Mondays. The mark of a new week. New opportunities, new problems, new meetings, new experiences. The last two weeks we have been internalizing the power of our words. I don't know about you, but memorizing those two verses and reading them everyday sure stretched me. (click here to catch up!). Stretched me to slow down, rethink my words, and speak carefully. The moments I let my tongue go where it shouldn't have, I was immediately reminded of the scriptures we were memorizing. How far I have to go.
This week's scripture:
Boldness. Confidence in who God is, who He is in us. Can we walk through this week, internalizing this? The truth that our hearts are not lit up and in love with Christ, only to hide that love and that light? Can we make this our soul's song? I want to hear stories about you being light in your homes and in your schools and in your work place. When you are shopping, at the doctor's office, and enjoying tea with a friend. The place to start is in your own home: will you be a light? Even when it is difficult, painful, impossible? Will you choose light love over bitter anger? Will you choose to let His light shine, not sticking it under a basket or letting the enemy blow it out?
Some practical ideas would be: choosing a soft and gentle answer in response to your spouse when your heart feels fired up and ready to shoot a bullet. choosing to smile at the cashier and barista, rather than just stare waiting for your things. choosing to tip your barista with a smile and remind them that they are doing great, regardless of the countless rude remarks they've heard all day. choosing to be patient in the small and mundane. choosing to.... it is our choice to be a light. When we are overcome by darkness, we must pick up His light and let it shine. I am not talking about depression, by the way. I am talking about the very practical heart changes we must begin with. The very real grumpiness we so easily turn to, because, why not? I stand there with you, friend. It is easier to hide that Light and be mopey and dark, blending in with the rest of the world. But we are called to be a light. To be bold with love and kindness and grace. We are called to let His light shine through our good deeds, so that others may praise Him. If we are constantly doing good deeds and never pointing to how good Jesus is, what good is that? We are taking all of His due glory.
Are you not attracted to people who are kind to you? Do you not love when people treat you with love and patience, treat you like a flawed-human who needs grace? Think about this: more than likely, you want to surround yourself with others who are kind...who shine a light. Their light may or may not be Jesus; but I assure you, light is much more attractive than darkness. I also assure you, His Light is sustainable and more attractive than any man-made light. His light brings hope. His light sheds joy. His light draws people to Him.
Side note: what I am not saying is that we must put on a fake happy face and ingenuinely be nice to people. What I am not saying is that we are to be unreal and dishonest about our hearts state of mind. Some days, we survive and it's a miracle everyone got out alive. What I am inviting us to is letting His spirit reside so closely to our hearts, so fabricated within, that our first instinct is to pour out grace, joy, love, Him.
Don't turn your light off. Will you remember that with me this week? Will you read this verse every morning, reminding yourself to set His light in the forefront of your heart and mind, letting it shine for all to experience. Because it isn't us; it is Christ in us, shining out. Our calling is to share that with others. Especially in our homes.
As I said last week..I don’t pursue these things because I feel that I have to or that I must follow rules. I chase these things because I have experienced the crazy grace of Jesus Christ. I have felt His love and peace and joy that is often unexplainable. The freedom that His way of life offers is worth chasing, it’s worth falling madly in love with Him and His love letter. As a result of experiencing this freedom and love, I want so badly to honor Him and bring Him glory. To love Him as I live day by day. And that is why I chase Him in his word. That is why I am falling in love with His love letter.
Happy fall <3
