Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Psalm 119:105
About Me
My name is Jacob Luyt-Dozois. I am widely travelled with a diverse range of experience and have been a Christian for nearly 16 years at the time of writing. Today, I introduce you to “Becoming Faithful,” which is my blog. Here at Becoming Faithful, I seek to thread the needle between the Bible and people—holding Scripture with conviction while taking seriously the lives, questions, and experiences of those who read it.
Becoming Faithful is a place that is drawing from my bachelor’s degree in social work and my ongoing Master of Divinity specializing in biblical studies. All through my Christian walk, I have immersed myself in a diverse range of movements and denominations. My goal is to use these skills and experiences to help you grow in your relationship with Christ. The real point is to track my life journey, provide insights into my walk with Christ, and offer these insights to you with the hope that they would help you.
A Lamp, Not a Floodlight
Psalm 119:105 grounds the logic of this blog. The image is that life is a journey and, on that journey, we take steps with our feet. Each is a decision, whether we intend them to be decisions or not. The reality is that our steps require intentionality, but here is the quirk about life with the Lord: you do not get to see very far ahead. A lamp lights the next step in the dark — and little more.
So, the Christian life would seem to move at a snail’s pace because each step is only revealed as the previous step is finished. You only have light for the next step and that next step can be done safely, but if we try to move multiple steps ahead, we risk running off the path.
On Faithfulness
Faithfulness is the key term in the title that denotes the relationship with God. That next step needs to be revealed to us via his Word. Psalm 119 runs through the Hebrew alphabet, one stanza per letter. The Nun stanza (verses 105–112) names decrees, laws, sayings, statutes, and precepts. Some of these are more similar than others, but a decree is different from a law, and a precept is different from a decree. They get at different practical uses for different settings within a society.
Each step with God is revealed in a specific way that is suited for that setting, while keeping the same character. Sometimes, it is the still small voice inside your heart and mind. Sometimes, it is Scripture being revealed to you as you study, and other times, it is a faithful friend or leader who is bold enough to tell the truth to you clearly. This blog is just trying to be another point of reference for you to meet with God.
What This Blog Is Not
As a housekeeping note, it is good to also explain what is not happening in this blog:
- This is not an exposition on my beliefs; it’s an exploration of insights that you may find helpful or unhelpful. I’m going to voice an opinion on a variety of subjects, but my hope is that you’ll learn helpfulness is the chief goal here.
- This specific blog makes no claims of authoritative teaching or preaching. This blog is focused on personal insights that I’m gleaning and expressing from my life and my reading of Scripture. While I’ll use some technical skills and logic from my educational backgrounds, think of this blog as a friend simply sharing their thoughts; not some sort of professional pastoral guidance.
- This is not a space for argument. I’m going to say things you don’t agree with and listen; I’m content for you to be wrong. That’s a joke, but frankly, I hate arguments and find them mostly pointless. I’m open to wrestling with topics and materials, but we’re wrestling together to come out with something good and useful, not to assert intellectual or ideological dominance.
- I’m not your pastor, nor your mentor. Another way to say this is that it’s unlikely that you actually know me. I’ll talk about my life and give some actionable insights, but at the end of the day, you have no way to verify me from your screen. Go find a church with people who love Jesus. Ignore their oddities. Many churches are filled with delightful people who will walk through life with you. This blog is supplemental. I hope it’s good for you, but it isn’t sufficient to replace in-person faith-based relationships that help you grow.
What to Expect
What should you expect now? I have planned to cover my personal story and my journey with God, while doing a book study on Ecclesiastes. The first couple of weeks will be focused on just who I am and what my intentions are. I hope you find the things I discuss helpful. I pray that you find people near you who can help you discern anything you read here. I encourage you to subscribe and participate by asking questions and seeking clarity. There will be new posts on a weekly basis.
To close, rather than a word-for-word prayer, I encourage you to take a moment and quiet your body and mind with deep breaths. When you do this deep breathing, it is an intentional practice of bringing your body into submission to the work of the Spirit. You are not just breathing; you are making your mind and body recognize the presence of God around you and within you as his temple. Allow him to make you and your environment his home. Then, use words, out loud, to speak to him as though he was right there beside you. This practice is about realigning your body and soul with the reality of God being with you. He is right there with you… always. May your day be filled with knowing that he is close, that he cares, and that he is very, very good. Until next time, be blessed.
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