I AM: Light

Originally part of Ashley BreAnne's Blog, written August 7, 2017.

Matthew 5:13: “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world, let your light shine before others that they might glorify your father in heaven.”

Whenever I am about to walk into a new place, I always pray that I will be a light. I want to be someone who walks into a room and turns heads because people know something is different about me. I want to be a bright light of Jesus. A smile in the midst of pain, hope during loss, and suffering.

I love that little song that goes: “this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” There is a part in the song that says, “hide it under a bushel. No! I’m gonna let it shine." I love this part because it is so true. Think about all the bushels that are trying to get in the way of your light. Maybe it’s a person who keeps shutting you down, maybe a situation, maybe an institution, a job, a standard. Well, in my case, most often my bushel of darkness is myself. My attitude, my negative emotions, and my feelings. I get in my own way! I may pray to be the light and start off shining, but then I get tired, or annoyed, or frustrated, and soon this big old bushel starts to block and hide the Jesus who is in me. That makes me sad. I never want to fail to give someone a glimpse of Jesus. I don't want to show darkness, or anger, or pierce someone with a quick remark. I want to radiate hope, light, and joy.

Being the light is not always easy. I have to make the decision each and everyday to CHOOSE to say yes to Jesus and yes to His way. I have to make the conscious decision to be a light and to love people that I don’t want to love, to speak kindly despite aggravation. I have to choose to see the best in everyone.

I have to constantly remind myself, "I am a woman of God, who is slow to speak, quick to listen, and slow to get angry." I have to remind myself that God is fighting for me and I don't need to worry about getting justice from people who hurt me; that is not my job. I just need to do my best to love no matter how hurt my heart is, no matter how angry or frustrated I am. One thing I realized was that when I started speaking and acting in kindness, regardless of my feelings, my heart soon followed. It's like a muscle of love, the more you use it and push through the hard times, the stronger your love muscle will be!

So let’s push those bushels aside and let our little lights shine!

#light #thislittlelight