my morning prayer and 10 00:01:02,140 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: meditation times, looking at a candle's flame helps me focus 11 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 1: on how God enlightens me. After a stressful day, enjoying 12 00:01:11,140 --> 00:01:13,979 Speaker 1: the glow from a candle helps me receive God's peace. 13 00:01:15,100 --> 00:01:18,300 Speaker 1: Anytime I need a fresh dose of hope, I can 14 00:01:18,340 --> 00:01:21,310 Speaker 1: look at a candle and remember that God's light is 15 00:01:21,390 --> 00:01:26,130 Speaker 1: strong enough to dispel any darkness in my life. Have 16 00:01:26,170 --> 00:01:29,910 Speaker 1: you ever tried using candles during your devotional times with God? 17 00:01:31,150 --> 00:01:34,450 Speaker 1: It's simple to do and can make a significant difference 18 00:01:34,510 --> 00:01:36,950 Speaker 1: in your ability to focus on the light God is 19 00:01:37,010 --> 00:01:41,649 Speaker 1: shining into your life. Sometimes it's hard to focus on 20 00:01:41,690 --> 00:01:46,110 Speaker 1: communicating with God during prayer and meditation. Your mind can 21 00:01:46,170 --> 00:01:49,990 Speaker 1: quickly drift to your busy schedule, your long to-do list, 22 00:01:50,650 --> 00:01:54,890 Speaker 1: and all the situations you're worried about right now. Having 23 00:01:54,910 --> 00:01:57,490 Speaker 1: the candle in front of you can help center your 24 00:01:57,530 --> 00:02:01,290 Speaker 1: thoughts on just one important thing, the light of God 25 00:02:01,370 --> 00:02:04,780 Speaker 1: that's right there with you. As you light a candle 26 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:08,190 Speaker 1: and watch the small flame spark to life, you can 27 00:02:08,250 --> 00:02:11,250 Speaker 1: let go of distractions by thinking of them burning away 28 00:02:11,290 --> 00:02:15,190 Speaker 1: from you while your mind clears. Then, as you look 29 00:02:15,270 --> 00:02:18,180 Speaker 1: into the candle to physically focus your eyes on it, 30 00:02:18,790 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 1: you can spiritually focus your attention on God's presence with you. 31 00:02:24,500 --> 00:02:30,030 Speaker 1: In Psalm 1828, the psalmist shares a wonderful promise. God 32 00:02:30,090 --> 00:02:34,390 Speaker 1: himself lights your candles and brightens your darkness. This verse 33 00:02:34,450 --> 00:02:37,070 Speaker 1: shows that God doesn't expect you to produce your own 34 00:02:37,130 --> 00:02:40,130 Speaker 1: light when you feel discouraged by the darkness in this 35 00:02:40,190 --> 00:02:45,169 Speaker 1: fallen world. Instead, God promises to bring his light directly 36 00:02:45,250 --> 00:02:50,210 Speaker 1: to you. God is the ultimate source of all enlightenment, peace, 37 00:02:50,350 --> 00:02:53,510 Speaker 1: and hope. You can rely on God to light your 38 00:02:53,550 --> 00:02:57,930 Speaker 1: candles by giving you whatever you need in prayer. As 39 00:02:57,970 --> 00:03:01,690 Speaker 1: you watch the candlelight during your devotional time, you can 40 00:03:01,740 --> 00:03:05,269 Speaker 1: pray a simple prayer like this. God, please shine your 41 00:03:05,310 --> 00:03:08,650 Speaker 1: light on me today. Give me wisdom for my choices. 42 00:03:09,490 --> 00:03:12,900 Speaker 1: Send me your powerful peace. Encourage me with the hope 43 00:03:12,970 --> 00:03:14,519 Speaker 1: I need. Thank you. 44 00:03:14,980 --> 00:03:15,340 Speaker 2: Amen. 45 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:20,620 Speaker 1: Talk with God about the specific ways you need enlightenment, peace, 46 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:24,530 Speaker 1: and hope on that particular day. Ask God to help 47 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,970 Speaker 1: the people you know who need those same blessings as 48 00:03:28,010 --> 00:03:31,750 Speaker 1: they face challenges in their own lives. Let the bright 49 00:03:31,810 --> 00:03:35,420 Speaker 1: candle flame remind you that Jesus, the light of the world, 50 00:03:35,940 --> 00:03:40,330 Speaker 1: loves hearing your prayers and answering them. At bedtime, you 51 00:03:40,350 --> 00:03:42,390 Speaker 1: can dim the lights in your room and sit near 52 00:03:42,410 --> 00:03:48,150 Speaker 1: a glowing candle. Take a few deep, calm breaths. Look 53 00:03:48,330 --> 00:03:50,620 Speaker 1: at the gentle light and let it inspire you to 54 00:03:50,660 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: release the situations you're worried about to Jesus. Thank him 55 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 1: for watching over you, for helping you with those situations, 56 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: and for sending his peace to you. Let the soft 57 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: blow of candlelight remind you that God never gets tired 58 00:04:05,980 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: and that God's light shines on you throughout the night. 59 00:04:09,980 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: Whenever you feel overwhelmed by doubt, fear, or sadness, you 60 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,620 Speaker 1: can light a candle as a simple yet significant act 61 00:04:17,660 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: of faith. Darkness can feel overwhelming, but even a tiny 62 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:26,860 Speaker 1: flame shines through a dark realm. As you focus your 63 00:04:26,980 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 1: eyes on the light, remind yourself that God's love and 64 00:04:29,810 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 1: power are far greater than any challenge you face. No 65 00:04:33,930 --> 00:04:38,810 Speaker 1: matter how dark a situation appears, God's light always wins. 66 00:04:39,830 --> 00:04:42,630 Speaker 1: Just like a candle's light will overcome the darkness in 67 00:04:42,670 --> 00:04:46,630 Speaker 1: a room physically, God's light will overcome darkness in your 68 00:04:46,670 --> 00:04:51,369 Speaker 1: life spiritually. Lighting candles can point you back to God 69 00:04:51,390 --> 00:04:55,410 Speaker 1: anytime and anywhere. Let candles draw you closer to the 70 00:04:55,470 --> 00:04:59,940 Speaker 1: source of all light who loves you. Intersecting Faith and 71 00:04:59,980 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 1: Life As you consider how using candles can help you 72 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,719 Speaker 1: focus on God and the light He's shining into your life, 73 00:05:07,300 --> 00:05:11,870 Speaker 1: reflect on these questions. When you feel stressed or distracted, 74 00:05:12,370 --> 00:05:15,169 Speaker 1: how can watching a candle flame help calm your thoughts 75 00:05:15,230 --> 00:05:19,530 Speaker 1: and refocus on God? What Area of Your Life Currently 76 00:05:19,610 --> 00:05:24,740 Speaker 1: Feels Dark? How does Psalm 1828 reassure you that God 77 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:28,500 Speaker 1: will personally bring light to it? How can creating a 78 00:05:28,540 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: simple physical routine like lighting a candle before you pray 79 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:36,890 Speaker 1: help you build a stronger prayer life? How does knowing 80 00:05:36,930 --> 00:05:40,490 Speaker 1: that God promises to light your candles rather than expecting 81 00:05:40,529 --> 00:05:43,110 Speaker 1: you to come up with your own light encourage you? 82 00:05:44,470 --> 00:05:46,390 Speaker 1: How can you share the light of God's peace with 83 00:05:46,430 --> 00:05:49,490 Speaker 1: someone in your life who is currently going through a 84 00:05:49,529 --> 00:05:59,390 Speaker 1: challenging season? Further reading, John 8.12, Psalm 119.105, Matthew 5.16, 85 00:05:59,390 --> 00:06:05,450 Speaker 1: 2 Corinthians 4.6, 1 John 1.5. 86 00:06:08,890 --> 00:06:11,850 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to today's devotional. If you liked what 87 00:06:11,890 --> 00:06:13,970 Speaker 2: you heard today, we want to make sure you know 88 00:06:14,029 --> 00:06:17,980 Speaker 2: about our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer. 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