October/November 2026 Revealing Light Newsletter

We often want to know what our plans are, for tomorrow, and even in the next couple months or years. Though tomorrow is the unknown, uncharted territory for us, it's not for God. To us, tomorrow is unknown; to Him, it's known. He's the best leader to follow into tomorrow. James, a disciple of Jesus, had shared, "a man makes plans saying, we'll move here or there at this such and such day, and do these things... but we don't even know what will happen tomorrow; instead, we ought to say, "If it is God’s Will,... then, [our plans]" (my paraphrase of James 4:13-15; also Isaiah 30:2; Jeremiah 2:18). Though on the other hand, the proverb says, "without a plan, the people perish" (Pro 29:18 KJV).

So what is our best plan? 
Our best plan may actually be our heart posture that is trusting and aligning to whatever God's plans are whenever each of those moments happen. Some of our best leaders in the Bible didn't have all of the plans laid out before following God; they were walking into uncharted territory for them, but not for God. God told Abraham to leave the familiar homey place of his family, what was known, to now go from there to where God would lead him -- a land that would become a great nation years later. Abraham became the "Father of many nations" by God Plan and Abraham's faithful trust. Joseph later would be come along too, being shaped in his heart to trust and align to God's Will wherever that would take him, even through some very difficult situations; yet looking back, he could see how God had used all of that for good. Joseph didn't have the plan, but only the trusting heart that was aligning to follow God's work & plan. Moses too was shaped for that heart posture throughout several decades before God called him into more "unknown" places in leadership.

As I was finishing this devotional, there were two times this same message came across in two different ways. One was from the YouVersion Bible App, stating that Psalm 119:11 didn't say that we store up God's Word in our Heads so that we might not sin against Him; instead, it said “we store up God's Word in our Hearts...”, where the transformation and heart posture really takes place. In through our renewing heads, into our transforming hearts. It's more than knowing our plans, it's coming to know that the best plan is to let our hearts align to God's plan with trust.
The second message that morning came from a spiritual leadership book I was listening to during my commute. In it, J. Oswald Sanders shared some maturing insight, “we naively think that the more we grow as Christians, the easier it will be to discern the will of God. But the opposite is often the case. God treats the mature leader as a mature adult, leaving more and more to his or her spiritual discernment and giving fewer bits of tangible guidance than in earlier years. The resulting perplexity adds inevitably to a leader’s pressure. ...Hudson Taylor shared, “but now as I have gone on [from my younger days], and God has used me more and more, I seem often to be like a man going along in a fog. I do not know what to do.” But when the time came to act, God always responded to His servant’s trust.”
Often times, God doesn’t provide all of the details for His plans, but just the next step; and in that moment, we’re choosing the posture of our heart, to align to His Will or our will. To engage that conversation or to ignore them, to turn our feet toward that person (aside from the way we were initially going), to hit the call or send button to them. It’s spiritually disciplining our hearts in each of those decisions to go God’s Way in each moment with spiritual discernment… (Physical discipline has it’s benefits, how more more our eternal spirits [idea shared from Paul to young Timothy [1 Tim 4:8]).
 
We’re offering ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God -- our true and proper worship. We’re not conformed to the ways of this world; instead, we’re to be transformed by the renewing of our mind so that we’ll be able to test and approve what God’s will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:1-2). This is walking with God (aligned with His direction); walking similar to the garden in Genesis, or when the Israelites came out of Egypt as God said, “I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people” (Leviticus 26:12). This heart posturing plan is better than trying to make our own plans, by our own ways, striving to find our own providential plans. Generations later, God’s people strayed and tried to rely on the powers of Egypt again (Isaiah 30:2; 31:1; Jeremiah 2:18, 36; 42:14). ““Woe to the obstinate children”, declares the Lord, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; who go down to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge” (Isaiah 30:1-2). God told them, “My people have committed two sins: they have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water” (Jeremiah 2:13). Jesus shared, “those who try to save their own life will lose it, but those who lose their life for My sake will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soil?...” (Matthew 16:25-26). We chose to die daily to our ways, ‘for to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). With that said, we’re reminded, as the Psalmist said, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7). So, “My heart says to you, “Seek His face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek… Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. ...I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:8, 11, 13-14). “Be still and know that I Am God...” (Psalm 46:10).
May our plan be to have the trusting heart posture that is aligning with God’s Plan each moment of each day, wherever and whenever that is. “So Lord, I share with you my plans and wish if you’re willing; but Lord, not my will but yours be done” (inspired by Jesus’s prayer to God before he was crucified - Luke 22:42)

- Daryl Struemph

[Excerpts from Thompson Chain Reference Bible, “Principles of Bible Study” (1964):]

   “The Bible should be studied as eagerly as a hungry man seeks for bread. ...[however] the Bible reader may peruse large portions of the Word of God with little profit, unless he makes it his own by personal appropriation and feeds upon it.
   First-hand Knowledge Best. Many Christians are satisfied to receive all their truth filtered through the mind of some teacher, minister or commentator, seldom, or never, going to the Book of books for independent study. They inevitably become mere echoes of the opinions of others; they are not “grounded in the truth,” hence they are liable to be “carried about with every wind of doctrine.”
It is a great day for a little child when he learns to feed himself; so it becomes a new era in a believer’s life when he forms the habit of going daily to the original sources of spiritual truth for his own personal nourishment. 
...Study “The Word” as a miner digs for gold, or as a diver plunges into the depths of the sea for pearls. Most great truths do not lie upon the surface. They must be brought up into the light by patient toil.”

Some ways to study:

• Topical Method of Themes throughout the Bible
• Biographical Method of Specific Characters
• Study by Books: becoming a master of each books’ context, purpose, teachings, etc...
• Study of Chapters and Key Verses
• Memorize Key Verses that become readily available to mind when you need them

Throughout the Psalms, in the midst of some wildly drastic situations, the psalmists would remind his heart and the people’s hearts to “give thanks to the Lord”… why? “Because He is good and His steadfast love endures forever”. No matter what season we are going through, the things we have or don't have, time and again, we still see God’s enduring love and character win in the end with intentional purpose. Even in times when we may not understand His doings, He still acts out of His love (for us, His creation, and all for righteous good).

Some Psalms to Read:

• Psalm 118:1-29
• Psalm 136:1-26 

Additionally: Psalm 100, 106.

Psalm 118:1-16, 19-29 (NIV)
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
   his love endures forever.
Let Israel say:
   “His love endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say:
   “His love endures forever.”
Let those who fear the Lord say:
   “His love endures forever.”
When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
   he brought me into a spacious place.
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
   What can mere mortals do to me?
The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
   I look in triumph on my enemies.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
   than to trust in humans.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
   than to trust in princes.
All the nations surrounded me,
   but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
They surrounded me on every side,
   but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
They swarmed around me like bees,
   but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
   in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
I was pushed back and about to fall,
   but the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength and my defense;
   he has become my salvation.
Shouts of joy and victory
   resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
   The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
   the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”

...v. 19–24
Open for me the gates of the righteous;
   I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord
   through which the righteous may enter.
I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
   you have become my salvation.
The stone the builders rejected
   has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
   and it is marvelous in our eyes.
The Lord has done it this very day;
   let us rejoice today and be glad.
Lord, save us!
   Lord, grant us success!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
   From the house of the Lord we bless you.
The Lord is God,
   and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
   up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will praise you;
   you are my God, and I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
   his love endures forever.

In this series, Dr. Shane J. Wood explores the Book of Revelation, addressing common challenges and misconceptions. The sessions cover various aspects, including the intimidating imagery, ignored or abused nature of Revelation, and the symbolism present throughout the book. Dr. Wood emphasizes the importance of understanding genre, the historical background, and the peculiar organization of thought within Revelation. The series also delves into key themes such as God's control, the message in interludes, and the application of Revelation to everyday life. Specific case studies on topics like the Mark of the Beast and the Rapture are examined, providing clarity and dispelling myths. The sessions conclude with insights into the concept of Heaven and the promise of a new heavens and a new earth. Throughout, Dr. Wood strives to simplify Revelation, making it accessible and relevant to contemporary audiences.