God-Sized Dreams: A 30-Day Journey of Faith and CourageSample

Go Ahead and Let Your Light Shine

He’s telling me exciting news—someone wants him to come and speak. It’s a God-sized dream come true. He shares excitedly about the details and then pauses. He says with concern, “But I don’t want it to be about me.”

Our God-sized dreams can cause us to feel deeply conflicted. On one hand, we sense a desire within us that draws us forward. On the other hand, we fear somehow we might steal the spotlight from God, so we try to shrink back into the shadows to make sure that doesn’t happen.

So what do we do? First of all, if you’re even asking yourself those questions and trying to avoid making it about you, then your heart is most likely in the right place. But let’s talk more specifically about what that means so you can dismiss those worries and get on with your dream.

In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus shares with the people how they are to live. Consider these two passages:

"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)

"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. . . . But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:1, 3–4 NIV)

Jesus goes on to share more things, like prayer, that we’re to keep private as well. I used to read those two passages and walk away completely confused. (I hope I’m not the only one who ever feels that way after reading the Bible.) Jesus seemed to be saying two different things—shine and hide.

So on the journey to my God-sized dreams, I found myself alternating between the two. I’d step boldly into the calling God had for my life, but as soon as I got any attention at all I’d retreat.

Yet, over time, I came to see what Jesus really meant. The secret is to recognize we’re not to “practice our righteousness in front of others.” In other words, the Pharisees were living to show the world, “Look what a good person I am.” While Jesus said we’re the light of the world, and that means living in a way that shows the world, “Look how good God is.”

It all comes down to motivation. What is the source of our light, and what do we want the result of our shining to be? If we believe that we are perfect people who always deserve the praise of others, then we’re falling into the Pharisee camp. If we believe that we are beloved sons and daughters of God who have been miraculously transformed by Christ and now have his life within them to share with the world, then we are shining as intended.

So how do you make sure you’re being a light in the way God intends? Simply say to him, “God, I acknowledge that you are the source of the light in me. I want to shine so that others can see you in and through me. I humbly ask you to use me for your purposes. If there is any motivation in my heart that needs to change, I give you full freedom to reveal it to me and help me change it. In the meantime, I’m moving forward with you in this dream. Amen.”

That’s it.

And it’s okay for you to receive joy, fulfillment, and the many other benefits that God has for you when you live out his purpose for your life. That is not selfish—that’s the way he intended it to work.

The enemy will try to accuse you of doing things for selfish motives, of taking attention from Jesus, of all sorts of things. When that happens, just do a quick heart check with Jesus and then keep on shining. As long as you are aware of that struggle, it means that you are winning it.

Go ahead and shine.

We need the light that’s within you.

Go Deeper

Read more about the Light who lives within you in John 1:1-14.

God, I want to shine for you. My human nature sometimes tries to interfere with that, either by shrinking back into the shadows or by trying to grab the spotlight. My true desire is to do neither, but instead to let you use me in whatever way you want. If that means getting attention from others, so be it. If that means doing all I do in secret, so be it. I’m your beloved son or daughter, and you can use me to shine in whatever way you want. Amen.

What’s one truth you want to remember?

What’s the next small step you’ll take?