Success stories in the Bible often stress the help of God. Whether it is Isaac weathering through famine, Jacob triumphing over the wiles of Laban, or Joseph overcoming the odds to become a leader in Egypt, God’s input cannot be discounted. This remains the reality even now. Divine input into our affairs can come in a wide variety of ways, but one critical aspect involves guidance. God’s guidance serves as light. Darkness as we know impedes speed; and it also makes for stumbling. To avoid these dangers, God has fitted everyone with a candle. Our passage describes this candle as the “spirit of man”. If a man will therefore keep pace with his spirit and follow every lead, he will never fail or stumble. This also rests on one assumption that the candle is lit. Our task right now is to discover how to put the candle on.

Divine input into our affairs can come in a wide variety of ways, but one critical aspect involves guidance. God’s guidance serves as light…God’s word is light.

A metaphor used to describe God’s word is light. Accordingly the Psalmist declares, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). God’s word is His written counsel put together by His Holy Spirit. Through meditation in Scripture the Holy Spirit impresses upon human hearts the very will of God for the season. When such leading is followed conclusively, success is the result. Psalm 1 clearly associates success with meditation in the word of God. Not only will the word of God supply you with the direction to follow, but it will also energize you to follow through. We are not closer to success than we are to God’s guidance.