This Little Light of Mine has an Eternal Backup Source
Yesterday, I was responding to someone asking for prayer for help in spreading God’s love through her business! I prayed this prayer: “Heavenly Father: We stand in agreement with _____ and her desire to be Your hands extended in her business. May her bright light shine so much that others are drawn to You, through the Fruit of the Spirit that is so evident in her life. May love lead her actions, her thoughts and her business relationships. We pray this is the mighty name of Jesus. Amen!”
Maybe you have that prayer, too. I asked God for her bright light to shine. I ask God for yours and my bright lights to shine today. At one time or another, we’ve all sung that little song, “This little light of mine; I’m gonna let it shine.” We know it, but do we actually let our little lights shine, especially when we’ve run out of a good battery charge?
Listen to the wise advice of the Apostle Paul who tells us how to keep our lights shining: “Do all things WITHOUT complaining 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 lights in the world.” (Philippians 2:14-15). Just imagine the difference we could make in our homes, schools, neighborhoods, and businesses if we didn’t complain about this, that and the other, and instead, presented our “LIGHT” with cheer and joy? Our lights could alter the atmosphere wherever we go. Our lights could literally dispel darkness and knowing scriptures like this one keeps our “light” battery charged up.
But what about those “light” drainers? It may be a negative comment or someone’s bad mood or a surprising situation like a flat tire or a washing machine breaking down or a bad medical report or any other bad news coming our way. The “stuff of life” can drain our “battery” with doubt, worry, and negativity. What may have started out as an occasional little loss of energy that weakens our light, can soon become a bolt of lightning that trips a breaker that completely shuts down our light, our energy and enthusiasm altogether. That’s why keeping “charged up” with God’s Word will keep our lights burning brightly that will cause the darkness around us to flee — not so much by what we say….but what we do in spite of our own circumstances. Others are watching how we demonstrate God’s love, peace, and joy — right in the middle of some of our darkest times.
We can make a conscious effort to be sure our little lights are backed up with God’s Word as our eternal backup source and we’ll be bright and shining lights all the time — right in the midst of negativity and all the “stuff” being sent our way. 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 — in spite of our circumstances and the darkness around us — it needs LIGHTS that conquer every opposing force. 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.