The Contented Life Daily DevotionalSample

Beyond The Shadows

In Plato's famous story, "The Allegory of the Cave," the philosopher tells of prisoners who create their reality around the shadows they can see just outside of the cave they are in. They name these shadows and begin envisioning what life is like outside based on the stories they make up from their limited view. When they finally break free from the cave, they are shocked to find how different things are in the real world.

Similarly, your view of God and His gifts in your life can be distorted by shadows. Even if God has made you free, you still must step into the light to get a clear view. Don't be deceived like the prisoners in the cave; it's not just naive or wishful thinking to look for the perspective of your God, the Father of Lights.

God is a good Father. He will give you a good gift during every trial and temptation you face. You can depend on that because it says in the Bible that He will never change. Contentment in this truth is connected to your ability to cope when shadows begin to close in on your field of view.

God is a good Father. He is a giver of good gifts. His gift to you today might be a song that speaks to your situation, an opportunity to serve someone else in a way that also refreshes you, or simply a remembrance of His past provision.

Don't build a shadow world in the presumption of what's outside the cave. Step into the light by asking a simple question: What is my gift from God today?

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By: Jacqui Bishop