Lights Shine Bright Everywhere We Go

Thanks, Toby Mac, for your great song: “Everywhere we go. Lights shine bright. Lights shine bright, everywhere we go.” It must be God's message to us because this is my second day in a row to emphasize how important it is to let our lights shine.

I remember that timeless Sunday School song that went: "This little light of mine...I'm gonna let it shine! Hide it under a bushel – NO! I’m gonna let it shine! All over the neighborhood – I’m gonna let it shine! Won’t let Satan blow it out – I’m gonna let it shine." It doesn’t take a news anchor to know that so many people in our world are living in darkness. That’s why letting our lights shine is so important. You and I might just be the LIGHTS that cause the darkness to flee -- not so much by what we say....but what we do in spite of our own circumstances. They're watching how we demonstrate God's love, peace and joy -- right in the middle of some of our darkest times.

The enemy uses daily circumstances and situations to try to douse our "light”. It may be a negative comment made to us or about us. It may be about all that TV and social media rancor. Or it is someone's bad mood or a surprising situation like a flat tire or a computer crashing (like mine on Friday) or a negative medical report or any other bad news coming our way. The "stuff of life" wields its water hose that is filled with doubt, worry, and negativity at us. What may have started out as a fun water shower from a friendly water hose that hits our flame, but it soon becomes a super water blast that douses out our fire of energy, joy and enthusiasm. With all the negativity that surrounds us, it's easy for our light to become nothing more than a little flicker.

The good news is, we have a choice to wring ourselves out from the onslaught of negativity that is coming our way. It takes a conscious effort to keep our "little lights" blazing! St. Paul reminds us, "You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." (Ephesians 5:8). That's what the darkness needs. It needs lights to penetrate it. In spite of our circumstances and the darkness around us, it needs lights that conquer every opposing force to continue shining God's light. We must keep in mind -- the more we hang out with THE LIGHT, the brighter our lights will shine.

People will be thinking "How can they be so peaceful, full of joy and hope when I know they're going through the stuff of life just like me?" Before long, they'll get it. They'll know it. And they'll want it, too! "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father Who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16.

What Wattage is Your Light?

Let’s sing it together….one more time! "This little light of mine...I'm gonna' let it shine!" What a great old song we learned as kids. "This Little Light of Mine" is a gospel song written for children in the 1920s by Harry Loes. Obviously, its message was as needed in the 1920s as it is now almost 100 years later in the 2020s. It was a dark time in the 1920s with the stock market crashing. The economic boom and the Jazz Age were over, and America began the period called the Great Depression.

And here we are in the almost 2020’s where our world is still filled with darkness and so many people choose to live in the dark. Those lost souls may never find the light anywhere in the world except from you and me and the gospel that we live in front of them -- not so much by what we say....but how we demonstrate God's love in our actions to them. People are watching us. And it is our light that draws them in to ask: "Why is your life so peaceful and full of joy?” And we can boldly reply "It's God's love!" St. Paul reminds us, "You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." (Ephesians 5:8).

I had an aha moment about the variations of light that we should consider as LIGHT bearers. There are times when we need to let our light shine as a soft, calming, sensitive and tender candlelight to those around us. Other times, our wattage needs to be amped up boldly and brightly to bring about clarity and illumination so that those who see us, see the truth of God's love and Word. Then there are times when we need the high beams of flood and spot lights -- that dispel the darkness as we lift up He Who is the One deserving to be in the spotlight -- after all HE IS THAT LIGHT.

I know I need to wisely discern which light wattage I should be using at any given time. My “little light” needs to be regulated in those moments so that it is Jesus’ light – not MY light that makes the difference in their lives -- especially when sharing about Him. As I sing "This little light of mine, I'm gonna' let it shine" -- I'm considering: "Do I need to turn up the dimmer switch or turn it down?" Do I put away the harsh, cold light that is insensitive and makes others just want to stay away from my light? Those decisions are best accomplished by checking in with THE LIGHT SOURCE -- He Who knows everything about everything will guide us and help us light the way for others to come to Him.

So, let's "let it shine, let it shine....all the time", being God’s light that dispels darkness in the faces and places that need His loving light the most. It’s about shining our lights for Him Whose light is bearable, lovable, healing, and draws people to Him. Shining Jesus to this world is the way to go and if people around us can’t handle it, then let’s give them some shades!

The Dark is Afraid of Me

Day 38 - Photo Inspiration --
This was a random photo that inspired me a few days ago,.  I tweaked it a little and made it my own as I thought about how the "darkness" was taking over way too many of my friends' lives.  A couple of days ago, I read where a friend's little girl was very afraid of the dark.  And, a few days ago, I heard a friend say, "I'm too hurt to to try again."  Today, I saw the shades in my friend's home.  Seemed she was preferring the darkness.   Each of these precious people, and perhaps, some of you, need to hear these words today.  The darkness is afraid of your light and when your light shines brightly.....the darkness will run in fear.

I heard Australian speaker, Christine Caine, tell this story about her little girl.  "When my daughter, Sophia Joyce, was very young, we were shopping at a Wal-Mart. We love America for your Wal-Marts! It’s the only place I know of where I can get a casserole and a flat-screen TV at 3:00 a.m.  Sophie wanted a flashlight and had the perfect one picked out. Unfortunately Wal-Mart’s florescent lighting doesn’t make for the best conditions to test out a flashlight. At the register, she was so excited to go home and try out her new little gadget. She said, “Come on, Mum! Let’s go find some darkness.”  The lady at the register must have thought I was crazy. I was so excited about the insight of my little girl in that moment. I gave her the whole spiel!  “Sophia, what you just said shows more spiritual maturity than most Christians ever reach. We will absolutely go find some darkness!”

And, that precious story speaks volumes about us and our lights.  Often, we are so introspective about our fears, anxieties, and the darkness around us, that we fail to realize we don't have to stay there.....in that darkness.  We can literally counterattack that darkness by turning on THE LIGHT within us, and when we do that -- we will shine so bright that the darkness just can't stay.  And, the best part?  Not only will the darkness be dispeled in our lives...it will light up the world around us.  So, as Christine told her little girl......let's go find some darkness and turn our LIGHTS on brightly and just see the change we'll make for ourselves and those around us today!