Wednesday, October 23

{Day 23} Let Your Light Shine, But Say It Your Own Way - Matthew 5:16

Matthew 5:16

16 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.

Creative Commons: Walt Jabsco



"Let your light shine" is a familiar saying to us. We first heard it in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5), and have come to know it means we should share the good news about Jesus with our words and with our life by the things we do and say. To hopefully inspire others into action. But we fear we may be doing it the wrong way.

Don't.

We have things to say or do, and things we feel we can contribute. But we shrink back because we remember that people have already written books on it, or are already doing it. That thing we do or are passionate about too.

I'm beginning to understand that there's really nothing new to say, but there is a new perspective - yours. And that makes it sparkly and brand-new all over again.

So don't be afraid to say it your way. Do it with your unique spin. Because you're the only one who can do that.

Let your light shine, not so others will think you're fabulous (even though you probably are), but so they may look to God and praise Him. Be the conduit. The waterslide from which they shoot out laughing into the pool of God's love.

But do it or say it your own way. It's easy to want to emulate others. How they mother, cook, use their gifts, or share their faith. But it wasn't mean to work that way.

Be true the one you were created to be.

I love the song, Shine by Christa Wells--she crafts her thoughts so beautifully into song. I can't get this one out of my head. Care to scroll down and listen along?


Yes, it’s hard to believe/
When you’re well aware that you’re not what you mean to be/
And your house is full of unfinished rooms/
’Cause you’re fond of starts, but you find it hard to follow through/
You think you’re recognized by your faults/
But the mirror that you hold is false/

’Cause you shine//
He shines His light through a prism/
We give back what we’re given/
To color this, to color this/
To color this world, color this world/
Be the friend you never had/Be the one to take a stand/
Say it your way, say it your way/Say it your own way//

And it’s hard to believe/
That I count as much as those on either side of me/
’Cause I don’t have it, whatever it takes/
To be like them, they are gifted in so many ways/
Yes, we could lay our talents in the earth/
We could pile on the doubt like dirt/
Or we can shine//

He shines His light through a prism/
We give back what we’re given/
To color this, to color this/
To color this world, color this world/
Be the friend you never had/
Be the one to take a stand/
Say it your way, say it your way/
Say it your own way//

Shine, we shine, His light refracted/
Shine, we shine His light refracted//











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1 comment on "{Day 23} Let Your Light Shine, But Say It Your Own Way - Matthew 5:16"
  1. This post has been up on my screen for 2 days and I finally got the chance to read it. I just downloaded the album, it's so peaceful, I'm so glad you shared!

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