“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

When I was making decisions, I used to assume there was always one correct choice. And to stay in God’s will, I must figure out that exact choice.

I would ponder and pray. Ask friends. Google for answers. Read the Bible. Look for confirmations that pointed in one direction or another.

But then I wondered … Is God’s will really this complicated?

It’s great to ask friends and look for confirmation from others. But what if God is more concerned with us looking for Him than looking for answers?

We want big directional signs from God. God just wants us to pay attention to Him and ask Him what our best “yes” is amid all the choices.

Not long ago, I heard a story that shook me to the core. It had been a busy day at a local restaurant with lots of customers coming and going. But at one point, a guy came up to the manager and handed her a card. He told her, “This is for your staff.” And with an emotional catch in his throat, he said, “I just wanted to make sure they knew.”

The customer then turned and left as the manager tucked the card into her apron pocket.

Later, she opened the card directed to the staff. It thanked them not for their service or the food but for their smiles.

The customer explained that he’d made plans to take his life that day. But their gift of simple conversations with simple smiles gave him the gift of hope.

When I heard this story, I cried. Something stirred deep inside of me.

I believe this is a beautiful picture of how God’s will works for believers in Jesus. He intersects our lives with those who need His hope and whispers to us, You have the hope they need … Give it to them.

Maybe we start by offering someone a little of our time, sharing our story, or simply smiling. And when we do, a shift happens. It’s like the world splits open with each of our acts of obedience, and God’s light breaks apart the world’s darkness.

Our key verses today say, “You are the light of the world. A town built 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 others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV).

God wants us to let our light shine. This is His will. This is His plan. This is His instruction.

The more we pay attention to these moment-by-moment instructions from God, the more our thinking starts to line up with His. Our minds get in a new rhythm of seeing what He wants us to see so we can do what He wants us to do.

Dear Lord, I want to be a light for You today. Show me someone specific I can give Your hope to. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

One way God can reveal Himself to us is when we gather together with other Christian sisters. That’s why Lysa TerKeurst is intentionally creating a space for community and connection through the one-night events on the You’re Going to Make It Tour, happening from March 13-21, 2024! With teachings from Lysa and Dr. Joel Muddamalle and powerful worship by Hope Darst, you will leave these gatherings refilled with hope and more equipped to walk through what may be hard in your world right now. Purchase tickets here!

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (NKJV).

Do you ever experience fear when you think of God’s will? How has today’s devotion encouraged you not to be afraid?

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

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