“For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.” (Ps 18:28)
When you hear the word candle, what image comes to mind? Perhaps a birthday celebration, or the sacred glow in a cathedral or synagogue? But consider this: you are a candle, spiritually speaking. Just as a flame gives light and reveals what’s hidden, your spirit, guided by God’s truth, brings light to your inner world. But for that light to shine rightly, we need the Holy Spirit to act as our divine inspector—our independent counsel who reveals the truth of who we are.
As we study Prov 20:27 in the King James version, it compares us to a candle bringing light to the inward parts of the belly. In the Easy English Bible version, it breaks it down to our understanding. Check out the verse below--
The Lord makes our human spirit like his lamp inside us.
It shows us what we are really like.
In the 1970s, President Nixon was unable to investigate himself during the Watergate scandal. An external counsel was needed to uncover the truth. In the same way, we cannot examine our hearts alone—we need the impartial work of the Holy Spirit. He is not here to condemn, but to lovingly expose and cleanse. Like everyone else, I have my flaws that need attention. But here’s the hope: once the Holy Spirit shows us who we truly are, He walks with us in the process of becoming more like Christ.
In looking at Psalm 26:2 speaks of both heart and reins—the spirit and the mind—working in tandem. While our spirit is united with Christ, it’s our mind that must be renewed daily for that union to manifest powerfully. Praying in the Spirit allows God’s fire to illuminate places in us that need healing, repentance, and clarity. And yes, just like the old song from the sixties entitled “Light Our Fire”—God wants to light our fire for our candle, but we must avoid the strange fire.
Scripture often uses poetic language to describe our inner lives. In the King James Version, the word "reins" is a translation of the Hebrew kilyah, meaning kidneys. Physically, kidneys cleanse the blood—but spiritually, they represent the seat of our thoughts and emotions. It’s through this lens that we begin to understand the mind of Christ. Just as kidneys filter toxins from the body, the renewed mind in Christ filters out what doesn’t belong in our spirit. That transformation begins as we saturate ourselves in God’s Word.
What is strange fire? It is an unauthorized or carnal zeal that leads us away from God’s purity. Nadab and Abihu offered such fire and paid the price. (Lev 10:1-10) Likewise, when our words stir division, gossip, or harm, we’re playing with spiritual fire not sent from above. James 3:6 warns us about the destructive nature of the tongue—but through praying in tongues, we invite the Holy Spirit to sanctify even our speech. Let’s ask ourselves: Am I burning with God’s fire, or something else? Keep your candle lit with holy fire, and never let go of the plow. Enclosed is a teaching from our Bible Study concerning the Candle of the Lord. Enjoy and be blessed.
