Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
As a general rule, I try to avoid running at night. I enjoy the sunshine and feeling of security that comes with daylight. But there are times when running in the dark makes more sense. Sometimes it’s too hot after the sun rises or other times, like in winter, the sun rises too late and sets too early. When I run in the dark, I’ll wear a headlamp so I can avoid any patches of ice, pot holes, or critters-of-the-night. This often reminds me of the verse above and how I used to think it simply said God’s Word will show us the right path to take in life. While I still think it says that, I’ve come to find it has some deeper meanings.
Like running in the dark, even if we are on the right path, there can be obstacles along the way. Because of potential ankle twisters (or biters) we can encounter on a course, we need a good light to show us what’s ahead and what to avoid. Following the path of Christ makes sure we aren’t lost and that’s encouraging. It’s also encouraging to know that God’s Word will provide the light and wisdom to avoid pitfalls that lie even along the best path.
But there’s more! I noticed that, along with a light for our path, there is also a lamp for our feet. While running, the only reason I’d shine a light on my shoes is if I wanted to check out what’s wrong or how the tread is holding up. Many times, if my knees or hips are sore, I’ll look at my shoes to see if they are worn out as that can be a cause for issues from the feet on up. How our feet repetitively hit the ground in our shoes is important, not just to our feet, but also to our ankles, knees, hips, and back. Like “a lamp to my feet,” God’s Word will show me what’s going on in my life at the ground level so I can “scrape off the mud, patch up a blister, or just tie the shoe.”
Life can be sticky and, like a rock in our tread, we can inadvertently carry resentment or pick up bad habits that draw our attention away from Christ. Thankfully, God has given us what we need to overcome pitfalls or avoid them altogether: a light for our path so we can see what’s ahead, and then a lamp for our feet so we can fix or patch up what we missed and keep moving.
Happy Running!
