For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17.

If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide in you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17 NKJV.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:14 NKJV.

The wonderful thing about reading Scripture to know God is that you begin to ponder events in your life and then, as today, read Scripture verses and know they speak to what was prepared for you to see. Learning upon learning. This psalm, Psalm 116, speaks to me of a re-awakening to Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, in our lives that we best understand with His help. I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. v. 1, 2. Have you ever needed our merciful God? Can you look back to times it was His protection and His help when life made no sense? The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord; “Lord, save me!” v. 3, 4. I remember being overcome by distress and sorrow to the point I wanted not to live. I remember being startled out of that mindset and realizing how much I wanted to live and not in the lie of being false to myself. There comes a point when the darkness we have been living in has to be left behind – our true self is not to live in darkness! I don’t remember calling on God, but I do remember these next verses: The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me. v. 5, 6. Is anyone truly prepared to live in darkness? Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I trusted in the Lord when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”; in my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.” v. 7-11. I think we each of us need to come to that point where we recognize the lies of this world for what they are – darkness – and then choose true life with the Giver of Life that is our salvation and hope. What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants. Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains. v. 12-16. There are many things we can die to: pride, self-righteousness, hate, lies…our chains. And when we realize the depth of those chains in us, how wonderful to turn to our God and depend upon Him to guide us forward into life lived with Him in the light of His love and truth. He is our hope and salvation now and into eternity. Depend upon our God. He alone knows the way forward and it is Good!