#shedlight by: Deborah Ard

Has anyone asked you to help “shed light” on a situation? What were they looking for from you? Ultimately they were asking you to make something less confusing or to clarify. As a Christian we are constantly “shedding light” on what it means to be a Christian. Others are always watching to see how we act and react in everyday life situations. Sometimes we are successful in showing others the light of Christ when we are in the middle of circumstances. But sometimes our actions and reactions show darkness.  

My word for 2019 is intention or intentional. As I have prayed about my posts this week God helped me to realize that I need to be intentional with “shedding light” in our sometimes dark world. So what do I mean by being intentional with “shedding light”? To begin with I want to be sure that as I study God’s word each morning that I am praying for Him to reveal His truth and promises for me. I also want to ask him to open my eyes and ears to opportunities during the day to show His light to others. I may shed His light in simple ways such as smiling at others as I pass them in the hallway at school or holding the door open for a stranger. God may even reveal to me ways to shed His light through conversations with others or even at the ball field. I just need to be intentional about looking and listening for opportunities. As I searched for scripture to guide my thoughts on intentionally sharing His light I read James 1:22-25 NIV:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do.”

So as Christians we should look intently at Jesus and what He did for each of us by dying on the cross for our sins and we should never forget. As we look intently we should then be doers of His word by striving every day to be more like Christ in our words and actions. And perhaps by looking intently at Jesus, we may in turn “shed light” on what it means to be a Christian and draw others to Him. Perhaps the following acronym can be a reminder to stay focused on God for guidance on being His light in the world.

Look

Intently at

God and

His

Truth

Prayer: Dear Heaven Father. Thank you for all You did for me by sending your Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins. Lord as I study your word today, place on my heart the insight on ways I can shed your light in this sometimes dark world. May my words, actions and reactions be a reflection of your love in my life and as a result may I share Your light with others. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen