This little light of mine I’m gonna let it shine

This little light of mine I’m gonna let it shine

This little light of mine I’m gonna let it shine

Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine

Familiar with this little song?  Right now, I’ve got it looping through my mind.

I often find myself absolutely captivated by words.  I have to study them.  I think I know definitions, but sometimes I just need to dig in.  I’m not trying to brag, but I’m a top rate studier.  It’s what I do, rather it is part of who I am.  I study things.  I mull them over in my mind.  I research them.  I thrive on the process of learning.  Yes, I still have physical book copies of the dictionary and thesaurus.

One of Webster’s definitions for the word light is “a noteworthy person in a particular place or field.”

One of Webster’s definitions for the word shine is “to perform extremely well”.

The meaning of these words are just dancing through my mind, circling in time with the melody to the song.

Come twirl with me for a moment.

Has it been a while since you’ve twirled?  Don’t think so hard that your brow becomes furrowed…it has been a while, hasn’t it ?  Stand up.  Spread your arms out.  Now spin around!  Feeling silly and yet in a way sort of free?  That means you’re getting there.  Do it again, but smile and close your eyes; really let go this time.

If you are in a place where you feel twirling is prohibited, save it for later, but at least take a moment to close your eyes and savor the image and its feelings.

Now that we’ve spun out some of that yuck accumulated by living in this world, let me ask you a question…do you think of yourself as a noteworthy person?

No.  Is that your response?

Once upon a time, my response went something like this.  No, definitely not.  There’s nothing about me that’s noteworthy.  Nothing worthy.  I’m fat.  I’m dumb.  I mess up ALL the time.  I fall short.  I’m easily overlooked.  I’m not popular, in fact many days I wonder if any one would notice if I was gone.  I’m easily forgotten by people who have known me.

I could probably go as far as to write an entire book filled with the reasons I was not worth mentioning.  Those words were my reality.  I had a deep seeded conviction that those words described who I was.

It was a dark and painful place to be.  It was incredibly lonely, miserable really.  I longed so desperately for someone to come into the darkness.  I’d let anyone in, but I wouldn’t come out of that darkness.  I wanted to experience the light, but was always hesitant to step out into it.  People would come into my life who were just radiant, loving and warm.  I was so scared to really let them see me.

I thought in my mind that if I was this ugly in the dark, how hideous would I be in the light when all of my faults would surely be revealed and magnified?  How could I risk that pain?

“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

I just couldn’t do it.  I was too scared to even move.  I did not have to.  God moves.  He is light.  He brought the light to me.  Light of fellowship with Him.  I wasn’t alone.  I wasn’t unloved.  I wasn’t in the dark.  I was purified.  In His light I have found the fellowship of many beautiful souls who have also been purified.

I am noteworthy.

You are noteworthy.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

You were meticulous designed and fashioned by Almighty God, who crafts with hands of perfection! 

You are so precious! 

You are a treasure!

Don’t ever fall prey to believing that you are less than that for longer than a few brief seconds.  I’m not saying that dark and doubt won’t creep in, but I will pray that it is brief and momentary.

You were made to be you.  You are the only person to EVER be in existence that can shine and be extraordinary as who you are.  Never before and never again will there be another You.  You are the only one that this world is going to get.  You can excel at being who you were created to be.  Don’t try to be someone else.  Don’t let someone else try to be you.

You have a light.  You have permission to shine.  Do not try to hide.  Do not cover yourself up.

“You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

Let your light shine.  Be who you were meant to be.  That’s that best thing that you can do.  Being true to who You were meant to be brings glory to the one who made you; glory to God.

Here’s my light shining for you.

See me studying.  I’m focused on taking in so that I can pour out to those in my life.  See me writing.  See me smiling.  See me dressed in purple.  That’s my Bible open on the floor.  I’m living out my mission – to encourage with love, passion and enthusiasm.  This is how my light shines.

What about you?  How do you shine?  What characterizes your light?

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Dear and Beloved Lord,

Thank You so much for Your gracious and tender love.  Thank You for the way that You designed us to shine so uniquely. 

Make us radiant.  Make us brilliant.  Help us to be who You want us to be.  Help us to have fellowship with You.  Purify us.  Draw us into Your light and draw light from us. 

Remind us, in those kind and personal ways, that we are noteworthy – so much so that our days are etched into Your book of life. 

In Jesus’ name, amen.