The Lord is My Light and My Salvation

“The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear?”  What a powerful statement of faith! Especially in these times!

In this increasingly dark and perplexing world, I desperately need Light, not just to live by, but to live into my calling of being light to others. But I quickly learn that I can not be light on my own. I simply don’t have the ability. And David knew that well.

So David tells me what is needed in addition to that Light. The Lord must also become my Salvation. Only then can His Light indwell me and flow through me to others. To be light, I need His salvation—and I need that salvo, that “washing” on a daily basis.

How does that happen? David sings his answer.

The Lord must become the “stronghold of my life.”

Think about the very word stronghold. Often we use it to describe other THINGS like lust, envy and hatred—things that have become strongholds over us. But Psalmist David is turning that word around. He is calling on the Lord to be his Stronghold.

The Lord is the Stronghold of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid!

And that is the Key that unlocks our addictions, our penchants to follow the ways of the world and even our fears. HE, Jesus, must become my stronghold—my Lord.

And with Him in that place—of whom shall I be afraid?

Lord Jesus, You are the Light of lights and the Savior of my soul. Enter into my being and become the very Stronghold of my life. In addition to being my Savior, reign over it all as the Mighty Lord. Amen

Robert Brenner

About the author:
Robert Brenner is a pastor, teacher and VP at Integrity Music. Earning his Bachelors from Washington and Lee University and his Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School, he pastored an inner city ministry for five years, managed a Christian bookstore and served as the Director of Membership for the Christian Booksellers Association in Colorado Springs. Robert also led worship in his local churches during those seasons. In 1990, the Brenners moved to Mobile to work for Integrity Music. He is currently Integrity Music’s VP of Worship and Resource Marketing, oversees the marketing for the IWI Online School of Worship, provides content for IWI’s worship blog and worship community, and leads Intercessory Prayer for the company.

Wings Like Eagles

Have you not heard? Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? The beginning questions of this passage are not rhetorical. In the context they are asking “In light of what has been affirmed of our God, why would we continue to live as if we’ve not heard…as if we didn’t believe?”

And what do we believe? That God is eternal. That He is the author, creator, and sustainer of everything. That He doesn’t tire or pause to even catch His breath. That those who wait upon Him will get fresh strength; that they will spread their wings and fly like eagles; that they will run without tiring.

Do we live as if we believe, or do we live as if myopic victims of the circumstances we’re in? Have we not heard?

My tendency is to keep the focus on me and to remain self-absorbed in so much of life. And this often leads me to live in self pity acting as a victim of life without hope. Self pity is very effective in crowding out belief. But when I dare to let belief invade my self-focus, there is suddenly little room for the shortsightedness that is questioned in this passage.

And if we believe, self-pity will melt away, and we will wait. We will trust God ruthlessly (without self-pity), and choose to live as the Psalmist, who declared:

God, the one and only – I’ll wait as long as He says. Everything I need comes from Him…everything I hope for comes from Him, so why not? He’s the solid rock beneath my feet, breathing room for my soul, an impregnable castle: I’m set for life. (Psalm 62:1-2, The Message)

And our strength will be renewed. And we shall mount up with wings like eagles!

Robert Brenner

About the author:
Robert Brenner is a pastor, teacher and VP at Integrity Music.  Earning his Bachelors from Washington and Lee University and his Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School, he pastored an inner city ministry for five years, managed a Christian bookstore and served as the Director of Membership for the Christian Booksellers Association in Colorado Springs. Robert also lead worship in his local churches during those seasons.  In 1990, the Brenners moved to Mobile to work for Integrity Music.  He is currently Integrity Music’s V P of Worship and Resource Marketing, oversees the marketing for the IWI Online School of Worship, provides content for IWI’s worship blog and worship community, and leads Intercessory Prayer for the company.

The Heavens Declare

As we begin the busyness of this day, let’s remember that all of creation is worshiping its Creator whether we are worshiping or not. In fact, the heavens are ALWAYS declaring the Glory of God. And they do so untiringly night after night…day after day!

We may be inconsistent with our worship, but God’s creation is not. So if we will stop, look and listen to His creation at worships, perhaps we can regain a proper perspective of what this life of worship is all about.

God’s creation reminds us that:

There is order in all that was created. For me that means that His perfect law restores my soul and brings joy to my heart.

There is clarity in the seasons. I gain that clarity through following His commands. In fact, David sings that His commands give me life.

There are consequences if that order is defied. I need a holy fear that keeps me pure and filled with holy awe.

As we remember these three truths, how can we do anything less than exalt His name forever!

May this be our prayer today: Lord, help me today to STOP and take time to see what You have made, LOOK at the wonders of that creation…and JOIN Your creation as it proclaims Your GLORY. Amen!

About the author:

Robert Brenner is a pastor, teacher and VP at Integrity Music.  Earning his Bachelors from Washington and Lee University and his Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School, he pastored an inner city ministry for five years, managed a Christian bookstore and served as the Director of Membership for the Christian Booksellers Association in Colorado Springs. Robert also lead worship in his local churches during those seasons  In 1990 the Brenners moved to Mobile to work for Integrity Music.  He is currently Integrity Music’s V P of Worship and Resource Marketing, oversees the marketing for the IWI OnLine School of Worship and leads Intercessory Prayer for the company.

For I Know the Plans…

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord…” - Jeremiah 29: 11-13

Many of the Jews, especially the Jewish leaders, had been carried into exile in Babylon by the armies of Nebuchadnezzar. It is in this context that Jeremiah, who was still in Jerusalem, writes these words of hope to those in captivity. He encourages them to get on with their lives, to build houses, marry, have children, find spouses for their children and stay undefiled. And he gives them hope of a day when they will return from captivity.

With the following words, he urges them to live with that hope:

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart.”

How we all want to hear these words spoken to us in our situations, for we, like the Jewish exiles, also find ourselves in bondage. Our captivity is not one of physical exile but financial captivity or difficult relationships or just plain sin. We need Hope and Deliverance.

The Good News is that God longs to set His people free from whatever their captivity and bondage might be. As we remember these words of promise from Jeremiah, we find the strength to live in that freedom. As we remember His plans for us, we begin to walk in the true prosperity of knowing the riches of His Glory.

When freedom came for the Jews, Psalm 126 tells us that there was absolute delirium.

When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, the Lord has done great things for them.

May the Lord of Lord remind you this day of His GOOD plan for you. And may you be like those who dreamed.

Father…show me Your way for my life. Teach me to seek You with all of my heart. Release me into Your good plans and purposes. Help me to follow You, Lord Jesus! Amen

About the author:

Robert Brenner is a pastor, teacher and VP at Integrity Music.  Earning his Bachelors from Washington and Lee University and his Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School, he pastored an inner city ministry for five years, managed a Christian bookstore and served as the Director of Membership for the Christian Booksellers Association in Colorado Springs. Robert also lead worship in his local churches during those seasons  In 1990 the Brenners moved to Mobile to work for Integrity Music.  He is currently Integrity Music’s V P of Worship and Resource Marketing, oversees the marketing for the IWI OnLine School of Worship and leads Intercessory Prayer for the company.