DAY 10 | Seek His Word | Gabby Gonzalez
I’m sitting front and center, as close to the Chaplain as I can get. Any minute now, more than twenty inmates will walk in for a class on Spiritual Warfare at the Orange County Department of Corrections. I glance around and realize—I’m the only woman in this room, probably in the entire building, and there are no guards in sight. I try to brace myself as I hear the steady sound of footsteps coming down the hall but quickly realize that won’t do much. So instead, I whisper a quiet reminder to my soul: I’m covered by the blood of Jesus.
The first man walks in—about 5'11", maybe in his 60s, Bible in hand, open to a specific passage. He walks straight to the Chaplain, eyes bright. “Chap! Look what I read this morning!” he says, grinning from ear to ear. Instantly, they’re deep in conversation, excitement filling the room.
One by one, the others file in, gathering close, forming a circle around the open Bible. And just like that, what felt intimidating turns holy—a room full of men hungry for God’s Word, and me, a witness to the light that just entered a very dark place.
Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
As you rise, do you seek the bright light of His word? His word given to us to help us, lead us, guide us, even push us when we don't know what to do! It renews a weakened spirit, sharpens dull senses, lifts our countenance, keeps us awake to the things the world is asleep to, holds the words of our Father to us, and brings us close to His heart.
It does all this in your brightest and darkest moments. It speaks in the comfort of your home and speaks just as powerfully in the shadows of the jail. Whenever we open His word, we find Him. If He’s looking to be found every day, would He be found by me! On our hardest days, He remains the lily in the valley.
So today, would you open the book that carries His comfort, His direction, His answers? Would you Seek Him and find Him in His word; and would it lead you to turn to someone and say, "Look what I read this morning!" And would holiness fill the space thereafter.
The first man walks in—about 5'11", maybe in his 60s, Bible in hand, open to a specific passage. He walks straight to the Chaplain, eyes bright. “Chap! Look what I read this morning!” he says, grinning from ear to ear. Instantly, they’re deep in conversation, excitement filling the room.
One by one, the others file in, gathering close, forming a circle around the open Bible. And just like that, what felt intimidating turns holy—a room full of men hungry for God’s Word, and me, a witness to the light that just entered a very dark place.
Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
As you rise, do you seek the bright light of His word? His word given to us to help us, lead us, guide us, even push us when we don't know what to do! It renews a weakened spirit, sharpens dull senses, lifts our countenance, keeps us awake to the things the world is asleep to, holds the words of our Father to us, and brings us close to His heart.
It does all this in your brightest and darkest moments. It speaks in the comfort of your home and speaks just as powerfully in the shadows of the jail. Whenever we open His word, we find Him. If He’s looking to be found every day, would He be found by me! On our hardest days, He remains the lily in the valley.
So today, would you open the book that carries His comfort, His direction, His answers? Would you Seek Him and find Him in His word; and would it lead you to turn to someone and say, "Look what I read this morning!" And would holiness fill the space thereafter.
Posted in 21 Days of Devos