Reflection at Dawn

I woke up in the dark. But now the dawn rises. 

I see now how I was reduced to a crust of bread by dark honey. A young heart led astray from the path of the Lord's will. 

I am thankful for the teaching this morning, these verses brought to mind and the reproof that has preserved me:

(Proverbs 6:23-29 ESV) "For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life, to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes; for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life. Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished."

Why did I fall in love with the fire? Well... I liked to see the flames dance. Bit of a pyro. Not all children buy flower of sulphur, potassium nitrate and make a charcoal cooker. I liked to experiment back then! Recipes aren't around anymore - I checked long ago when I ran across my old paper copies. The Internet back then was so different.

It felt like love and grew into love until my heart broke. I was young and naive. We are given freedom in choice but sometimes the Lord intervenes with a word spoken in the night, a word from Papa the Protector of my heart - to let me know that season was finished. 

Ephesians 5:13 

 "But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is visible is light." (NIV) or "But everything that becomes visible is exposed by the light, for everything that is exposed is light." (NASB). 

So moving forward I will guard the heart from fire. The prize is not fire but wisdom. Papa teaches me the best path to walk and she will serve me with more honor that my former choice:

(Proverbs 4:18-23 ESV) "But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. 

The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;

they do not know over what they stumble. 

My son, be attentive to my words;

incline your ear to my sayings. 

Let them not escape from your sight;

keep them within your heart. 

For they are life to those who find them,

and healing to all their flesh. 

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."

Now it flows as it did in my youth! For since I choose the path of peace and forgiveness... Now I am blessed! 

Marriage was indeed gift for a time but now I see the greater gift - of attention and service to the Lord. The light of dawn has been revealed in my life. It is so incredibly good to walk where you can see - with the shoes of the Gospel of Peace.