A prayer for looking back and hiding your light
By Kelly Ballery
Bible reading
“In the same way, let your light shine before others. They may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16 NIV
The Bible clearly teaches us that we will make our light shine before others. When our light shines, God gives us glory. Anyway, that’s how it works…but why do I often feel that my reality is very different from God’s truth? Why do people feel like they hate it when I’m shining?
We will release a gift for the lesson. They jealous. I testify of God’s goodness. It seems I’m showing it out. The eyes are glare and rarely support God. I stand strong in the way God made me. I am seen as self-centered. I will release testimony of God’s goodness in my life. It seems I’m bragging about it.
It’s hard to shine brightly when people don’t think they look humble. It is difficult to grow for God when you are repeatedly taught to become smaller, lowered, and remain hidden. The judgment feels concrete. It craps the arm.
Have you been there? Have you ever felt that specific sense of someone’s estimation about you? You’ve ever wanted to share God, but have you ever been suppressed by human fear? Have you ever wanted to go outside in a big way, because you didn’t want to be called “too big for your britch”? Only when we abandon the judgment of man will we follow God’s Word brightly and brightly!
Let’s dig deeper…
It is hard not to notice that there are two parts in Matthew 5:16.
“Let your light shine before others.” “They may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.”
By dividing these poems into two parts, you can find freedom. Please note that we have a role and others do so too. Our only role is partial number one. “Let the light shine before others.” That part is a command given exclusively to us. Similarly, part 2 belongs entirely to others. Our light visionaries, listeners of our testimony, are completely and solely responsible for noticing, recognizing, and praising God. This part is their business, not ours.
We cannot force them to do that, and we are not responsible for their actions. This Bible call is for us (or when others are shining brightly). What does this mean to us when we shine? Just because others are not doing their part doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do ours. We still have to shine! This is released. why? The sin of others should not prevent us from obedience to God. If our gifts teach, we should still declare His words. If our gift is hospitality, we still need to set the table beautifully. If we are teachers, we should still tell him the truth. If he appears in a way that evokes awe, we should still convey that testimony. If that’s the way he made us, we still have to be bold in our character.
In this, we take responsibility for personal pride, self-absorbing, and protecting our minds from false motives. It’s not the listener’s job to judge us or set us straight. The listener’s job is to praise God. Only when we escape our fear of man can we shine the bright testimony of God. Only when we release the beauty of the way God made us can others have the opportunity to free God’s glory through their praises. Give them the opportunity to do this. We are responsible for shine. They are called to give God’s glory. Let’s do our part and meet God!
Let’s pray:
Father, I’m scared to see my light shine brightly. I feel like too much. I’m worried that I’m taking up too much space. Everything in me says I make everything about me. But Father, do you heal these fears? The truth is that I have more human fear than fear of God. I don’t want to hold you back or back from making you shine. I want you to get all the glory. I want to let you know your story. I want people to encourage you to do the good things you are doing. In this world that doesn’t meet you, let me be like a city on the hill.
With the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
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Kelly supports his followers and raises his faith. Get Kelly blog posts via email and are encouraged every week. A cheerleader of Faith, Kelly is a blogger and national speaker and author of Take Every Thought Captive, Rest Now, Battle Ready, and Fear Fighting. Kelly loves to see the power of prayer acting. She loves to see expressions on women’s faces when they notice. Their God is faithful! Kelly’s work is featured in Today Show, CBN’s 700 Club, Relevance, and Christian Women Today.
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