This Little Light of Mine: 10 ways to shine brighter for the Lord
Article By Teresa Savage // EEW Magazine // Spiritual
Matthew 5:14 says, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” God made you to shine for His glory and honor. You are His vessel and ambassador. Take that role seriously.
If you have a true desire for others to see Jesus through your life, here are 10 surefire ways to shine even brighter for the Lord.
Let’s get started:
#1 Be more loving: In a world full of hatred and ugliness, be an example of Christ’s love. You’ll stand out. When others see your compassion and kindness, this is how they will know you are a true disciple of Christ (John 13:35). Jesus shines brightest when you put His love on full display.
Stop hiding: There’s nothing wrong with preferring to be in the background, but when the opportunity arises for you to showcase your gifts and talents, don’t shy away. Through your excellence, someone will see the image of your excellent Savior reflected through you. Scripture says whatever you do, do it for the glory of God; in this way, you serve Christ (Colossians 3:23-24).
Do more good: We were created to do good works. When you extend your hand to help others, as a member of the body of Christ, you act as an extension of Him. After all, Christ’s love resulted in an action, right? He loved us so much, He died on the cross to save the world. Be like Jesus; give your life in service of those around you. The Bible says when others see your good works, they will glorify the Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:16).
Share your faith: How will the world hear the good news of the gospel if no one tells them? The Holy Spirit lives within and empowers you to be an effective witness for Christ (Acts 1:8). You may not go door-to-door in your neighborhood or preach a Sunday sermon, but that’s not the only way to share the gospel. Be creative. How about using social media to post a Bible verse, devotion, or encouragement? Ask God to show you how to be a better witness for Him. He surely will!
Pray for someone: When you encounter those that are heartbroken, grieving, sick, lost, confused, or simply in need of guidance, offer to pray for them. Interceding on behalf of someone else is Christ-like because Romans 8:34 says Jesus, “is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” You’ll be surprised by how many people will appreciate that prayer.
Let your words uplift: Let others fight, bicker, and be divisive, while you remain gracious and encouraging. Jesus said, in Matthew 15:11, “it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” What comes out of your mouth reflects what’s in your heart, and if you have the heart of Christ, this will shine through what you say.
Suffer and remain faithful: When you’re suffering, your flesh tells you to give up. But when Christ dwells within you, He gives you the supernatural ability to persevere and makes you a testimony of His sustaining power. Scriptures tells us the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us (Romans 8:11). Although trials and tests are unpleasant, when you remain loyal through seasons of affliction, others will see and know that you have a firm foundation built upon Christ the Rock. Many will want the same peace, joy, and strength you have, which will give you an opportunity to point back to the One who has given all those things to you (2 Timothy 2:3-4).
Practice radical forgiveness: This is a good one! In our humanness, we don’t know how to release offenses and forgive someone who has wronged us. But here’s the thing: we can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13). When you don’t hold grudges—even when a person has done something terrible—others will take notice and declare, there is no way you could have forgiven that offense were it not for Christ working in your heart.
Present a Kingdom perspective: We live in the world, but we are not of the world (John 17:16), meaning, we are not like them. Though we live on earth, we are citizens of the kingdom of Heaven and present a Kingdom perspective. When others embrace hatred, we show love. When others conform to the world, we conform to the Word. When we represent God’s kingdom with consistency, through our actions, we announce to whom we belong (Romans 12:2).
There are even more ways to shine brightly and represent God’s Kingdom, but these 10 foundational principles will get you started. Pray, and ask God to help you take advantage of every opportunity to be a light in a dark world.
