Light of the World

Good Morning Ladies! I hope that everyone had a great weekend!

I had a great day at church yesterday and I wanted to share a few points I learned from the sermon as well as my devotion.

So many of us have been broken (still are) and bruised by this world. We have lost loved ones, been hurt by the people we love and had some tough experiences. I know a lot of people wonder how the bible can help heal these wounds and how it can help you get past the hurt and pain. I’m here to tell you that the bible is applicable to whatever we are going through. There is a lesson for everyone to learn when they read God’s word and it can heal any open wound, it can help you pick up the pieces, but most importantly it can show you that you’re not alone. It can give you a hope that will get you through whatever it is you’re going through. I know some of you are thinking where do I start? How do I know what to read? What if I don’t understand what God is trying to tell me? That’s how I felt and honestly the only thing that got me through this was trying to educate myself in looking up different subjects (what I’m going through) in the back of my bible and referencing whatever scripture it told me to check out. Of course there are going to be times where you’re like WHAT?! Huh?! I don’t get it, because I have those moments ALL the time, but as I said before ask God for an understanding of his word. Reach out to others that are knowledgeable in his word and ask them for guidance as well. They can even help point you in the right direction by giving you a place to start. Once you start you’re healing process you can help others heal.

How awesome would it feel if you started to be that person for others around you? If you were their “mini bible” and you could help them with what they were going through by referencing a scripture, or praying for/with them? It says in Matthew 5: 14-16 “And you beloved, are the LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. Similarly it would be silly to light a lamp and then hide it under a bowl. When someone lights a lamp, she puts it on a table or a desk or a chair, and the light illumines the entire house. You are like that illuminating light. Let your light shine everywhere you go, that you may illumine creation, so men and women everywhere may see your good actions, may see creation at its fullest, may see your devotion to Me, and may turn and praise your Father in heaven because of it.”

We are the light ladies! Are you letting your light shine? Our job here on earth is to bring people closer to God. You can do this not only by sharing his word, but by your actions. Actions speak louder than words ever could. Can people see that you’re a loving, caring, considerate woman? Can people even tell that you have a relationship with God? Do they know that he is your Lord and Savior and that you love him? You never know who is observing you. You can preach to people ALL day long, but if they can’t see you living for Jesus what would make them want to? So many people are turned off by Christians because they consider them to be hypocrites. I know that we have the excuse “Well just because I’m a Christian doesn’t mean I’m perfect.” and I know that because I’ve said it and felt that way, but we are held to higher standard than non-believers because we do have a relationship with God. It’s just like when you were younger and you’d have a friend over and you would both be acting up and your parents would come in and yell at only you. It’s because you’re their child and they expect more from you because they raised YOU. God raised us. He changed our ways and he wants us to show the world that we are changed. That we are striving in every area of our life to be more like him. I’m not saying you have to be perfect or that you’ll stop cussing, having road rage and getting angry just because you love God. (All things I’m currently working on Lol!) At the end of the day you’re still human and God knows that, but at least try to work on these things. Let people see that you’re trying and that you want to please God and set an example for others. Be the light that leads people to God not further from him.

Another point I wanted to touch on is relying on God as our “venting” source.

We all struggle and wonder why we are going through what we are going through and look for ways to get us out of that situation, why not pray your way through it? Ask God for strength to get through the test and allow him to take the reigns for once. When you don’t know what to do or who to turn to, why not turn to God?

Let’s just face it, we all have friends/family that love and care about us, but no one loves us as much as God does. They aren’t always there when you need them or they don’t always give the best advice, and it’s not that they don’t want to be there or that they don’t care, it’s just that they don’t know how. Everyone has their own lives and sometimes taking the time to think about what someone else is going through is just too much for them to do, but it’s never too much for God. He wants us to cry out to him and tell him our secrets, frustrations and what we are excited about. He wants to hear from you! You are special and amazing to God. He wants us to seek his opinion and his knowledge above everyone else’s. He wants us to allow him to guide all of our steps.

Before Jesus was crucified he shared this message with the disciples: John 16:12-16 “I have so much more to say, but you cannot absorb it right now. The Spirit (Holy Spirit) of truth will come and guide you in all truth. He will not speak His own words to you; He will speak what He hears, revealing to you the things to come and brining glory to Me. The Spirit has unlimited access to Me, to all that posses and know, just as everything the Father has is Mine. That is the reason I am confident He will care for My own and reveal the path to you. For a little while you will not see Me; but after that, a time will come when you will see me again.”

The reason I shared that scripture was to show you that God created the Holy Spirit to live within us to help guide our path to him. The Holy Spirit communicates with us on God’s behalf since Jesus is no longer on this earth. The little voice that you hear that tells you everything will be okay, or that comforts you in your time of need is the Holy Spirit. I love how Jesus said that we will see him again. That gives me hope! It’s a beautiful thing to know that Jesus is in Heaven helping God understand what we are going through here on earth because he’s lived it. He’s been tempted, hurt, loved and all of the other emotions that we’ve experienced. He’s intervening on our behalf and telling God to take it easy on us. Isn’t that awesome!!

Ladies, I’ve said all of this to say please be the light in this dark world for the people around you. Let them see that God is guiding your steps and that he lives within you. The thing I’ve come to realize is, it’s hard to live this life on your own when you are holding yourself accountable. We all need support and someone to keep us in line. The best way to do this is to connect with others around you that are living for and loving God. If you’re not apart of a church, join one. If you are, get more involved in your church. Surround yourself with people that will point you in the RIGHT direction. Also, realize that just because you are surround by people that claim to love the Lord and that they are living for him doesn’t mean that they will have it all together, so please prepare yourself for that. Be that positive person for others around you and share your story. Let them hear what you’ve been through because that got you where you are today. Whether it was drugs, abuse or whatever it was it can help someone else. Your life is not only a story, it’s a testimony!! Use it that way to guide others to God! Let them see him in you!

I love you ladies and I pray that everyone will accept this challenge. Change your attitude, lifestyle and the words from your mouth to be pleasing unto the Lord.

Our first get together will probably take place the last weekend of this month on a Sunday, so please keep that date open! J We will keep you updated once we have a date, time and location selected!

Please check out this awesome song! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMyZLYCxINo
'You are for me' Kari Jobe.

Stay encouraged, inspired and motivated today and help someone else do the same!

Raynisia Nagel

A Woman After God’s Own Heart