day no. 16,522: like the smell of warm bread

Psalm 12:7-8

You shall keep them, O Lord,

You shall preserve them from this generation forever.

The wicked prowl on every side,

When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

A spotlight shining into the darkness can feel pretty isolated and a candle in a cave can feel rather conspicuous, but God has promised to preserve the light. Though the darkness surrounds, it cannot suffocate. It can feel like the gates of light shall not prevail against the onslaught of darkness, but the promise runs in the other direction (Mt 16:18). It is not the darkness crowding in on the light, it is the light pushing out the darkness. The contact points grow in number as the circumference of light grows, but the contact points are growing thinner. The center of light is increasing in glory and washing over the landscape like the smell of warm bread through a house. Though the wicked prowl on every side, their side is weakening. Though vileness be lifted up among the enemies of God, it is being struck down by the friends of God.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.