Wise Woman Ministry Devotional
Have you ever tried to look at your phone in bright sunlight? Anyone else like me and go to their settings to see if it needs to be brightened, only to find out that it’s already on the brightest setting? But what about at night when it’s dark? The brightness can be turned all the way down and still be super bright.
Francis Bacon said, “In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.” It sure seems that our world is getting darker and darker by the day. How do you, as a Christian, respond in these darkening times? Do you become fearful and anxious? Maybe angry? Or just ignore it all? Perhaps your response is to pray, which is good. But how do you pray? What do you pray for? Do you pray for people caught in darkness to see the light and be set free? If so, where will they see the light of Christ? Will they just randomly show up at church? Possibly. How about a great social media meme? Unlikely. So how DOES God shine His light into this dark world? Through US. His people.
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our
hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2
Corinthians 4:6
“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follow Me
shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” John 8:12
Now that we have His light, what is our responsibility? We’re called to SHINE.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your
Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
“…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things
without murmuring and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you
shine as light in the world…” Philippians 2:13-15
Sometimes shining our light is easier said than done. Living in this fallen world as human beings we get to deal with this thing called entropy. In case you aren’t familiar with that word, it’s the “general trend of the universe towards death and disorder.” Basically it’s the fact that things go from order to disorder. We can probably all attest to that in our own lives. Looked at in another way, we never see things go from disorder to order all on their own, right?
Thanks to entropy, we also have a pesky thing we have to deal with – maintenance. If we don’t maintain things, they will head towards disorder, decay, and death. That’s why we have to clean things, like our counters, tables, windows, even ourselves. What happens when the headlights on a car get dirty or muddy? Do they provide good, bright light to see where you’re going? Can others see your car coming towards them? Nope. That’s why it’s important to keep them clean and shining bright. But what about you? Can your spiritual light get dirty and muddy?
“Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are
light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” Ephesians 5:7-8
“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light
and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in
darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us
from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7
It’s crucial that you not partake of the world’s darkness. You have to keep your light from getting muddy and darkened, because God wants to use your light to shine into the darkness of this world to bring others to salvation. “…to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” Acts 26:18
It’s often been said that the only things we can take to heaven are other people. What an
amazing opportunity that God chooses to use us in that process. Maybe instead of fearing or hiding from the darkness we see around us, we should be excited, knowing that our light will shine so much brighter in that darkness.
Don’t take that in the wrong way – we don’t rejoice because of evil and darkness. You may still feel sadness, heaviness, or anger. But instead of becoming discouraged and depressed, you need to turn your eyes to the Lord and remember how brightly His light can shine.
Do you truly believe that God is sovereign? That everything He does is intentional? Do you think He knew what He was doing when He knit you together in your mother’s womb, had you born on a specific day, and decided you would live here and now at this time? Remember what Mordecai said to Ester when she was afraid to go before the king. In Esther 4:14, he said, “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time has this?”
You don’t have to be a social media evangelist. You don’t have to stand on a street corner and hold a sign and yell at people. But you can shine light into just one person in your sphere of influence. Ask God who that person might be. It may be someone very specific, or it may just be seemingly random people you encounter throughout your day. You can also ask God how He wants you to shine.
Perhaps you could take a plate of cookies or loaf of bread over to a neighbor. Invite them over for coffee or tea and just get to know them better. Maybe invite a coworker out to lunch. Learn more about them.
It may be someone with whom you haven’t had a great relationship. What if you could see them through the eyes of Jesus? What if you saw that person as someone Jesus loves and died for? What if you could look past the things that make that person difficult, or maybe even understand them a little better?
Take time for people. Build relationships with them. Shine the light of Christ into their lives. Be available and ready to shine no matter who you come in contact with. Pray for the Holy Spirit to help you shine. Stay close to God and maintain your light. Be washed by the water of the Word regularly. Who knows what God will do through you?
Dianne Godwin
Francis Bacon said, “In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.” It sure seems that our world is getting darker and darker by the day. How do you, as a Christian, respond in these darkening times? Do you become fearful and anxious? Maybe angry? Or just ignore it all? Perhaps your response is to pray, which is good. But how do you pray? What do you pray for? Do you pray for people caught in darkness to see the light and be set free? If so, where will they see the light of Christ? Will they just randomly show up at church? Possibly. How about a great social media meme? Unlikely. So how DOES God shine His light into this dark world? Through US. His people.
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our
hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2
Corinthians 4:6
“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follow Me
shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” John 8:12
Now that we have His light, what is our responsibility? We’re called to SHINE.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your
Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
“…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things
without murmuring and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you
shine as light in the world…” Philippians 2:13-15
Sometimes shining our light is easier said than done. Living in this fallen world as human beings we get to deal with this thing called entropy. In case you aren’t familiar with that word, it’s the “general trend of the universe towards death and disorder.” Basically it’s the fact that things go from order to disorder. We can probably all attest to that in our own lives. Looked at in another way, we never see things go from disorder to order all on their own, right?
Thanks to entropy, we also have a pesky thing we have to deal with – maintenance. If we don’t maintain things, they will head towards disorder, decay, and death. That’s why we have to clean things, like our counters, tables, windows, even ourselves. What happens when the headlights on a car get dirty or muddy? Do they provide good, bright light to see where you’re going? Can others see your car coming towards them? Nope. That’s why it’s important to keep them clean and shining bright. But what about you? Can your spiritual light get dirty and muddy?
“Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are
light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” Ephesians 5:7-8
“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light
and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in
darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us
from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7
It’s crucial that you not partake of the world’s darkness. You have to keep your light from getting muddy and darkened, because God wants to use your light to shine into the darkness of this world to bring others to salvation. “…to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” Acts 26:18
It’s often been said that the only things we can take to heaven are other people. What an
amazing opportunity that God chooses to use us in that process. Maybe instead of fearing or hiding from the darkness we see around us, we should be excited, knowing that our light will shine so much brighter in that darkness.
Don’t take that in the wrong way – we don’t rejoice because of evil and darkness. You may still feel sadness, heaviness, or anger. But instead of becoming discouraged and depressed, you need to turn your eyes to the Lord and remember how brightly His light can shine.
Do you truly believe that God is sovereign? That everything He does is intentional? Do you think He knew what He was doing when He knit you together in your mother’s womb, had you born on a specific day, and decided you would live here and now at this time? Remember what Mordecai said to Ester when she was afraid to go before the king. In Esther 4:14, he said, “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time has this?”
You don’t have to be a social media evangelist. You don’t have to stand on a street corner and hold a sign and yell at people. But you can shine light into just one person in your sphere of influence. Ask God who that person might be. It may be someone very specific, or it may just be seemingly random people you encounter throughout your day. You can also ask God how He wants you to shine.
Perhaps you could take a plate of cookies or loaf of bread over to a neighbor. Invite them over for coffee or tea and just get to know them better. Maybe invite a coworker out to lunch. Learn more about them.
It may be someone with whom you haven’t had a great relationship. What if you could see them through the eyes of Jesus? What if you saw that person as someone Jesus loves and died for? What if you could look past the things that make that person difficult, or maybe even understand them a little better?
Take time for people. Build relationships with them. Shine the light of Christ into their lives. Be available and ready to shine no matter who you come in contact with. Pray for the Holy Spirit to help you shine. Stay close to God and maintain your light. Be washed by the water of the Word regularly. Who knows what God will do through you?
Dianne Godwin
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